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LOS ANGELES -- Staring down the prospect of an 0-3 series deficit, the Anaheim Ducks finally figured out a way to beat the Los Angeles Kings. Gerardo Parra Authentic Jersey . Even if that way involved a third-period goalie change, two unlikely power-play goals and another wild finish. "Its been like this all year," Teemu Selanne said. "We sell tickets. You never know whats going to happen in our games, but weve got to try to make it a little easier." Selanne scored the tiebreaking power-play goal late in the second period, Corey Perry got his first goal of the series, and the Ducks beat the Kings 3-2 on Thursday night to trim Los Angeles series lead to 2-1. Anaheim snapped the Kings six-game post-season winning streak. Ben Lovejoys goal with 2:55 to play turned out to be the winner after two earlier goals from the Ducks long-struggling power play. Mike Richards then scored for the Kings with 30 seconds left, but the top-seeded Ducks hung on for just their third win in their last seven playoff games. "It feels good to put a seed of doubt in their mind, hopefully," Lovejoy said. "The Ducks are coming." Game 4 is Saturday night at Staples Center. Jonas Hiller made seven saves in the final 9:58 after rookie goalie Frederik Andersen left with a right leg injury for the Ducks, who bounced back from two narrow losses in Anaheim to open the series. Andersen was solid in Game 3 until getting hurt during a wild scramble midway through the third period. Hiller had to make two tough saves immediately after entering the game, but the Swiss goalie finished strong despite Richards late goal on a midair rebound of Tanner Pearsons shot while Jonathan Quick was pulled for an extra attacker. "Its a challenge for a goalie to come in like that, but it seems like this season is a lot of back-and-forth play," Hiller said. "We were just glad we finally scored three goals in a game." Anaheim scored just three goals total in two games at Honda Center to open the local rivals first playoff meeting. The Ducks regained their edge Thursday, while the Kings struggled to respond in front of their home fans. Jeff Carter had a goal and an assist, and Quick stopped 19 shots for the Kings, who hadnt lost since Game 3 of their stunning first-round series against San Jose. "Anytime you are down in a series, you are going to come in desperate, and we had to match that desperation," Kings centre Jarret Stoll said. "I dont think we did that. We didnt have it tonight. We werent good enough in a lot of areas." Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau curiously changed starting goalies for Game 3, replacing Hiller with Andersen, the Danish rookie who played poorly in all three road games in the first round against Dallas. Boudreau repeatedly said Hiller had played well against the Kings in the first two games, giving up just five goals, but Andersen beat Los Angeles three times in the regular season, while Hiller is winless in his career at Staples Center. The Ducks didnt have the same vociferous road support enjoyed by the Kings at Honda Center earlier in the series, but Anaheim still silenced Staples Center just 4:06 into Game 3. Ryan Getzlaf got the puck down low to Patrick Maroon, who found Perry in the slot for his third goal of the post-season. Perry, second in the NHL with 43 goals in the regular season, hadnt scored in the series. The Kings evened it when Marian Gaborik set up a one-timer for Carter, who hadnt scored a goal in the Kings last four playoff games. Anaheim couldnt score during a 4-on-3 advantage for 59 seconds late in the period, but Nick Bonino found Selanne with a saucer pass for the Finnish Flashs 44th career goal in 126 post-season games. Matt Beleskey went to the dressing room early in the third period after a hard hit on the boards by Kings captain Dustin Brown. The Ducks said Beleskey had a lower-body injury. Lovejoy scored his second goal of the post-season on a 2-on-1 rush with Andrew Cogliano, sending Kings fans to the exits. NOTES: Maroon extended his scoring streak to six games, the longest post-season streak by a rookie since Los Angeles Warren Rychel in 1993. ... Anze Kopitar, who had an assist, has a point in all 10 of the Kings playoff games. The last Kings player with a 10-game point streak in a single post-season was Wayne Gretzky in 1993. ... The Ducks are staying in a hotel across the street until Saturday, but theyll take a bus 30 miles back home to Anaheim for practice Friday.Martin Prado Diamondbacks Jersey . He didnt even match his first-half total from Friday night. He didnt have to, with the Knicks offering him plenty of support for a change. Martin Prado Authentic Jersey . Canada dropped a 24-21 decision to Zimbabwe before bouncing back with a 10-7 win over Spain. All three sides finished with seven points apiece in Pool E to move on to the final eight while the Philippines was last with only three points.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Stan Van Gundy introduced his new general manager Wednesday and then tried to quell any concerns over how the Detroit Pistons would distribute power within their front office. "I think the final decision thing gets overblown," Van Gundy said. "What we want is a collaborative process with a lot of hard-working, intelligent people, who are thinking, and then use the process to come to a decision." Jeff Bower is now the teams general manager, after Van Gundy was hired as coach and team president last month. They both appeared at a news conference, then were available for more informal interviews afterward. Van Gundy was surrounded by reporters almost immediately, and its clear that hes still the face of the franchises next big effort to return to relevance. But Bower brings plenty of experience at the NBA level to his new job. He was the coach at Marist College last season, but hes been a general manager and coach in the pros with New Orleans. "Hes done almost everything at the NBA level," Van Gundy said. "Hes been an assistant coach, hes been a head coach, hes been a scout, hes been an assistant general manager, hes been a general manager, so hes got an experience that really allows him to know the NBA on every level of what goes on in terms of basketball operations." Bower said his coaching experience helps shape the way he evaluates talent. "Being able to see how players change and the impact that you can have on a players game -- aalways kind of kept that thought process in mind, that you can improve players, and that players can get better," Bower said. Aaron Hill Jersey. Bower was the general manager of the Charlotte-New Orleans Hornets from 2001-03 and again from 2005-10. He also coached the team in 2009-10, going 34-39. Bower has also been an assistant coach at Penn State and Marist. Van Gundy said their relationship dates to when Bower was an assistant at Marist and Van Gundy was an assistant at Fordham. "Ive always had a tremendous respect for people who have really had to work their way up the ladder," Van Gundy said. Detroit went 29-53 last season, missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. That disappointing performance helped lead to the end of Joe Dumars tenure as team president. Van Gundy said he felt the players could have performed better last season, and Detroit does have a young standout to build around in big man Andre Drummond. Greg Monroe is a restricted free agent, so much of the off-season outlook may depend on whether he returns to the Pistons. Detroit does not have a first-round draft pick. That selection was lost because of a trade made by the previous front office, but Bower is hopeful the Pistons can improve themselves in the draft anyway. "The 38th pick can be a pick of value," Bower said. "Although its not a first-round pick, we would hope to be able to dig in and find a prospect that can provide value to the team and to the organization."cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
