Anaheim overcame a sluggish start and a feverish finish to edge the league-best Montreal Canadiens in a 2-1 victory, halting a three-game home losing streak. Montreal, which was atop the league standings with a gaudy 16-4-2 record, had won three of four entering tonight. The Ducks, meanwhile, moved into a tie for first in the Pacific Division at 11-8-4.
Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler continued their hot seasons with goals tonight, while goalie John Gibson stopped 39 shots to tie his career high (on John Gibson Bobblehead Night, no less). He didn't give up his first goal until exactly two minutes remained in the third, then he and the Ducks defense had to hang on for dear life in the tense final moments.
A hooking call on Andrew Shaw in the offensive zone with 27.4 remaining seemed to seal it for Anaheim, until Antoine Vermette took a high sticking minor at the other end just a few seconds later. But the Ducks were able to hold Montreal without a shot until the final horn.
"We knew it was a big game. It was a good test," Gibson said. "They're the best team in the league and everyone wants to see how they stack up against the best. We played well. There were spurts when they dominated and there were spurts when we had lots of good possession and played how we wanted."
Tonight's triumph gave the Ducks a pair of impressive back-to-back wins, as they also prevailed 3-2 over the Sharks on Saturday night in a hostile SAP Center. It was also the first time this season they've won a game without scoring three goals.
"We're not going to start jumping for joy, because there's a lot we can improve," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "But you can't critique a win."
The Ducks were outplayed for much of the first period, as Montreal enjoyed 12-2 and 15-5 shot advantages. But Anaheim got the game's first goal, on the power play, when Rakell punched in a loose puck in the crease for his ninth of the year and fifth in the last six games.
