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Scott Niedermayer scored a breakaway goal in overtime to keep the Anaheim Ducks firmly in the Western Conference play-off picture with a 4-3 home win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Playing in a 3-on-3 situation, the Ducks captain slipped past the defense and received a pass before beating goaltender Roberto Luongo for the winning score three minutes 37 seconds into the extra session.

"I almost lost the puck and just wanted to get it back; I just went down and tried to get it up," said veteran defenseman Niedermayer.

"We needed it. Everyone knows the standings, and we're not where we want to be. Now we have to go back to work."

Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller provided a solid foundation for the victory with 32 saves as Anaheim snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 32-30-6, pulling within one point of the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

The Canucks (34-23-9), fifth in the conference, were led by Luongo's 37 stops.

Vancouver fell behind early but refused to give up and Ryan Kesler sent the game into overtime on a backhand goal with just under five minutes remaining.

Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf both notched their 21st goals of the season, in the first and second period respectively, to give the Ducks an early 2-0 advantage.

"It was exciting for me to get that off my back," center Getzlaf said of his first score for eight games.

"Hopefully I can keep it rolling. We've had a tough (time) and we need this down the stretch."

Vancouver tied things up in the second period on two quick goals from Alexandre Burrows and Kyle Wellwood before Petteri Nokelainen gave Anaheim a 3-2 lead later in the frame with his first score since last week's trade.

Other Results: OTTAWA 3 Tampa Bay 2 (OT); CHICAGO 3 Carolina 2 (SO)

Reuters