Ducks Get to Enjoy Fast Payoff

Steve Thomas was put in the odd situation of changing loyalties on the fly. A little more than 24 hours after being traded to the Mighty Ducks by Chicago, he had to face his former teammates.

His game plan was one of restraint.

“I thought a lot about this game last night and I didn’t get much sleep,” Thomas said after the Ducks’ 5-2 victory Wednesday at the Arrowhead Pond. “I knew I couldn’t get in a situation where I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I had to control my emotions.”

That became more of a problem after Thomas scored his second goal against his former team in front of an announced 13,212.

There were others who had impact as well.

Mike Leclerc had the most painful game-winning goal of his career, when a shot by Vitaly Vishnevski went off Leclerc’s face and into the net. Petr Sykora continued to make quasi-Duck history with his 26th goal, the most ever by a Duck player not named Paul Kariya or Teemu Selanne. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere was his usual rock-like self in getting his 30th victory, one shy of Guy Hebert’s team record.

But Thomas was the star as he helped the Ducks keep pace with Minnesota by winning for the fourth time in five games. The teams are tied for sixth-place in the Western Conference with 80 points, five shy of the Duck season record.

“I feel like I am 21 again,” said Thomas, 39. “I have jump back in my legs. This is a great way to start out with a new organization.”

Thomas and Rob Niedermayer were acquired in separate deals just before the trade deadline Tuesday and both played Wednesday. Niedermayer was good, checking and defending. Thomas, a 19-year NHL veteran, was great, getting his first multi-goal game since Nov. 1, 2001.

“He was awesome,” said Sykora, whose goal was his 400th NHL point.

Thomas was on the Blackhawks’ bus heading to practice at the Pond on Tuesday when his cell phone rang. He was told to go to the other dressing when he arrived at the arena.

He adjusted quickly during the game just by being his pesky self.

Thomas annoyed the Blackhawks from the start, and any friendships were quickly put aside, as Sami Helenius made clear by shoving Thomas in the face midway through the first period. Thomas’ crime had been badgering goalie Jocelyn Thibault.

He harassed Thibault again late in the first period, which led to a goal. Thibault went behind the net to retrieve the puck and Thomas checked him, creating a turnover. Thomas then circled from behind the net and was in perfect position to redirect a Stanislav Chistov pass to tie the score, 1-1, at 12:04.

With the Ducks leading, 2-1, in the second period, Thomas intercepted a pass at the blue line, zeroed in and blasted a shot past Thibault. It was Thomas’ sixth goal of the season and his 900th point of his career.

Leclerc was fortunate to come away with minimum damage. He was planted to the left of the net as Vishnevski fired a shot that deflected off defenseman Jon Klemm’s stick and smacked Leclerc in the mouth.

“They say good things happen when you go to the net,” Leclerc said. “I have been trying to get there all year. It’s something I need to do more. Next time, maybe it will go off my leg instead.”