The Anaheim \">Mighty Ducks are making a push toward the playoffs with some talented young players.

Dustin Penner and Corey Perry scored third-period goals lifting, Anaheim to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Penner scored on a wraparound 17 seconds into the third period and Perry tapped in a pass from Ryan Getzlaf 3:03 later to help Anaheim move three points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Ducks have earned points in 13 of their last 16 games, going 9-3-4 since Jan. 9.

Penner, Perry and Getzlaf are all rookies, part of a young nucleus of players that have helped fuel the recent success in Anaheim.

The three young forwards have combined to score eight goals in the last nine Ducks games.

``Those guys have definitely all contributed,'' said Anaheim center Andy McDonald. ``They had a really strong game tonight. Were going to need that if we want to go to the playoffs.''

McDonald extended an 11-game scoring streak with an assist on a first-period goal by second-year NHL forward Joffrey Lupul. The point streak is the longest current streak in the NHL, with McDonald generating five goals and 13 assists during the 11-game span.

Teemu Selanne also had an assist to extend a three-game assist streak. Todd Marchant added two assists. Lupul scored a second goal into an empty-net goal.

``Its the best way to go into the break,'' said Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere who made 24 saves in the win. ``We can go into the break feeling pretty good about ourselves. We have been playing well as of late. We put ourselves in a position where in March and April we can battle for a playoff spot.''

The Blackhawks have not won in Anaheim since Feb. 7, 2001, going 0-7-2 in their last nine games at the Arrowhead Pond. Chicago has just one overall win in its last 11 games against Anaheim.

``It was important for us to come out and try and get some results,'' said Chicago forward Patrick Sharp who tied the game 1-1 with a second-period goal. ``For the most part we did that, but we had a few letdowns and it cost us.''

Penner broke the 1-1 tie by gathering the puck behind the Blackhawks goal, fending off several checks by Sharp and sweeping around the cage to swipe the puck under goalie Adam Munro.

``I waited to make contact and then spun off, like I've been trying to do on a consistent basis,'' said Penner. ``I just tried to put a good shot on net.''

The Blackhawks head into the Olympic break ending a six-game road trip with a 1-4-1 record.

``It's been a difficult year for everybody so far, and getting away from the game sometimes doesn't hurt,'' said Chicago coach Trent Yawney. ``Its almost like a new start with the break as long as it is.''

Rookie Lee Stempniak is taking advantage of the St. Louis \">Blues' salary purge.

The 22-year-old right wing had his second big game since the trades earlier this week of Doug Weight and Mike Sillinger, scoring two goals and getting the game-winner in the shootout of a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Stempniak also got the winner in a shootout against the Flames on Monday.

``It's a huge thrill,'' Stempniak said. ``However many goals I have this year, I remember them all and how they went in. I'm still like a kid out there, just amazed by being in the NHL and scoring goals.''

Petr Cajanek had a goal and two assists for the \">Blues, who are 8-15-3 at home and won after squandering a 3-0 second-period lead. The \">Blues, tied for last overall with the Penguins, have won consecutive games at home for the first time all season, and have won consecutive games only twice all season.

The other modest streak for the , who have been stripped of most of their frontline talent to facilitate a sale, was Nov. 16 and 19 at Columbus and Detroit.

Stempniak beat rookie Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford between the pads on the third round to snap a 1-1 tie. Fellow rookie Jay McClement also scored in the shootout for the Blues, while Radim Vrbata converted a backhander for the Blackhawks.

Stempniak changed his shootout strategy against the Blackhawks after scoring on a high drive against the \">BluesFlames.

``A lot of it is just sort of reacting to the goalie, seeing what happens, what's worked,'' Stempniak said. ``I like to watch the highlights and see what works around the league and see if I can practice those and get them to work.''

Duncan Keith had two goals, including a wrist shot from the right point that forced overtime with 4:18 to go, for Chicago. Tyler Arnason had a goal and an assist and Kyle Calder had three assists for the Blackhawks, who have lost four of five.

Coach Trent Yawney called a timeout after the \">Blues' first two goals, coming 1:22 apart early in the first period.

``They should have been ready,'' Yawney said. ``I could say that how many times this year? The timeout was just to regroup.''

The teams had four shots apiece in overtime. Keith Tkachuk fanned on a breakaway in the opening minute, the best chance of the period by far.

Stempniak has four of his seven goals in the last three games for the Blues, who got a goal and an assist from Vladimir Orszagh.

The Blues built a 3-0 lead against Crawford, making his first NHL start and second appearance, by the opening minute of the second period. The Blackhawks twice cut the deficit to one in the second period, each time eliciting a response from St. Louis, then scored twice in the third to force overtime.

``I settled down as the game went on - at least, I think I did,'' Crawford said. ``Timing was the biggest part of it.

``I just need to get game experience and play more.''

Notes: Scott Young, who got his 19th goal for the Blues, had five of the team's 11 shots in the first period. ... Blues D Christian Backman bruised his right hip in the second period and did not return. ... The Blackhawks began a six-game trip, their longest of the season. ... Four of the Blues' last five games have been decided by one goal, and five the last eight have gone to shootouts. ... The Blues, who lost 3-2 at Detroit on Wednesday, won for the first time in the second game on back-to-back nights. They're 1-10-2. ... Rene Bourque scored his third goal in four games after going without a goal for 19 games, and added an assist for Chicago.

At Chicago, Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen each had a goal and an assist for Dallas and Marty Turco made 29 saves to improve to 9-0-1 against Chicago. Jussi Jokinen, Jason Arnott and Nathan Perrott also scored for Dallas, which has won seven of its last eight games and 12 of 14.

Mighty Ducks 3, Blackhawks 1
At Anaheim, Calif., Teemu Selanne and Joffrey Lupul broke open a scoreless game in the third period, lifting the host Mighty Ducks over Chicago.

Selanne scored with 10:31 left and Lupul beat goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on a partial breakaway seven minutes later. Rob Niedermayer scored into an empty net to secure the Mighty Ducks' third win in four games. Selanne has scored in four straight.


Mark Bell, who had the lone goal for the Blackhawks, scored for the sixth straight game - the NHL's longest streak this season. Chicago finished 2-3 on a five-game trip and fell to 1-11-2 in Anaheim since November 1997.