Ducks clinch playoff berth in loss

TORONTO-- The Anaheim Ducks got the point they needed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Thursday.
The Ducks trailed the Maple Leafs 4-1 but took a 5-4 lead. Toronto's Connor Brown tied the game with his first NHL goal with 4:23 left in the third period, and Nazem Kadri won it 41 seconds into overtime with his second goal of the game.

Anaheim (40-23-10) qualified for the postseason for the fourth consecutive season and ninth of the past 11 (since 2005-06).
Captain Ryan Getzlaf said he was pleased the Ducks qualified for the playoffs but displeased with the way they've been playing.

"We didn't play a good hockey game tonight," he said. "It's a concern. I don't want to say we're not competing, but we're not executing and we're not up to the pace of the play. We're holding onto the puck too long and we're giving up four goals, five goals, three goals … way too many goals against to compete in this league."
It was the Ducks' second loss in a row. Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said sometimes good teams go into a lull as the playoffs approach.
"There are a lot of veterans on our team that have been to wars, and the most important thing is the playoffs," Boudreau said. "Yeah, you want to get up for every game and you hope they get up for every game, but malaise is a good word. We're going through a funk is another word."
With Toronto leading 4-1 late in the second period, Anaheim scored two goals in nine seconds. Jamie McGinn scored his second of the game at 18:54 with a clean shot from the top of the faceoff circle, and Andrew Cogliano batted a rebound out of midair past goalie Garret Sparks at 19:03. Center Shawn Horcoff, playing his 1,000th NHL game, had an assist on Cogliano's goal.

Ryan Garbutt tied it 4-4 with a shorthanded goal at 5:39 of the third period when he stole the puck from Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner, spun, and beat Sparks with a backhand.
Brandon Pirri gave Anaheim a 5-4 lead at 8:17 when he scored from the side of the net for his 12th goal.
"You saw on the goals we executed properly," Getzlaf said. "We were able to maintain puck control, and you have to against a team like that."
Toronto (27-35-11) is 4-1-0 on a six-game homestand.

Anaheim took a 1-0 lead 2:56 into the first period on a power-play goal 34 seconds after Toronto's Zach Hyman was penalized for tripping. Corey Perry took a slap shot from the right point that was tipped by Pirri and stopped by Sparks. The rebound went to McGinn in the slot, where he scored his 20th goal.
Toronto tied it 1-1 at 4:01 when Bozak, who missed 21 games with a concussion, took a shot from inside the right point that beat Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen, who was being screened by Josh Leivo.
The Maple Leafs took a 2-1 lead at 6:55 when Kadri scored on the power play. Standing in front of the net, Kadri got a pass from Milan Michalek and shot past Andersen for his 13th goal, first in 12 games.
Bozak made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 8:58 of the second period. With Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler off for hooking, Bozak cut to the net from the right point, took a pass from Kadri, and beat Andersen with a wrist shot.

"I felt really good," Bozak said. "My timing was off a bit here and there, obviously on a couple of open nets and a couple of other things, but overall I felt good."
Defenseman Frank Corrado scored his first goal with the Maple Leafs at 17:01 to make it 4-1. He slid into the slot from his point position and put a backhand under the crossbar.
Anaheim played without center Ryan Kesler who returned home because of a family-related matter. Getzlaf said playing without its No. 2 center should not result in such a poor performance.

"We go through so many things in a year," Getzlaf said. "Everybody has family; everybody has stuff. We realize that is important. We're professionals. We deal with stuff all the time. That is part of being a professional athlete. You've got to show up and work. [Ryan] had to go and be with his wife and his family, and it should have been an opportunity for some guys to step up. I didn't feel we did it as a group."
The Ducks also were without injured defenseman Simon Despres, who was sent home for evaluation. Despres has missed 42 games this season with a concussion, and Boudreau said he was shaken up by a hit against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.