ONDEJ KASE celebrates scoring the game-winner Friday as the Ducks defeated the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 Friday night at Honda Center (Ducks photo).

By Pete Zarustica

As a general rule, the Anaheim Ducks have not enjoyed working overtime. They have posted a miserable record so far this season when a game extends past third periods, but all bad things must eventually come to an end.

They did Friday night at Honda Center as the team bested the Arizona Coyotes 3-2. Ondrej Kase scored the winning goal at the 4:24 mark of overtime. The win propelled the Ducks alone atop the NHL Pacific Division with a 21-12-8 mark, worth 50 points.

“We finally got the monkey off our back,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “It’s been too long and too many points that went by the wayside. Tonight we found a way to get it done. It’s nice to see a young kid, who had lots of chances in the game, deliver in overtime.”

The Ducks got goals from Joseph Cramarossa (third) and Chris Wagner (third) in regular time. The key play came in OT when Arizona goalie Mike Smith lost control of the puck in the crease, and Kase smacked it past him for the game-winner.

The next game for the Ducks will be on Sunday when they host the Minnesota Wild (24-9-4) at Honda Center.