ANAHEIM, Calif., April 12 (UPI) -- Dustin Penner scored with 5:20 left in the third period as Anaheim topped Minnesota 2-1 in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday.
Teemu Selanne also scored for the Ducks and Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 24 shots to earn the win.
Pavol Demitra tallied for the Wild and Niklas Backstrom made 32 saves in defeat.
With the game tied late in regulation, Penner took a lead pass from Ryan Getzlaf just inside the Minnesota blue line. He moved down the left side, cut in and put a shot on goal which Backstrom stopped while falling backward.
Corey Perry, who trailed the play, put another shot on net that Backstrom stopped with his pads while prone in the crease. However, Perry and Penner kept digging away at the puck and eventually Penner got the game-winner when the puck slithered through Backstrom and Wild defenseman Kim Johnsson and crossed the goal line.
After both teams combined for 24 first-period shots but no goals, Demitra broke through for Minnesota 6:01 into the second before Selanne tied the game at 9:52.
Game 2 will take place on Friday in Anaheim at 10:30 p.m.
