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Anaheim eliminate Vancouver

The Anaheim Ducks booked their second straight trip to the NHL's Western Conference finals on Thursday with a double-overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Scott Niedermayer scored four-and-a-half minutes into the second extra period, giving the Ducks a 2-1 victory and a four-games-to-one triumph in their best-of-seven second-round series.

The Ducks, who advanced to the conference finals for the third time in four seasons, await the winner of the series between Detroit and San Jose. The Red Wings and Sharks currently are even at two games apiece.

With grinders Brad May and Shawn Thornton working tirelessly to keep the puck in the offensive zone, Vancouver finally appeared ready to break up ice. But with his head down, rookie Jannik Hansen was steamrolled by Rob Niedermayer along the left wing boards, allowing the puck to slide toward the blue line.

At the left point, Scott Niedermayer wristed a shot that sneaked past goaltender Roberto Luongo and just inside the right goalpost, sending the Ducks and the capacity crowd at the Honda Center into a frenzy.

It was the 20th career playoff goal for Scott Niedermayer, who earlier in the week was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy along with teammate Chris Pronger and Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom.

Luongo, who looked distracted as Scott Niedermayer let go his shot, did his best to extend Vancouver's season, making 56 saves -- including 21 in the second period. However, the Hart and Vezina Trophy finalist had an equipment problem just before the start of the first overtime, forcing backup Dany Sabourin to start the extra session and make five saves in just over three-and-a-half minutes of action.

Giguere made 26 saves in improving his lifetime playoff overtime record to 10-1 for Anaheim, which improved to 5-1 at home in this year's playoffs.
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