Ollausson Gets 500 In Duck Win

February 7, 1999 / 12:09 AM EST / AP

Fredrik Olausson's 500th career point could not have come at a better time for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Olausson became just the second defensemen born outside of North America to reach 500 career points when he keyed a three-goal third period as Anaheim rallied from two goals down to beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 Saturday night.

"The thing that makes me most happy is that we won the game," said Olausson, a native of Sweden, who joined fellow countryman Borje Salming as the only European defenseman on the NHL's 500-point list. "This was a big boost for our team. We don't come back from two goals down often, at least not in the third period."

In fact, it's happened only one other time in team history. The Mighty Ducks trailed 3-1 in Carolina on Nov. 11 of this season and came back to win 5-4 in overtime.

Only 37 defensemen in the history of the NHL have scored at least 500 points, but Olausson would not dwell on it for now.

"After I retire, it will be something nice to look back on, though," Olausson said.

Anaheim trailed 3-1 entering the third period but got goals from Marty McInnis, Olausson and Pascal Trepanier in a 5:08 span to extend its winning streak to three games.

"We had a lot of energy in the third period and that's a positive sign for a hockey club," said Anaheim coach Craig Hartsburg.

St. Louis wasted a three-point effort from defenseman Al MacInnis, who had two goals and an assist. Pierre Turgeon had the other goal for the Blues.

"It's frustrating and disappointing to have a two-goal lead and lose," MacInnis said. "There are no excuses. It's not acceptable. We've got to play better in the final 20 minutes."

Matt Cullen had a goal and an assist and Teemu Selanne picked up two assists for the Mighty Ducks. Selanne has six assists in his last three games.

The victory vaulted Anaheim past the Blues in the Western Conference standings. The Mighty Ducks are in fifth with 49 points while the Blues dropped to seventh with 47.

Goaltender Grant Fuhr, who set an NHL record in 1995 for most games played with 79 and most consecutive starts with 76, saw his first action for the Blues since Jan. 21. Rich Parent had started the previous five games.

Fuhr was sharp early but allowed three goals on seven shots in the third period. But the Blues refused to blame Fuhr for the loss.

"We're not pointing the finger at him," MacInnis said.

McInnis got Anaheim back in the game with his 16th goal on a slap shot from the top of the left circle 3:58 into the third period. Just 3:45 later, Olausson tied it with his 12th goal on a shot from the right wing that appeared to deflect off Blues defenseman Chris Pronger.

Anaheim then took its first lead when Trepanier scored his first goal at 9:06.

Turgeon opened the scoring 4:45 into the game with a power-play goal, his 16th. St. Louis madit 2-0 at 10:04 of the first period while shorthanded when MacInnis overpowered Anaheim goalie Guy Hebert with a slap shot after he had been sent in alone by Craig Conroy.

After Cullen scored on a rebound at 2:32 of the second period while the Blues were shorthanded, MacInnis gave the Blues their two-goal lead back at 14:06 of that period with his 14th goal. Terry Yake found MacInnis alone at the right point, and his slap shot got through Hebert and trickled over the goal line.