Anaheim's late start falls short in 3-2 shootout loss to Phoenix

November 2, 2:29 PMAnaheim Ducks ExaminerLiz Brownstein

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Corey Perry scores on Ilya Bryzgalov of the Coyotes on the powerplay in the second period of
Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss in Phoenix (AP Photos).

Anaheim faced off with the Coyotes on Saturday night and were forced to settle with walking away with only one point after a 3-2 shootout loss in Phoenix.

In the first away game in almost three weeks, the Ducks continue their streakiness of the season with a close loss to the Coyotes who have the third highest point total in the west. 

The first period was marked up quite a bit with regards to penalties, with two fights breaking out, including one between Wisniewski and Yandle which ended with Yandle serving 5 for fighting as well as being penalized with 2 minutes for instigating and a 10 minute misconduct.  The second fight was with less than five minutes left in the period and locked up Parros and Bissonnette for five minutes each.  And that was just a taste of the tensions between these two clans.  There was then another fight between Wisniewski (who found a much cheaper alternative to anger management classes, lets just say its the typical hockey alternative) and Shane Doan who was also dealt two minutes for roughing.

Yet with all these penalties, and each team getting some extra minutes here and there, the game was relatively low-scoring courtesy of some impressive netminding by both ex-Duck Ilya Bryzgalov for the 'Yotes, and Hiller the Killer for the SoCal squad.  The boys from Arizona came out hungry, and delivered the games first goal off Lang's stick on the powerplay less than four minutes into the first.  After returning to the locker room on the short side of the scoring, the Ducks ended up fighting back and tying the game at 1 with a powerplay wrist shot from Corey Perry, assists going to Koivu and Getzlaf. 

The final period of regulation had absolutely no powerplays or penalty kills and marked a goal for each team, first Anaheim's Teemu Selanne would score just past the halfway mark of the period.  However only 18 seconds later, Anaheim's lead would be nullified with a goal by Fiddler tying the game at two.  After a scoreless overtime period, in which the Ducks were outshot 3-1, the zamboni cleared the center ice for the shootout.

Phoenix opted to shoot first, sending out Radim Vrbata who found the back of the net behind Jonas Hiller.  Anaheim responded with sending Perry, who was shut down by Bryzgalov.  Doan was next to shoot and missed the net entirely, followed by Getzlaf for the boys in white who also was met by a solid goaltender and couldn't get through.  Korpikoski missed the net for the Coyotes leaving it up to veteran Teemu Selanne, or as they call him the resident "Coyote killer" who couldn't get by Phoenix goalie.

Halloween doesn't seem to be the choice holiday for the Ducks, with last year's game on Oct. 31st a shootout loss to the Canucks which required 13 shooters from each team to decide it.  Can't help but wonder if there's a haunting.  Paranormal Activity (or patterns) anyone?

So with that overtime loss, the Ducks settle into the 14th seed in the West, and 26th seed in the league.  I don't think anyone likes seeing our team ranked that low in the conference, so hopefully we can turn around our luck and gain some momentum with the three upcoming home games this week.