NEW YORK, 20 December 2005 — Rob and Scott Niedermayer each had a goal and an assist as the Anaheim Mighty Ducks edged San Jose 5-4 on Sunday, snapping the Sharks’ six-game winning streak.
It was just the second time the Niedermayer brothers had scored in the same game, Rob collecting the go-ahead goal on a setup from Scott midway through the third period to secure the Ducks’ third win in seven contests.
Chris Kunitz, Todd Marchant and Todd Fedoruk also found the net for the Ducks.
Rookie Grant Stevenson tallied twice for the Sharks while Patrick Marleau and Scott Thornton each contributed a goal in the loss.
Joe Thornton had an assist giving him at least a point in every game since he was traded to San Jose by the Boston Bruins in a blockbuster deal on Nov. 30.
It was the first loss for Thornton in a San Jose uniform, the Sharks immediately embarking on a six-game winning run after acquiring the rugged forward.
Tied 4-4, the Ducks scored the game winner on a controversial play, Scott Niedermayer’s shot deflecting in off Rob’s stick past Evgeni Nabokov.
The goal was reviewed by the video judge and after several minutes was ruled good.
The two teams engaged in a roller coaster battle, tied 1-1 after the opening period and 3-3 after two. Anaheim took the lead in the third on Marchant’s sixth goal of the season but Scott Thornton found the back of the net to level the contest at 4-4.
In New York, Joe Sakic had a power-play goal and scored on a penalty shot 19 seconds later to lift the Colorado Avalanche past the New York Rangers 2-1 to snap a three-game losing streak. Ryan Hollweg scored the Rangers’ lone goal with 20 seconds remaining in the second period spoiling Vitaliy Kolesnik’s shutout bid.
Both of Sakic’s goals also came in the middle frame, the second coming on a penalty shot after he was hauled down from behind by Martin Straka. Taking the puck a center ice, Sakic skated in on Kevin Weekes and beat the Rangers netminder with a wrist shot between the pads for his 14th goal of the season to give Colorado a 2-0 lead.
In Washington, Nathan Horton, Jozef Stumpel and Rostislav Olesz each had a goal and Roberto Luongo made a staggering 53 saves to lead the Florida Panthers past the Capitals 3-2.
The 55 shots were a franchise record for the Capitals, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
The victory marked the first road win in 14 games for the Panthers, an away dry spell stretching back to Oct. 25.
In Chicago, Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen each scored a goal and set up another as the Dallas Stars eased past Blackhawks 5-3 to register their seventh win in eight games.
Jussi Jokinen, Jason Arnott and Nathan Perrott also tallied for the Stars, who are unbeaten in their last 11 games against the Blackhawks.
