Saku Koivu scored his 200th goal, Jonas Hiller made 38 saves, and the Anaheim Ducks ended a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
Matt Beleskey scored his first NHL goal and Corey Perry ended a 10-game goal drought with a late score for the last-place Ducks, who struggled while playing 10 of their last 12 games on the road. Anaheim has earned points in nine of 10 home games.
With star center Ryan Getzlaf back in the lineup, Anaheim took charge early when Koivu reached his latest career milestone with a remarkable short-handed effort in the first period.
Valtteri Filppula scored on a rebound with 8:57 left to end Hiller's bid for his sixth career shutout, but Perry replied with 6:31 to play. Anaheim's Kyle Chipchura scored an empty-net goal that traveled nearly the entire length of the rink with 7.8 seconds left.
Jimmy Howard stopped 31 shots for the Red Wings after beating Anaheim twice earlier this season at Joe Louis Arena in this rematch of an outstanding postseason series. Anaheim stretched the eventual Western Conference champions to seven games in the second round of last season's playoffs after knocking off top-seeded San Jose.
The Red Wings didn't have Henrik Zetterberg or Dan Cleary, who are both close to returning from separated shoulders. Both hope to play Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Getzlaf returned from a four-game absence caused by a self-inflicted skate cut on his right knee, and the Ducks responded with one of their best offensive games in several weeks.
Koivu gave an early lead to Anaheim after intercepting a mid-ice pass. With three Red Wings trailing him, including Brian Rafalski seemingly attached to him, Koivu broke loose, fired a shot at Howard and then dug out the rebound from underneath the goalie. It was the Finnish Olympic captain's ninth goal of the season _ and his first short-handed goal in more than three years.
Beleskey followed 2:01 later, firing home a rebound of Sheldon Brookbank's wide shot. The 21-year-old rookie forward had three assists this season, but finally scored a goal in his 24th career game.
Anaheim's defense mostly kept Detroit's forwards out of prime scoring positions through a scoreless second period and well into the third before Filppula backhanded in a rebound for his first goal since Oct. 17. The Finnish Olympian missed 26 games because of a broken wrist before returning Dec. 26.
Getzlaf then stole a puck near Detroit's net, and Perry eventually found it for his 17th goal.
NOTES: Koivu's previous short-handed goal was scored on Dec. 14, 2006. ... Ducks F Teemu Selanne missed his 14th straight game, but hopes to return from a broken hand later this week. The Finnish Olympian has been out since Dec. 3. ... Anaheim reassigned C MacGregor Sharp to the AHL. He is scoreless in eight games with the Ducks this season. ... A pregame moment of silence was held for Los Angeles Angels broadcaster Rory Markas, who died Monday at 54.
