Ducks squeak by the Sharks, 3-2

SAN JOSE —  As the clock ticks down on today’s NHL trade deadline, the Ducks have come up empty thus far in their quest to boost their lineup for a potential Stanley Cup playoff run.

But in an important Pacific Division game Monday night against one of their challengers, the Ducks showed that what they have might be enough.

Teemu Selanne scored a key goal in the third period and Ilya Bryzgalov made a rare start in the net count in the Ducks’ 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks in front an energetic sellout crowd of 17,496 at HP Pavilion.

The Ducks (37-17-10) won despite getting just 19 shots, including two in the third. It was their second win in a row and they pulled seven points ahead of the Sharks and Dallas.

After withstanding several rushes by San Jose early in the period, Selanne got his team-high 38th goal when he and Chris Kunitz teamed on a counterattack that finished with the right wing banging in Kunitz’s centering pass.

“You just know he’s going to be there,” Kunitz said. “You know he’s got that extra speed. Any time he gets rid of the puck and jumps by a guy, he’s either going to pull a guy down and get the penalty or he’s going to get the pass. It worked out perfect.”

The Ducks also got a confident performance by Bryzgalov, who was making just his second start since the All-Star break.

Bryzgalov struggled while Jean-Sebastien Giguere was injured but he may have worked himself back into a larger role down the stretch. He made a season-high 40 saves for his first victory since Jan. 11 at Dallas.

“It was good for him because he hasn’t played in a while,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “He’s earned an opportunity.”

Said Selanne: “We needed that and he needed that.”

Ducks General Manager Brian Burke has been adamant about not including Dustin Penner, Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf in any potential deal. The trio have combined for 56 goals and they put their talent on display Monday in a critical game.

Penner scored both of his goals from in front of the net, where few Ducks were willing to take up regular residence during their five-week scoring drought.

The Ducks’ kid line finished off a dominating shift midway through the first period with the rookie left wing deflecting in a shot from defenseman Ric Jackman at the point.

It marked Penner’s 20th goal of the season and the tally broke teammate Kunitz’s club rookie record of 19 set last season. But there was more to come for the burly forward.

Getzlaf was turned away by Evgeni Nabokov on a rebound of a shot by Francois Beauchemin, but Penner jumped on the loose puck and put a backhand shot between the goaltender’s legs.

“They’re three pretty big, talented players,” Carlyle said.

“Hopefully this is a point where we have Penner fit on their line with Getzlaf and Perry. He’s going to stay there for a while now.”

They were the highlights of a crisp first period where the Ducks didn’t take a penalty and played smart in their own end. And then they couldn’t handle the prosperity.

Milan Michalek matched Penner’s two goals with two of his own in the second to tie the score.

“The first period was good, smart hockey but the second period, we took those three penalties in a row and we played last night so obviously we’re tired the next night,” Selanne said. “When you take three penalties like that in a row, you put yourself behind the eight ball.

“In the third period, they had all kinds of chances. For sure, we feel a little lucky to get this one.”

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