By Compiled from Times wires
Published May 13, 2003
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Anaheim didn't need overtime to beat Minnesota, just an opportunistic penalty kill and another outstanding performance by its unflappable goalie.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere was perfect again, and Kurt Sauer and Rob Niedermayer scored short-handed goals Monday to lead the Mighty Ducks to a 2-0 victory against the Wild.
Anaheim, which won the opener 1-0 in double overtime, has a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven West final. It has won the first two games on the road in all three playoff series this year, the first team to do so.
"It's not too often that you're going to score two short-handed goals like that, never mind one," Anaheim's Steve Rucchin said. "We're fortunate enough to come up with another win again thanks to Jiggy."
Giguere hasn't given up a goal in more than 21/2 hours of action. He extended his scoreless streak to 153 minutes, 17 seconds dating to Game 6 against Dallas.
"For some reason, I don't know, we're not playing as well or not getting the breaks," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "It doesn't take a lot to turn it around."
With Niedermayer off for hooking in the second, Cliff Ronning nearly poked one in between Giguere and the pipe. Seconds later, Anaheim's Dan Bylsma won a battle for the puck at center ice and led an odd-man rush the other way.
Rucchin circled through the slot and left the puck behind for Sauer, who beat Dwayne Roloson to make it 1-0 8:35 in.
Midway through the third, while Minnesota was on a power play, Ronning lost control of the puck at center ice. Niedermayer took it away and scored on a breakaway with 11:54 left.
Lightning trades Bergevin
TAMPA - The Lightning traded defenseman Marc Bergevin back to the Penguins for a ninth-round pick in this year's draft. Bergevin, 37, played in only one game for Tampa Bay last season after being picked up for depth in a trade that sent center Brian Holzinger to Pittsburgh. The pick the Lightning acquired originally belonged to the Rangers.
FLYERS: Goaltender Roman Cechmanek probably will not return to the team. General manager Bobby Clarke said he will try to trade Cechmanek, who signed a three-year extension worth $9-million in January 2002. Cechmanek, 33-15-10, 1.83 goals-against average in the regular season, allowed nine goals on 46 shots in the final two playoff games against Ottawa. Clarke said he is unsure if Cechmanek, who has returned home to the Czech Republic, wants to return to the league.
