Ducks trip up Stars, 3-2

The Ducks skated with passion, hit with authority and handled the Dallas Stars on Friday night, and when Scott Niedermayer curled into the slot and flicked a wrist shot, Anaheim walked away with a 3-2 overtime victory in front of an announced capacity crowd of 17,421 at the Honda Center.

The spoils that came with it included clinching a playoff berth and setting franchise records for victories (44) and points (100).

The bonus was having defenseman Chris Pronger back for the first time since breaking his toe March 4. The upside was another step closer to their first division title.

All of that rang true in ending a two-game losing streak.

But demons lurk out there. Since Jan. 1, the Ducks have lost 10 of 17 games against teams out of the playoff race.

“We want a strong finish going into the playoffs,” said goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who made 34 saves.

“We can’t have any bad habits now. It’s about work ethic. Sometimes that gets hard when you play teams who are not playing for anything right now. We have had trouble with that.”

That wasn’t a problem Friday, as the Ducks played with purpose.

Chris Kunitz had two goals and assisted on the winner. Niedermayer had an assist to go with his goal. Pronger logged 24:16 in a quick and physical game.

It pushed the Ducks four points ahead of the San Jose Sharks in the race for the Pacific Division title, which would give Anaheim a second legitimate banner to go with its Western Conference banner from the 2002-2003 season. Next to that banner hangs “Inaugural Season” (we had $50 million to buy into the NHL) and “A Mighty Decade” (we didn’t fold after nine seasons).

Getting that piece of cloth, though, will require better work against the have-nots. The Ducks play four of their final seven games against teams whose only Stanley Cup playoff plans involve a cold beverage on the couch.

The Ducks have shown they can soar with eagles -- 8-4-1 record against the Sharks and Stars -- but clay pigeons keep shooting them down. That included recent losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Kings and Phoenix Coyotes.

“That always is dangerous when you treat an opposing team lightly,” Teemu Selanne said. “There are no easy games.

“I don’t know why, but we have had a problem with that this season. Our goal is to win the division, there is no secret about that. For us to do that, we have to find a way to go out there and get it done against those teams. That’s what the good teams do.”

The Ducks had the look of a good team Friday, getting the better of rugged play throughout.

It was a turnaround from the Ducks’ play against the Kings and Coyotes earlier in the week.

“It was a man’s game on the ice,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said.

“You had to earn your space out there.”

Kunitz earned his, repeatedly, which produced two power play goals. Kunitz went to the edge of the crease in the first period, where he was in perfect position to hammer in an Andy McDonald pass for a 1-0 lead 14 minutes into the game.

The Ducks tied the score, 2-2, when Corey Perry tossed his body into two Stars’ players, freeing the puck in front of the net. Kunitz chipped it home five minutes into the third period.

“We just did whatever was necessary tonight,” Kunitz said. “Throw the body around, take the play at them. Whatever it took to get the two points.”

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