Ducks 2, Red Wings 1 (OT)
Bobby Ryan scored on a penalty shot 2:50 into overtime and Dan Ellis turned aside 28 shots as the Anaheim Ducks skated to a 2-1 home triumph over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
Jason Blake collected his 12th goal of the season for Anaheim (34-25-5), which has won two in a row following a five-game losing skid. The Ducks are now one point behind the Pacific Division rival Dallas Stars (34-23-6) and Los Angeles Kings (35-24-4) for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference standings.
Veteran defenseman Ruslan Salei was whistled for hooking as Ryan skated in on a breakaway in overtime. The second overall pick of the 2005 draft, Ryan made good on the chance by beating Jimmy Howard on the glove side for his 30th goal of the season.
Reigning Selke Trophy winner Pavel Datsyuk scored to record his seventh straight 20-goal season for Central Division-leading Detroit (39-18-7), which saw its six-game road winning streak come to an end.
Two days removed from signing a two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million, Howard finished with 26 saves to suffer his first loss in 11 road games.
With Brad Winchester serving an interference penalty, Datsyuk opened the scoring at 5:10 of the second period. From behind the goal line, the 32-year-old Russian banked a shot off Dan Ellis and into the goal.