Kesler's OT Goal Lifts Ducks Over Sharks, 3-2
ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com/AP) — Ryan Kesler scored 58 seconds into overtime, and Rickard Rakell netted his first regular-season NHL goal, leading the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.
Cam Fowler got the tying goal with 4:16 left in regulation, and Frederik Andersen made 30 saves for the Ducks, who have won nine of 11 and own a league-best 51 points. They lead the Pacific Division by eight points over the Sharks.
Fourteen of Anaheim's last 16 victories have been decided by one goal. Two ended in overtime and three went to shootouts.
The Ducks, who had faced seven consecutive Canadian opponents going into Monday's game, began overtime with 53 seconds of power-play time. San Jose killed the penalty, but Kesler beat Antti Niemi with a wrist shot from the left circle 5 seconds later.
Niemi got the Sharks to overtime with a spectacular glove save against Kesler from the top of the left circle during a power play.
Melker Karlsson scored his first NHL goal, Joe Pavelski connected on a power play, and Niemi made 29 saves for the Sharks, who lost for the second time in 11 games.
Karlsson, playing in his sixth NHL game, put the Sharks ahead 2-1 with 12:04 remaining. His slap shot from above the right circle went in off Andersen's pads as he flopped to his knees.
But Fowler tied it by scoring off a cross-ice pass by Ryan Getzlaf from the left boards.
Rackell, playing in his 47th regular-season game, got his stick on a bouncing puck in front of the crease with defenseman Justin Braun in front of him and poked it past Niemi's right leg at 7:20 of the second period.
Pavelski tied it at 2:00 of the third period with his 16th goal and ninth on the power play. He redirected Brent Burns' shot from the right point.
The Sharks had a couple of good scoring chances in the first period, but Patrick Marleau hit the left post at 3:08, and Tomas Hertl was robbed in the final minute when Andersen made a sprawling leg save.
The last time the Ducks hosted the Sharks on Oct. 26, the teams combined for 165 penalty minutes -- 127 in the third period. There was only one fight in the rematch.
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