 McDonald's quick-fire brace silenced the Ottawa crowd |
Andy McDonald scored twice and set up a third as Anaheim edged Ottawa 3-2 in Canada to stand on the brink of winning their first-ever Stanley Cup. The Ducks lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can clinch the NHL crown on home ice in game five on Wednesday.
"We know we're going to be playing a desperate team," said coach Randy Carlyle. "We'll have to play possibly the best game we've played this year.
"We lead 3-1 but the reality is the next one is going to be the toughest."
However, only once since the best-of-seven format was adopted in 1939 has a team come back from a 3-1 deficit and lift the Cup, when Toronto rallied past Detroit in 1942.
McDonald stunned Ottawa's fans when he scored goals 60 seconds apart midway through the second period to cancel out a 1-0 Senators lead, then helped set up Dustin Penner's game-winner early in the third.
Penner's third tally of the playoffs earned the Ducks their 12th one-goal victory of the post-season, equalling the NHL record.
Playing without All-Star defenseman Chris Pronger, who was serving a one-game ban for an illegal hit, Anaheim survived a furious first-period assault before taking control.
"We played well and didn't get rewarded until the last second," said Ottawa coach Bryan Murray. "We certainly had enough shooting chances."
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