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Tables turned: Boudreau tips cap to Roy for goalie-pulling inspiration

Bruce Boudreau

A Dallas Stars fan holds up a sign behind Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau, center standing, and the bench in the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP

The Anaheim Ducks’ stunning comeback in Game 6 was made possible due to coach Bruce Boudreau pulling goalie Jonas Hiller twice for the extra attacker.

The Ducks scored twice in the final 2:10 of the third period to force overtime, something that was made possible by Boudreau pulling Hiller initially with 2:26 to play.

After Bonino’s second of the night sent the Ducks on to the Pacific Division Final, Boudreau gave credit to Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy for the inspiration in pulling the goalie sooner than usual for helping spark the comeback.

I have to thank Patrick Roy. If he didn’t start pulling the goalie so early all year, I don’t think any of [us] would have,” Boudreau said.

Roy’s decision to pull the goalie earlier than normal has paid off well for his own Avalanche team and inspired others to help turn pressure in the other direction to their benefit.

Irony isn’t lost here seeing Boudreau giving credit to Roy after how they had their own run-in early this season in which Roy nearly knocked a glass partition down on the Ducks bench. Considering how Roy and Boudreau didn’t have very nice things to say about each other then, Boudreau tipping his cap to Roy now is rather delightful.

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