Leftovers: Kesler shows why Ducks were hot on him
ANAHEIM - Some notes, quotes and musings from the Ducks' 6-5 shootout win over the Kings on Wednesday night ...
-- Two massive goals in the third period. A game-high eight hits dished out. A winning margin in the faceoff circle on 27 draws taken. The decisive shootout goal. All of that coming against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
So that was why Ducks general manager Bob Murray moved heaven and earth to get Ryan Kesler for the playoffs last season and then circled back around to finish the deal with Vancouver at the NHL draft after striking out in March.
It isn't May and that is where the Ducks really need a performance like that out of Kesler. But this was clearly his best night while wearing the webbed-D logo and a glimpse into why the team coveted him so badly.
For now, Kesler was just glad to end the Ducks' three-game losing streak - each coming in overtime or in the shootout.
'Obviously we've had some bad luck of late,' Kesler said. 'To get a win in general, especially against those guys - it's a little sweeter.'
The win put the Ducks (11-3-3) back in first place in the Pacific Division but we're not even at the season's quarter mark yet. The far bigger development is Kesler may finally be jelling with some linemates.
Jakob Silfverberg snapped his massive season-starting goal drought by snapping his first past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick in the second period. The threesome of Kesler, Silfverberg and Matt Beleskey has been together the last few games and combined for six points Wednesday against a team known for its defensive prowess.
It was a busting-out kind of night for the Ducks, who had just 12 goals in their previous eight games.
'I thought we've been getting chances,' Kesler said. 'We just haven't been burying them. That's the thing. The guys in here, they might be frustrated but they don't show it. They just work hard and they keep their head down and just keep working.
'You know sooner or later, it's going to turn for you. And tonight it did.'
Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf will gladly take this development. Teams can have someone else to focus on than just locking in on him and still-sidelined Corey Perry.
'That line's been good for us the last three or four games,' Getzlaf said. 'They don't always get rewarded but tonight it was nice to see them get some goals. Big, uplifting for our group.'
-- For once, the Ducks' goaltending didn't rise to the occasion as it has done throughout the early schedule. Frederik Andersen, who has been stellar, easily had his worst game and was pulled for the first time.
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