DUCKS SNAP LOSING STREAK HOLD ON FOR FIRST WIN IN FIVE GAMES DUCKS 4, DETROIT 2.

Byline: T.J. BERKA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- When Tomas Holmstrom brought the Detroit Red Wings within a goal of the Ducks early in the third period on Sunday, the Ducks found themselves in a precarious situation.

Unlike Friday night, when the Ducks blew a three-goal lead in the final period to lose to Columbus, they were up to the challenge, withstanding a spirited Detroit push to pull out a 4-2 victory and halt a four-game losing streak in front of 17,418 at Honda Center.

Rob Niedermayer sewed up the Ducks victory with an empty-net goal with 4.1 seconds left, but the game was won thanks to a gritty effort by the Ducks' defense and goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who turned away 33 of 35 shots.

``It was really important to give us our confidence back,'' Bryzgalov said. ``Last game was like a bad dream. ... This was really important, and now the team is back on track again.''

The Ducks prevailed despite playing the majority of the third period in their own end. Holmstrom's power-play goal with 17:46 remaining, which glanced off of his skate after being deflected by Niedermayer, brought the Red Wings within 3-2.

The Wings continued to attack the Ducks' goal aggressively, looking to avoid their third straight loss on a five-game Western road trip. They outshot the Ducks 17-6 in the period, but Bryzgalov was up to the challenge, allowing few deflections and second-chance opportunities to Detroit.

``The ice was definitely tilted during the third period,'' Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. ``They have a really good team with a lot of skill out there. We just gritted our teeth and held on.''

The win was the Ducks' first since a 4-3 victory at San Jose on Dec. 26.

``It's definitely important to get this kind of win,'' said Ducks left wing Travis Moen, who scored the game's first goal 1:15 into the secondperiod. ``We let it slip by last game. We went into the third period knowing we had to bear down and to get the win we had to play stronger.''

Ducks rookie Bjorn Melin scored his first goal in his NHL debut. With 9:24 left in the second, his centering pass went off Brett Lebda's stick and caromed past Hasek to put the Ducks up 2-1.

Ryan Getzlaf capped the Ducks' three-goal second with a slap shot from outside the right face-off circle at the 7:21 mark.

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Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov makes a stop in the first period against Detroit. Bryzgalov had 33 saves.

Mark Avery/Associated Press