DALLAS (Reuters) - Cam Fowler scored the game-winning goal in overtime, after Teemu Selanne had forced the extra period with sevens seconds remaining, to help the Anaheim Ducks beat the Dallas Stars 4-3 Wednesday.
Fowler's game winner, 1:42 into the extra period, also gave Anaheim a one-point lead in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the tight Western Conference.
Anaheim (41-27-5) moved on to 87 points in the standings, while Dallas(38-25-10) are on 86 with the Calgary Flames (37-27-11) on 85.
As the season reaches its climax, the Ducks have established a habit of grinding out victories to keep themselves involved in the tussle for one of the top eight positions in the West.
"We find a way to win games, and that's all that matters," Selanne told reporters. "We know how critical these games are. It's a good feeling when the puck finds you at the right time in the right place."
Anaheim's Corey Perry scored his 40th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2, Daley allowed Dallas to retake the lead at 13:21 before Selanne forced overtime with a game-tying snapshot with just seven seconds left in regulation.
The Stars have lost four of their last five games
"We did a lot of good things. We didn't close out the game," Stars center Brad Richards said. "It's happened a bunch this year for some reason. Nothing we can do but learn, go over it and keep battling."
Anaheim's Lubomir Visnovsky opened the scoring 56 seconds into the second and the Ducks got another goal from red-hot Perry who has nine scores in his last seven games.
Goaltender Ray Emery made 23 saves in the win while opposing netminder Kari Lehtonen finished with 22.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)
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