The Ducks were looking to get back on the right track following a disappointing road trip when they took to the ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night at Honda Center.

Corey Perry (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The first period started quickly with the Ducks putting pressure on the Lightning right away. As a result, the Ducks got an early lead with a goal by Teemu Selanne off a great cross ice pass by Ryan Getzlaf at 6:25 of the first. It was his 11^th goal of the year and 590^th of his career. At 18:12 Selanne returned the favor with a nearly identical pass to Getzlaf to make it 2-0 Ducks going into the intermission. That assist by Selanne also ties him with Peter Forsberg for career assists. Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski left the game during the 1^st period after injuring his right foot blocking a shot.

3:10 into the second the duck’s Mike Brown and Tampa’s Zenon Konopka fought to the joy of the crowd. Soon after, Ducks left wing Bobby Ryan was cut above his right eye on a high stick by Tampa’s David Hale. Bobby returned to the ice to score on the 4 minute penalty to Hale at 6:52, before returning to the bench so the trainer could tend to his still bleeding eye. But Tampa Bay wasted no time responding. 31 seconds after Bobby’s goal, Tampa’s Jeff Halpern made it 3-1. Steven Stamkos made it 3-2 just 18 seconds after that. The Ducks were able to regroup and and hold off Tampa to take their 1 goal lead into the 3^rd period, but Todd Marchant’s tripping penalty at 19:59 would mean the Ducks started the 3^rd on the penalty kill.

In the 3^rd, it was Tampa Bay who got off to a quick start, Martin St. Louis scored on the Power play just 1:38 into the first making it a 3-3 tie. At 15:46 of the 3^rd the Duck’s Corey Perry took a very bad penalty for tripping Steven Stamkos behind the Tampa goal. But the Ducks were able to kill off the penalty to force overtime.

Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone quickly took his own bad penalty when he cross-checked Ryan Whitney right in front of the referee just 11 seconds into overtime giving the Ducks a 4 on 3 man advantage. Ducks fans know what 4 on 3 means for the Ducks. Scott Niedermayer will prove why he is one of the best player sin the game. Just 41 seconds after Malone went to the box, Scott did exactly that, scoring the game winning goal with assists by Selanne and Getzlaf. It was Scott’s 13^th career overtime goal, making him 5^th all time for OT goals.

Next up for the Ducks, their division rival San Jose Sharks on Saturday at Honda Center. The Sharks are a much harder opponent than the Lightning and that game will be a a real challenge.