Hiller is an option in the net

DALLAS – Jean-Sebastien Giguere has not flashed his usual stellar postseason form in this Western Conference quarterfinal series against Dallas, but one would think that he will be in the net for tonight’s Game 5 in Anaheim with the Ducks facing elimination.

But because of rare back-to-back playoff games, Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle may have to consider whether to start backup Jonas Hiller.

Giguere would figure to get the nod because of his vast playoff experience over Hiller – even though Giguere rarely played on back-to-back nights during the regular season. Hiller is in his first NHL season after playing five years at the top level in his native Switzerland.

The decision won’t be made public as Carlyle has a strict policy of not announcing who his starting goaltender will be. But he did address the situation before Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Stars. Giguere made 17 saves and had to face six penalty-killing situations.

“I think we’ll evaluate the work if necessary,” Carlyle said, referring to Giguere. “Some games you have to play more minutes on the puck and there’s penalties you’ve got to kill. All those things.”

Carlyle said he would have no hesitation in playing Hiller, who improved throughout the season and finished with a 10-7-1 record and an impressive 2.06 goals-against average.

“We feel that Jonas can go in and provide us with the level of goaltending that’s required to have success,” Carlyle said. “He’s proven to us he’s done it.”

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As expected, Corey Perry did make it back into the lineup Thursday in his first game since March 6, when he suffered a severed tendon above his right knee.

Perry played 12 minutes, 13 seconds and took two shots on goal. He had an assist on Mathieu Schneider’s goal with 7.6 seconds remaining.

“Everything’s fine,” Perry said as he left the dressing room.

Said Carlyle: “I thought he was a little rusty, but I thought the more he played in the game, the more he showed the ability to get back to it.”

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Dallas played without defenseman Philippe Boucher because of a lower body injury he suffered in Game 3 and he may be questionable for the remainder of the series. Stars Coach Dave Tippett said Boucher will not travel to Anaheim for Game 5… . The Ducks recalled goalie J.P. Levasseur from Augusta (Ga.), the club’s affiliate in the East Coast Hockey League. He will probably be used as a practice goalie.

eric.stephens@latimes.com