Getzlaf wraps up 17-year career in Ducks’ 6-3 loss to Blues
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Getzlaf scored his last NHL level with a behind-the-back cross to Adam Henrique for a purpose with 2:41 to play, and the longtime Anaheim captain wrapped up a 17-year profession spent completely with the Geese in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday evening.
With one final little bit of playmaking brilliance from one of many prime facilities of his period, Getzlaf finished his prolific career with 1,019 factors, the 88th-most in league historical past.
Getzlaf broke in unmarked on St. Louis goalie Ville Husso with ample time to shoot — however consistent with the pass-first philosophy that outlined his profession, Getzlaf gracefully spun and put a elegant cross onto Henrique’s tape for a purpose.
The sellout crowd at Honda Middle repeatedly roared for the Geese’ longtime captain and playmaking middle from his first step on the ice to his last, teary departure. After the ultimate whistle, he stepped below a highlight on the middle circle within the darkened area and gave his because of the group and his household.
Jordan Kyrou, Vladimir Tarasenko, Ivan Barbashev and Justin Faulk had a purpose and an help apiece throughout a dominant second interval by the Blues, who fell behind 2-0 within the first interval earlier than rallying for his or her 14th win in 16 video games.
Pavel Buchnevich and Marco Scandella added third-period targets and Husso made 14 saves for St. Louis, which remained even with Minnesota for second place within the Central Division and residential ice of their playoff sequence, though the Wild have a recreation in hand.
Max Comtois and Gerry Mayhew scored within the first interval for the Geese, who’ve misplaced 19 of twenty-two within the dismal end to their fourth straight non-playoff season. John Gibson stopped 31 photographs.
The 36-year-old Getzlaf is the Geese’ franchise chief in factors, assists, playoff scoring and video games performed, and he served because the Geese’ captain for a team-record 12 seasons. An often-brilliant passer with spectacular ice imaginative and prescient and a imply streak, he grew to become the 92nd participant in NHL historical past to attain 1,000 factors final November — and solely the forty fifth to do it with one workforce.
He gained the Stanley Cup in 2007 alongside Corey Perry, his fellow 2003 draftee and greatest pal. The longtime linemates spent 14 seasons collectively in Anaheim earlier than Perry was launched in 2019.
With their playoff hopes already dashed, the Geese turned their residence finale right into a tribute recreation for Getzlaf. 1000’s of followers anticipating one thing to rejoice after a dismal half-decade in Anaheim hockey lined up exterior two hours earlier than the sector doorways opened.
After a pregame tribute video, Getzlaf and his spouse and 4 youngsters joined workforce homeowners Henry and Susan Samueli at middle ice. The Geese introduced Getzlaf with an around-the-world golf trip, adopted by an off-road automobile pushed onto the ice by beloved Geese legend Teemu Selanne.
Anaheim then rode the momentum from its crowd to attain on its first two photographs in opposition to the Blues. Comtois banged residence a doorstep cross from Vinni Lettieri, and Mayhew adopted up with a slap shot by means of visitors from the blue line.
However the Blues’ enormous expertise benefit confirmed within the second interval. After Kyrou and Tarasenko acquired credit score for targets on deflected photographs, an unmarked Barbashev put the Blues forward together with his twenty sixth purpose from point-blank vary earlier than Faulk added his sixteenth purpose.
Buchnevich scored his career-best thirtieth purpose, and Kyrou grew to become St. Louis’ fourth 70-point scorer this season.
Tyler Bozak returned from a six-week harm absence for St. Louis, and Robert Thomas had an help to increase his factors streak to a career-best 17 video games.
UP NEXT
Blues: At Avalanche on Tuesday.
Geese: At Sharks on Tuesday. Getzlaf won’t play in Anaheim’s last two video games.
___
Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
