Ducks 3, Senators 2

OTTAWA (AP) _ Perhaps, defenseman Chris Pronger can work his way back in the Ducks' lineup with Anaheim one win from claiming its first Stanley Cup championship. <br/><br/>``I hope so,'' Pronger

Tuesday, June 5th 2007, 7:57 am

By: News On 6

OTTAWA (AP) _ Perhaps, defenseman Chris Pronger can work his way back in the Ducks' lineup with Anaheim one win from claiming its first Stanley Cup championship.

``I hope so,'' Pronger said with a sheepish smile after watching Anaheim pull out a 3-2 win over Ottawa on Monday while the Norris Trophy finalist served a one-game suspension. ``I know you don't want to change a winning lineup.''

The resilient and resourceful Ducks continue to find ways to win this postseason.

They improved to 15-5 overall, matched an NHL playoff record by producing their 12th one-goal victory and have yet to lose consecutive games. They're also 2-0 when Pronger's out of the lineup after the defenseman was suspended for a game against Detroit in the Western Conference finals.

The Ducks are now up 3-1 over Ottawa, with a chance to win the Cup at home when the best-of-seven series shifts to Anaheim on Wednesday.

And if Pronger has learned anything, he'd rather be on the ice contributing than helplessly watching the game on TV in the coach's room.

``I didn't really watch a whole lot. I had my back to the TV,'' said Pronger, who was out for his elbow that knocked out Dean McAmmond in the Ducks' 5-3 loss on Saturday. ``When you don't have a say in what's going on out there, it's very tough to watch, and nerve-racking.''

Anaheim bounced back from a terrible first period and clinched the victory when Dustin Penner capped a 2-on-1 rush by converting Teemu Selanne's pass to break a 2-2 tie 4:07 into the third period.

Andy McDonald scored twice and added an assist, while Jean-Sebastien Giguere kept the Ducks in the game by stopping 21 shots, including 12 of the 13 he faced in the first period.

The Senators got goals from Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley, but failed to build on the momentum they generated from winning Game 3, or a stellar first-period on Monday, in which they outshot the Ducks 13-2.

``Right now it's pretty tough,'' Alfredsson said. ``I'm sure we will leave tomorrow, go forward. I mean, it's not over and we definitely are not going to give up. It's tough to lose this one tonight.''

The Senators, attempting to become the first Canadian team to win the Cup since Montreal in 1993, have history heavily weighing against them.

Of the 28 teams that have trailed a Cup finals series 3-1, only one has rallied to win. And that was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who actually overcame a 3-0 deficit.

Meanwhile, the Ducks have been tough to beat at home. They're 7-0 all-time when having a chance to clinch a series at Anaheim, including 3-0 this year.

``Sunk in?'' Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. ``We know we have a 3-1 lead, but the reality of it is the next one is going to be the toughest one to win.''

Monday's game was far from easy.

Trailing 1-0 after Alfredsson scored with 0.3 seconds left in the first period, the Ducks finally found their legs to start the second. Anaheim outshot Ottawa 10-1 in the first 11 minutes of the frame to build a 2-1 lead before Heatley tied it with 2 minutes left in the period.

The Ducks then found new life, thanks to Alfredsson's foolish decision just as the period ended, when he inexplicably drove a slap shot toward the right corner which struck Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer as he stood in front of the blue line.

Niedermayer and the Ducks accused Alfredsson of deliberately attempting to hit Niedermayer with the shot.

Not so, said Alfredsson.

``It got caught up in my feet, so I just wanted to get rid of it. I didn't mean to hit him,'' he said.

Niedermayer attempted to slap away linesman Scott Driscoll's hold as he separated Niedermayer from Alfredsson while the two team captains exchanged words after the buzzer sounded.

``You can probably figure out what I thought,'' Niedermayer said. ``I wasn't happy. No need to get hit with a puck at that point. I'm not going to say anything more.''

Penner's goal came on a line change, when he joined Selanne on the rush, drove to the net and was in perfect position to score his third goal of the playoffs, and second winner.

Selanne said the Ducks were still fired up over Alfredsson's shot.

``I couldn't believe what I saw,'' Selanne said. ``I really hope that he didn't mean to hurt him because I know Alfie pretty well. I was shocked it happened. You knew he had a couple of seconds left and a whole ice available, and to try to shoot at Scotty, that's dangerous.''

The Ducks were happy to deliver a win for Pronger, too.

``Chris is a big part of our team,'' Giguere said. ``I'm sure in a way he feels bad he couldn't help us. But we know he's going to make it up in two days.''

The Senators are determined to force Game 6, which would be played at Ottawa on Saturday.

``We've won three games in a row against great teams this year tons of times,'' goalie Ray Emery said. ``So, certainly.''