(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

By Pearl Allison Lo

ANAHEIM– 58 seconds into sudden death, Ryan Kesler scored above Antti Niemi in a 3-2 win Monday, to extend the Ducks’ division lead over the San Jose Sharks.

Kesler was aided by Patrick Maroon and Ryan Getzlaf before the teams headed into Christmas break, as Anaheim halted the Sharks’ five-game winning streak.

Regarding the game winner, Niemi commented, “it came quick. It was a quick shot behind the [defense]. I didn’t see it coming early enough.”

The 32 saves for each goalie both spoke to competitiveness and skill.

In the first period in which San Jose has outscored the Ducks 5-1, the Sharks had 15 shots without result this time. Joe Pavelski said,“It felt like we probably should have deserved better up ‘til [the third period]. That was the energy. It didn’t really feel like we needed to change the way we were playing…”

San Jose killed off two penalties in the second, but ended the period in the hole as Rickard Rakell scored his first regular season goal, aided by Emerson Etem and Matt Beleskey at 7:20. Rakell later remarked, “Christmas is saved.”

The Sharks’ Tomas Hertl left the ice after being hit by a shot before the goal, but returned later. In the other end, after San Jose’s Andrew Desjardins committed goalie interference on the left at 8:18, teammate John Scott knocked down Tim Jackman at the right side of the net. Jackman was laid out for awhile, but luckily got up after. An announcement was made during second intermission, however, stating Jackman would not return to the game due to evaluation.

Though there was at least one power play and some sort of altercation between the two nemeses in each period, things didn’t get really interesting on the scoreboard until the third.

The Sharks took advantage of an early power play in the period. Brent Burns shot from the blue line and Pavelski tipped in his shot to put San Jose on the board. Joe Thornton also helped on the play. At 7:56, Melker Karlsson gave the Sharks their first lead with his first NHL goal as the puck slid between goalie Frederick Andersen’s legs.  Barclay Goodrow and Brenden Dillon also assisted. At 15:44, Cam Fowler re-tied the game by sliding the puck around Niemi’s foot. Fowler was aided by Getzlaf and Devante Smith-Pelly. Almost like last game, the Sharks pushed the game into overtime in the last minute, but his time defensively instead of offensively.

Burns was called for high-sticking with 1:07 left. Niemi made a left hand save against Kesler during the power play, falling backwards after. Coach Todd McLellan commented, “Everybody found a way to scramble to get a point on the road.”

Game notes: Anaheim was without Francois Beauchemin and Corey Perry, who were nursing injuries. This was the first game of the season series both teams came in riding a hot hand and was the tightest game result so far. San Jose returns from Christmas break to play Saturday at 7p versus their other Southern California opponent.