Numbers just keep following Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer.

Niedermayer’s game-winning goal in Thursday night’s 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks in the opener of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at HP Pavilion was his fourth in post-season play since he joined the Ducks in 2005. That ties Niedermayer with Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings for most among NHL defensemen during that time span.

All-time, Niedermayer is tied for fourth among defensemen with seven game-winning playoff goals, behind Lidstrom (10), Paul Coffey (8) and former New Jersey Devils teammate Scott Stevens (8). Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin and Larry Murphy also had seven.

Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller, meanwhile, on Thursday became the first goaltender to record a shutout in his NHL playoff debut since Andrew Raycroft of the Boston Bruins in the opening game of a first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens in 2004.

Last but not least, by winning for the second time in four tries at HP Pavilion this season, the Ducks improved their record in San Jose to 10-5 since Jan. 26, 2006.

[Source: Ducks.FreedomBlogging.com]

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