Ducks Win, Sign Perry To Extension

The Anaheim Ducks won 5-3 over the San Jose Sharks Monday for their 12th straight home win and also signed Corey Perry to an extension. Perry agreed to an eight-year deal worth $69 million.

Perry, the 28th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, has spent his entire career with the Ducks, and signed just 10 days after teammate Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf signed his extension for eight years as well, but at $66 million. Perry missed the game Monday and will miss one more due to being suspended four games for a big hit on Jason Zucker of the Minnesota Wild on March 12.

With both signings, the Ducks have relieved themselves of a major headache in the offseason, as both Getzlaf and Perry were on their way to free agency. On the ice, the Ducks have been one of the best teams in the NHL, and continued their winning ways Monday.

The Ducks and Sharks were tied going into the second period when Anaheim broke it open. Peter Holland and Emerson Etem scored within 35 seconds of each other midway through the period to make it 3-1 Ducks.

Getzlaf added a shorthanded goal two minutes later to up the lead to three goals before Patrick Marleau scored his 15th of the season for the Sharks.

Marleau’s goal made it 4-2 going into the third period, and Matt Irwin scored just under seven minutes in to bring the Sharks within one. The Ducks Francis Beauchemin scored his second of the game on an empty net in the final minute to finish off the Sharks.

Both Etem and Getzlaf finished with a goal and an assist for the Ducks, while Viktor Fasth made 32 saves on 35 shots in net. David Steckel scored his first point with the Ducks on an assist to Beauchemin’s goal in the first period. Steckel was traded to the Ducks from the Toronto Maple Leafs last week.

The Sharks have now lost six of their last seven games and fallen into a tie for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with the Phoenix Coyotes. The Sharks match-up with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, who they have beaten twice this season.

The Ducks have opened up a 12-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division and are just five points behind the Chicago Blackhawks in the West. The Ducks will host the Blackhawks Wednesday in what should be a fast-pace game in a playoff-type atmosphere.

Anaheim sports the best record at home in all of the NHL and plans on adding to it against the Blackhawks. The Ducks won 5-3 over the Sharks Monday, but the real test will come against the Blackhawks Wednesday in a battle for the Western Conference.