A look back at sports
 |
Sports pictures of the year
From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009. Slideshow
Niedermayer leads Ducks to fourth consecutive win
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Rob Niedermayer scored twice in a three-goal third period to lift the streaking Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
The Ducks have won four successive games and are 7-0-1 in their last eight road games, while Carolina has lost three in succession at home.
"We were terrible in the second period, so we had to redeem ourselves," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told reporters.
Anaheim took only three shots in the second period to Carolina's 17 then scored three goals off 11 shots in the third.
"We knew we couldn't play another period like we did in the second," Carlyle said.
Anaheim, who won the Stanley Cup in 2007, struck twice within 1:09 of the third through Teemu Selanne and Niedermayer.
Selanne broke a 1-1 tie with a powerplay goal 7:16 into the period and Niedermayer quickly followed before he completed the scoring six minutes later.
"You just have to try and change the momentum," Niedermayer said.
Ryan Getzlaf, who had a goal and two assists, scored Anaheim's first goal. Matt Cullen answered for Carolina, the 2006 Stanley Cup champion, five minutes later.
Netminder Jonas Hiller made 36 saves for Anaheim.
Cam Ward started in goal for the Hurricanes but suffered an injury in the first period and was replaced by Michael Leighton. Ward yielded one goal off 13 shots and Leighton gave up three goals while making 11 saves.
Carolina continued to struggle on the power play, going 0-for-4 against the Ducks. The Hurricanes have now failed to score on 25 consecutive power play opportunities over six games.
"Our power play, there is nothing in sync with it, nothing good about it right now," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said.
The Hurricanes out shot the Ducks 37-27.
"It's about attitude right now," center Tuomo Ruutu said. "We played an okay game but it's not enough in this league and against a team like the Ducks."
(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Ed Osmond and Greg Stutchbury)
