DALLAS, April 25 (UPI) -- Petr Sykora scored 48 seconds into the fifth overtime to end the fourth-longest game in playoff history Thursday night and give the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series.
After Anaheim had the apparent game-winner disallowed late in the third overtime, Sykora left no doubt as the marathon approached the six-hour mark.
Mike Leclerc battled for the puck behind the net with Dallas defenseman Derian Hatcher, enabling teammate Adam Oates to take possession.
One of the premier playmakers in NHL history, Oates backhanded a pass to the top of the slot, from where Sykora let go a wrister that hit Stars winger Jere Lehtinen and deflected past goaltender Marty Turco.
Sykora's first playoff goal since the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals came on the game's 117th shot, the only one of the fifth overtime.
"It feels great right now," Sykora said. "Hopefully, this may get me out of the slump I'm in and back on track. I realize I haven't been scoring the last six or seven games. This is just a goal for me, but hopefully, it will lead to bigger and better things."
"It was a bang-bang play," said Turco, who made 50 saves. "That's the way it goes. We need to concentrate on emotionally getting back and preparing for Game Two."
Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 60 saves in another stellar Game 1 performance. In the opener of the conference quarterfinals at Detroit, he stopped 63 shots as Anaheim pulled out a 2-1 triple-overtime win en route to a stunning four-game sweep of the defending Stanley Cup champions.
"Jiggy has been unbelievable every night, and it's nice that we could hang in there and get him a win," said Anaheim defenseman Keith Carney.
The teams have less than two days to recoup before Dallas hosts Game 2 on Saturday.
"I thought we had ample chances in the third period and first couple of overtimes," said Dallas Coach Dave Tippett. "You just have to find a way to bury those chances."
