In Anaheim, the Ducks needed a win, and were gifted with a visit from the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday afternoon.
The Ducks skated off with a 4-2 win to push their record to 3-4-3.
Ryan Getzlaf had an assist, his 989th point in the NHL, to become the Ducks’ all-time leader in points.
“I can’t tell you how much that means to me,” Getzlaf said. “To be able to be in front of our fans, our ownership, my family, to be here in our building, to accomplish that was a great thing for me.”
John Gibson made 16 saves in the Ducks win.
“I think Ryan understands the game so well,” Anaheim head coach Dallas Eakins said. “I think when he says that he’s never cared about points, I think he does care about points. He cares about two points (in the standings), and that’s it.
“I think if more players really took that mindset, then not only do your team’s points look after themselves, but your individual goals and wants and needs and projections, they look after themselves. I think Ryan has cared about points every night, it was just two points.”
Mike Hoffman and Jake Evans were the Habs’ strikers.
“Probably one of the toughest situations I’ve been a part of,” Evans said. “When we get back to Montreal, it’s time to get going and find a way to win.”
Montreal dropped to 2-8-0.
Adam Henrique started the Anaheim offense with a power-play goal in the first period for a 1-0 lead.
After Hoffman tied the game, 1-1, Vinni Lettieri had a strike off the power play to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead.
Getzlaf’s point came on assist of Troy Terry‘ go ahead goal in the third for a 3-2 lead.
“He’s Ryan Getzlaf and I knew he was going to find me if I got the speed through the middle,” Terry said. “I just tried to get on my horse and go up the middle, and he laid one out perfectly for me. I’m glad I was able to score that for his sake, for our team’s sake.”
Sam Carrick potted an empty-net goal for the 4-2 final.
Monteral s Sam Montembeault made 22 saves in the loss.
“We definitely dug ourselves a hole,” Montreal’s Nick Suzuki said. “All these games are so important in the regular season, to put yourself in a good position to fight for a playoff spot. We haven’t done a great job of being consistent. That’s got to change.
“It feels like we’ve been talking about it a lot, but on the ice, something has to change and we have to be better.”
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