Inspired Lupul edges Ducks past Avalanche

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Joffrey Lupul scored four goals,
including the game-winner at 16:30 of overtime, to give the
Anaheim Mighty Ducks a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche in
National Hockey League play Tuesday in Anaheim.

The win gave Anaheim a commanding 3-0 lead in the
best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series. Game Four
is in Anaheim Thursday night.

Lupul’s overtime winner was tipped right through the legs
of Colorado goalie Jose Theodore, bringing a sudden end to Game
Three.

“I was shooting at the five hole but I don’t know if it
caught the defenceman’s stick or foot. Sometimes you get those
breaks,” Lupul told reporters.

“It was a pretty good feeling,” Lupul added. “It just
seemed like every time I touched it tonight something good was
happening, hopefully it keeps going.”

Colorado finally broke Anaheim goalie Ilya Bryzgalov when
Dan Hinote scored at 19:33 of the opening period to give the
Avalanche a 1-0 lead and their first goal of the series.

Bryzgalov’s shutout streak went 249 minutes, 15 seconds,
the second longest shutout streak in NHL playoff history.
Montreal’s George Hainsworth has the all-time record of 270:08,
which he set in 1930.

Any momentum the Avalanche got from that goal was lifted
when Lupul scored his first goal of the game at 9:02 of the
second period, tying the score at 1-1 and setting the stage for
a wild third period.

Jim Dowd put the Avalanche back in front at 4:47 of the
third period with a shorthanded goal, but Lupul added a pair of
goals 1:46 apart in the third period to put the Ducks in front
again.

Rob Blake tied the game again for Colorado at 13:35 of the
third period, setting up the overtime period.

Anaheim out-shot Colorado 39-29 overall, including 12-5 in
the overtime, with Theodore making 35 saves in goal for the
Avalanche.

Colorado had won its past six overtime games, the longest
such current streak in the NHL and a franchise record, but
Lupul’s goal put the Ducks just one game away from advancing to
the Western Conference finals.

History is clearly not on the side of the Avalanche, as
only two NHL teams – the 1975 New York Islanders and the 1942
Toronto Maple Leafs – have ever rebounded to win a series after
being down 3-0.

Lupul says his team will take nothing for granted.

“We’re going to enjoy this one for a half hour and then
switch the focus to Game Four,” Lupul said.

“They played well tonight, we’re going to have to be even
better in game four, because that’s the toughest one to win.”