Getzlaf returns, helps Ducks rout Stars
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Getzlaf registered a goal and two assists in his return to the lineup, helping the Anaheim Ducks beat the Dallas Stars, 6-2, at Honda Center.
Friday's Game 5 triumph gave Anaheim a 3-2 lead in this Western Conference opening-round playoff series.
The Ducks can eliminate the Stars on Sunday, but in order to do so, they will have to become the first road team to win a game. The Stars outscored Anaheim 7-2 in winning Games 3 and 4 at home after suffering a pair of one-goal losses in California.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pulled from Wednesday's 4-2 setback, Frederik Andersen, like the rest of his Anaheim teammates, bounced back with a 34-save performance.
The Ducks, who set a club playoff record with four power-play goals, scored three times in a 5:42 span early in the third period to turn a close contest in a rout.
"We lost the special teams battle, which was the difference tonight," said Stars head coach Lindy Ruff, whose team was 0-for-7 on the power play.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen was given the hook in the third after allowing five goals on 21 shots.
Getzlaf, who missed Game 4 with an undisclosed upper-body injury, made an immediate impact and earned an assist on the game's first goal.
"Every time you get your captain back, it's going to make you feel better," said Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau. "It's like your big brother is back. Guys felt a little more secure, and he came out and played a really great game, as well as the other guys."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Ducks capitalized on an early man advantage, as Nick Bonino gathered a pass from the Anaheim captain, made a move around Stars defenseman Jordie Benn in the right circle and fired a shot behind Lehtonen at 5:32 of the first period.
Anaheim went back on the power play after Stars forward Ryan Garbutt was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for spearing forward Corey Perry as he came off the Ducks bench.
Perry was down on the ice in discomfort and left the game, but returned to match Getzlaf with a goal and two helpers.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dallas managed to tie the game while shorthanded at the 10-minute mark. Jamie Benn stole the puck from Getzlaf in the Anaheim zone and beat Andersen between the pads with a backhander.
Rickard Rakell put the Ducks back on top 26 seconds later with his first career NHL goal.
Jamie Benn then drew a tripping infraction to whip out the bulk of the time that remained on the major penalty.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Ducks began the second period on a power play and Mathieu Perreault converted a feed from Getzlaf on a 2-on-1 rush to make it 3-1 at the 1:05 mark.
Dallas closed to within 3-2 on a goal by Shawn Horcoff at 8:19 of the second, but Anaheim broke the game open with its third-period outburst.
Stars defenseman Brenden Dillon, making his NHL playoff debut, mishandled a dump-in and Andrew Cogliano fed Jakob Silfverberg for a one-timer at 1:07.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Getzlaf buried a Perry pass after hard forecheck to make it 5-2 at 4:30, and Perry dodged netminder Tim Thomas' diving pokecheck to score a power-play goal at 6:49.
Game Notes
The Ducks tied a playoff franchise record for most goals in a game ... Getzlaf passed teammate Teemu Selanne for the most playoff points in club history with 66 ... Selanne was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 4 ... Jamie Benn is the first player in franchise history to open his postseason career with points in each of his first five games since Steve Payne and Bobby Smith in 1980 ... Dillon missed the first four games of the series with a lower-body injury.