The Anaheim Ducks certainly have not been playing like a last-place team over the past month. On Sunday afternoon, they hosted the Chicago Blackhawks and ushered the visitors out of Southern California with their second loss in as many nights. The Ducks picked up the win by a final score of 3-1.
The Blackhawks have been struggling mightily over the past couple weeks, but the Ducks defense really clamped down on them on Sunday. The Blackhawks took just 19 shots on goal during the game, against 38 by Anaheim. The Blackhawks opened the scoring in 11:29 of the first period, on a power play goal by Patrick Kane. The Ducks answered back with an Andrew Cogliano goal at 19:40, with an assist by Nick Bonino.
In the second period, Sheldon Brookbank put the Ducks ahead at 12:31. Brookbank's second goal of the year would give Anaheim all the offense they would need, but they added a final goal in the third period. Teemu Selanne netted his 21st goal of the year at 4:48 of the third period, the second power play goal of the game for Anaheim. Both teams were charged with eight minutes of penalties, but Chicago served six of their eight minutes in the third period.
The Ducks have now gone 7-1-2 over their last 10 games and are just four points behind the Kings for fourth place in the Pacific Division.
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