Sunday, February 28, 1999
MIGHTY DUCKS 3, SPRINGFIELD 2
Winter scores game-winner
BY DAVE HELLER
Enquirer contributor
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks won for the eighth time in February, 3-2 in overtime over Springfield Saturday night at the Gardens. The eight wins are the most in any month in franchise history.
With the new experimental overtime rule in which teams skate 4-on-4 during the five minute extra period making its debut at Cincinnati Gardens, Jeff Winter wristed a shot from the slot past Springfield goalie Jimmy Waite just 56 seconds into overtime.
“I'm still shaking from it,” Winter said a few minutes after the end of the game. “I'm not used to (scoring) so I didn't have a celebration or anything. I looked for the puck, and then a couple of guys were in my face celebrating. I was like, "Get the puck, get the puck.'”
For Winter, who turned 27 on Friday, it was his first goal in 65 career AHL games.
“It's definitely the highlight of my career,” said Winter, who was recalled from Port Huron (UHL) last week. “I wanted to prove to them (that he could play at the AHL level), but I wasn't looking to score and put points on the board, I wanted to play strong defensively. It's sweet. I'm going to relish it. It's a great birthday present.”
The Ducks (26-28-0-4) are undefeated in overtime this season (2-0-4). It was the third OT win in team history and the first at home. Springfield (24-27-0-8) had been unbeaten in 11 OT games this season.
The Ducks scored twice in the second period, with defenseman Mike Crowley the catalyst for both goals.
Cincinnati tied the game 1-1 just 44 seconds into the period when Crowley fed Johan Davidsson from behind the net, with Davidsson, alone in front of the crease, quickly flicking the puck into the net.
The goal was the first for the demoted Davidsson since Dec. 9, when he scored twice for Anaheim.
“It's like it's been more than two months. It was a big relief,” said Davidsson, who also passed the puck to Winter for the game winning score. “I'm happy to be here right now, it's fun to play hockey.”
Springfield ....... 1 1 0 0—2
Cincinnati ....... 0 2 0 1—3
First period: 1, S, Spiridonov 2 (McCann, Phillips), ppg, 3:52.
Second period: 2, C, Davidsson 1 (Crowley, Ciernik), 0:44; 3, C, Ciernik 5 (Crowley, Chouinard), 3:37; 4, S, Morgan 4 (Spiridonov, Nieckar), 16:58.
Third period: None.
Overtime: 5, C, Winter 1 (Davidsson), 0:56.
Shots on goal: S 8-10-9-0=27; C 8-14-10-1-33. Power play opportunities: S 1-4; C 0-5. Goalies: S, Waite (1-2-2); C, Askey (17-13-3). Attendance: 5,085.
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