Another overtime goal gives Anaheim 2-0 lead
By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2003
DALLAS - Once Anaheim got a lucky bounce that led to another overtime, it extended its postseason perfection.
And it put the top-seeded Stars in a deep hole in the best-of-seven West semifinals.
Rob Niedermayer scored off a Dallas skate with 1:09 left in regulation, and Mike Leclerc gathered a loose puck and scored on a left-handed wrister 1:44 into overtime as Anaheim beat Dallas 3-2 on Saturday, taking a 2-0 series lead.
"I don't know what it is about this group," Anaheim coach Mike Babcock said. "We just hang around and hang around, and we don't go away. You give yourself a chance."
This time, Anaheim needed just a couple of minutes instead of a couple of hours in overtime.
Game 2 began 371/2 hours after the five-overtime series opener the Ducks won 4-3.
The Ducks are undefeated in six playoffs games, all by one goal.
Dallas seemed on its way to evening the series until Niedermayer's pass across the crease ricocheted off Stars forward Stu Barnes' skate in front of the net. Marty Turco, who made 24 saves, didn't have a chance to stop it.
Early in overtime, Brenden Morrow could not control the puck off the boards. Leclerc got it on his stick and quickly shot it toward the net and past Turco.
"I had to get to the puck first because it was pretty far away," Leclerc said. "I reached out for it, and you kind of know where the net is. I just wanted to go high. So I threw it at the net, and it went in."
Wild looks to recover
VANCOUVER - Goalie Manny Fernandez and the Wild were less than two seconds from another big playoff upset. Twenty minutes later, they found themselves down 1-0 in the West semifinals.
Down 3-1 midway through the third, Matt Cooke tied it with 1.2 seconds left, and Minnesota native Trent Klatt scored a power-play goal 3:42 into overtime as Vancouver beat the Wild 4-3 on Friday.
"Stuff like that happens in a playoff series," Fernandez said. "We're going to come back stronger. I have no doubt we'll come back stronger as this series goes on."
It was the third consecutive overtime game for the Wild, who won the past two to knock out Colorado. It also was the first time Minnesota has surrendered four goals in the playoffs and the first time it lost after scoring first.
"To come back from being down 3-1 against this team, I'm still kind of in shock," said Klatt, who also assisted on the tying goal.
With Lubomir Sekeras off for high-sticking Henrik Sedin, Klatt planted himself in the crease and tipped Daniel Sedin's shot past Fernandez for his first overtime goal.
"I don't know if I ever scored a bigger goal in my life," said Klatt, a former University of Minnesota star who began his career with the Minnesota North Stars.
"I'm having as much fun as I ever had playing the game of hockey. I guess playing against the Wild and knowing that all the family back home is watching, it's pretty emotional."
Britain's Don eliminates world-class competition
Rant, Rave
Floridian a step ahead of field
Top 10 list missing a U.S. man's name
Arena footballLong way back to Storm
AutosEpicenter of NASCAR change
Kenseth keeps Cup regulars atop BGN
BaseballAL: Botched bunt blessing for K.C.
Bad elbow flares up on Burnett
NL: Late power lifts Montreal again
Gwynn reasserts drug-use claim
CollegesMitchell, UM have day to remember
GolfCouples spends 3rd day on top
HorsesFrankel starts Derby week with a victory
In briefExperience negligible as Danes upset U.S.
NFLAfter top three, draft day belongs to defensive players
NFL Draft
Dolphins pick size on first day
QB derby gets hotter for Jaguars
NHLAnother overtime goal gives Anaheim 2-0 lead
OutdoorsDaily fishing report
PrepsBalanced Chargers repeat
Chiefs focus on eight more wins
Doubles matches doom Lecanto
Lions find the answers
Patriots can't hold lead, stop Falcons
Three area lifters place
TennisA return to No.1 for Agassi
Your turn
Letters: Marketing is part of golf world
Bats and Zambrano team up for gutsy win
Lee nears return to hit-and-miss lineup
Got a minute ... with Toby Hall
Rays tales
Rays to play odds in draft
Difficult life leads to NFL promise
NFL: Glazers can buy Dodgers
Bucs just can't pass on Simms
Walker arrested after Ybor scuffle
Wyms may make move to make room for White
Division rivals bulking up to take run at Bucs
Tied, then denied
Langenbrunner joins litany of surprise scorers
Lecavalier vanishes first, then stumbles
Sound bites
NHLSlapshots
