Recap: Ducks Earn First Home Win of Preseason, 4-1 Over San Jose
by Adam Brady @adamjbrady / AnaheimDucks.com
ANAHEIM -- Ducks fans who eagerly waited more than 5 1/2 months for the team's return to home ice had to like what they saw tonight.
Anaheim went on top early and never looked back in a decisive 4-1 victory over the Sharks at Honda Center, the Ducks' second win of the preseason. Jakob Silfverberg had a goal (his second of the preseason) and an assist to spark the Ducks (2-1-1) before leaving the game at the start of the third period with an apparent injury.
Newcomer Andreas Martinsen opened the scoring 11 minutes into the game by sweeping in a goal off a Silfverberg feed just inside the crease.
Video: SJS@ANA: Martinsen chops puck home from doorstep
Anaheim made it 2-0 later in the first on an all-Swede goal as Isac Lundestrom chased a puck behind the net and hit Rickard Rakell, who sent it over to Silfverberg for the tap-in.
Video: SJS@ANA: Silfverberg converts Rakell's feed
"I have to play my own game and give it to them," Lundestrom said. "They're great players. As Swedes, they help me on the ice. It's nice to play with them. It's simpler with the language and communication on the ice."
Silfverberg was among the handful of veterans in the lineup tonight for Anaheim, along with Rakell, Daniel Sprong, Derek Grant, Michael Del Zotto, Cam Fowler and goalie John Gibson.
The Ducks kept it going in the middle session, earning a three-goal cushion on a wrister from the left wing by defenseman Brendan Guhle. "I think I have a pretty decent shot," Guhle said. with a laugh. "I saw an opening in the glove. I don't know if it went off their guy's stick, but I saw that spot. I hit it."
Video: SJS@ANA: Guhle goes bar down to extend lead
San Jose got one back with under a minute to go in the second on a one-timer by Jonny Brodzinski, spoiling a perfect night by Gibson up to that point.
Gibson went the distance tonight and turned away 31 of 32 San Jose shots. "We're blessed to have an excellent goaltender like that," said Ducks coach Dallas Eakins. "He was very good. Very calm in the net. He really exhibited a lot of his game he's brought here for a number of years."
Grant slammed the door with 21.8 seconds left with a shorthanded empty netter as the Ducks were killing a late penalty.
Video: SJS@ANA: Grant tallies shorthanded empty-netter
The Ducks play the second of back-to-back home games tomorrow night vs. the Kings, who downed Anaheim 3-0 at Staples Center on Monday night.