The Associated Press
ANAHEIM - Jonas Hiller came close to posting his first NHL shutout on a number of occasions since becoming Jean-Sebastien Giguere's backup last season. This time, Hiller finally got it done.
Hiller made 29 saves while Giguere got the day off, and the Anaheim Ducks got goals from Corey Perry and defenseman Bret Hedican to beat the Los Angeles Kings, 2-0, on Sunday night.
"I'm happy that it finally worked out. It's a great feeling," Hiller said. "I mean, at the end, they count as team wins, but for sure it's a great feeling for a goalie to get a shutout.
"It's easier to get in the game when you get some shots at the beginning and move around and get the confidence -- especially when you don't play that much. I've been looking to get more starts than last year, but I'm happy to be able to play this many so far. Hopefully, I can keep playing good enough to get some more."
It was the Ducks' second shutout in the past two meetings between the Southern California rivals. The last time they met on Nov. 4 at Staples Center, the Ducks won 1-0 on Chris Pronger's overtime goal. The only other time the Ducks have had consecutive shutouts against the Kings was in 2000-01, both in Anaheim by 4-0 scores.
"If you don't score, you don't win," Kings goalie Erik Ersberg said. "(Hiller) played good in net at the other end, so it happens. We played a good team tonight and we gave it our best effort. Maybe we ran out of gas in at the end. It was like this the last game, too."
Ersberg, whose current string of seven consecutive starts began with the previous meeting against the Ducks, made 24 saves in the rematch.
Perry scored his sixth goal at 11:36 of the second period, just 2 seconds after the Kings killed off a hooking penalty against Alexander Frolov.
Hedican scored with 4 ½ minutes left, for his first tally with the Ducks.
Published: Monday, November 17, 2008