Brandon Montour is the real deal

ANAHEIM – If there was any doubt that Six Nations pride and joy Brandon Montour is in for a long NHL career, those doubts are rapidly disappearing even for the harshest critic.

Montour came up early last season after a few cups of coffee with the Ducks. That year after he earned a regular spot on the Ducks defence scoring two goals and four assists in 20 games played.

So far this season, after 27 games, Montour, an offensive style defenseman with quick feet, a hair trigger release and a laser accurate shot, is third overall in team scoring and first among Ducks defenseman with six goals and six assists for 12 points.

Monday night in San Jose, the Ducks and the Sharks tangled at the SAP Centre where a nine-round shootout was needed to find a winner after nothing changed in OT.

After Joonas Donskoi gave the Sharks fans a lift at 3:21, of the first period Corey Perry scored a one timer off a perfect feed pass from the point by Montour to even the score at 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Montour then added a second assist on Rickart Rakell’s goal at 11:39 to end the second period with the Ducks leading 2-1.

The Sharks turned it up in the third and Reto Berra was outstanding, facing 20-shots in the final frame alone while Martin Jones put his feet up at the other end only being called upon seven times.

Donskoi sent the teams to overtime at 7:47 of the third where the score held at 2-2. There were chances but no scoring in the OT period and it was going to be up to the goalies to decide.

Montour scored on his attempt in the seventh-round, diving into the crease lacrosse style to place the puck just inside the post. The game was finally decided by Antoine Vermette and the Ducks got the extra point.

Sunday, Montour slammed in a rebound in the Ducks 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers.

This week, on Wednesday night, Anaheim will continue its busy schedule hosting the newest NHL franchise, the Las Vegas Knights. Friday, the Jets fly in from Winnipeg and Saturday night they go on the road to LA, before touching down in Chicago Monday, and St. Louis next Wednesday.

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