Photo Credit: Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images
The Anaheim Ducks nearly made it to the end by evening up the game against the San Jose Sharks Saturday night. They bounced back from the slow start but ended up losing 6-4 at the last minute. This loss came just after falling 4-1 on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Corey Perry came through for the team with two goals, one at just 29 seconds into the third period. Up-and-coming Matt Beleskey also had one and the captain Ryan Getzlaf scored, which shocked the entire crowd with the sudden change. The Ducks are not called the “Mighty Comeback Kids” for nothing.
Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen was taken out of the net and replaced by Jason LaBarbera after allowing five goals on 19 shots. By this time in the second period, San Jose was already leading 5-1.
Putting LaBarbera in might have been the key because that was when the Sharks’ almost obvious victory started looking murky. When the third period came around, the tired Ducks mustered up the energy and started playing like they wanted to win.
With the Ducks’ engines finally revved up, the San Jose crowd knew how dangerous they could be, especially with the score so close and the game about to end. Anaheim put on the pressure but it just was not enough when Sharks’ Matt Nieto scored on a power-play at 19:10 to finalize their win.
The Anaheim Ducks are going to be back at home on Dec. 1 to take on one of The Original Six, the Boston Bruins.
