Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Ben Lovejoy's first career two-goal effort kept the Anaheim Ducks red-hot as the Pacific Division leaders rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center.
Kyle Palmieri notched a goal and an assist in Anaheim's 12th win in 13 games, with Tim Jackman and Andrew Cogliano also lighting the lamp in the triumph.
Jonas Hiller needed to make just 16 saves for the Ducks, who outshot the Oilers by a commanding 37-18 margin on the night.
"[Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry] weren't going as good as they normally do, and when they're not going, you need people to pick up the slack. I thought Jackman's goal was a huge goal at the end of the second. Then you get help from everywhere. That���s why we're a pretty good team," said Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Boyd Gordon and Nail Yakupov had first-period goals and Ilya Bryzgalov recorded 32 saves in the loss, the Oilers' fourth straight.
Anaheim was staring at a 2-1 deficit late in the opening period before pulling ahead on a pair of goals by Lovejoy less than three minutes apart.
"It was a little stunning behind the bench. It was great to get that first one and for them to come right back the way they did, it took the wind out of our sails a little bit. It was a bit of a crazy period, back and forth," said Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins.
The first came off a drop pass from Saku Koivu with Anaheim on a transition rush 2:48 prior to the initial intermission. The defenseman delivered again with just 4.4 seconds left in the period, one-timing a Cam Fowler feed past Bryzgalov with moderate traffic in front of the Edmonton net.
Anaheim remained ahead behind a dominant second period in which it outshot Edmonton by a 14-3 count, though the frame's only goal didn't come until the final minute of play.
Jackman went to the net to lift a well-placed pass from Nick Bonino over Bryzgalov's right shoulder to extend the margin to 4-2 just 44 seconds before the period expired.
Cogliano extinguished any Edmonton comeback hopes with a breakaway goal with 8:44 left to play, stealing the puck from the Oilers' Jeff Petry near center ice before beating Bryzgalov in a one-on-one situation.
Both teams struck for a goal in the game's first minute, with Gordon successfully converting a Ryan Smyth give while falling down a mere 35 seconds in. The Ducks needed only 11 ticks to respond, with Palmieri rocketing a backhander by Bryzgalov after an Edmonton giveaway moments after the ensuing faceoff.
Yakupov forced an Anaheim turnover deep in the Ducks' end later in the period, then poked in the rebound of his own close-range shot to send the Oilers ahead at the 11:06 mark of the session.
Game Notes
Lovejoy's two goals in a span of 2 minutes, 43 seconds were the fastest by a defenseman in Ducks history, breaking the mark of 2:59 held by Tom Kurvers against the Oilers on Jan. 23, 1995 ... Lovejoy also became just the seventh Anaheim blueliner to score twice in a single period, with Lubomir Visnovsky last accomplishing the feat against the Rangers on March 9, 2011 ... Hiller, named the NHL's Third Star for December on Friday, extended his personal win streak to a club-record 10 straight starts ... Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle was scratched after hurting his knee in Thursday's loss at San Jose, while teammate Mark Arcobello returned from a seven-game absence caused by a rip injury ... The Ducks held out forward Daniel Winnik and defenseman Bryan Allen for rest purposes.
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