MIGHTY DUCK NOTES : Arbitration Avoided, Yake Signs Two-Year Pact

The Ducks avoided a scheduled arbitration hearing Monday with right wing Terry Yake--projected to be one of their leading goal-scorers--by reaching a two-year contract agreement (one year plus an option).

Yake, 24, had 22 goals and 53 points in 66 games with Hartford last season and was entering his option year. Terms were not disclosed, but Yake will receive a raise over his $225,000 salary last year. He declined the team’s offer of a three-year contract, preferring to prove his worth this season and renegotiate as he enters the option year.

“I’m confident I’m going to improve this year and do well, that’s the bottom line,” Yake said. “Two-plus-one gives you great security, but I’m confident I’ll be playing for a lot of years.”

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Duck Coach Ron Wilson--who entered the season with an NHL career victory total of 0--is in for quite an indoctrination.

His first two coaching opponents? Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour, who have won 10 Stanley Cups between them.

Bowman, in his first season with the Red Wings, has won 835 regular-season games, and 137 playoff games--both the highest victory totals in NHL history.

Arbour, the New York Islander coach, has 745 regular-season victories and another 123 in the playoffs.

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman applauded Duck management for going from drawing board to NHL opener in seven months.

“What they’ve been able to accomplish in a relatively short time is a credit to Michael and Tony Tavares and the entire organization,” he said.

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Bowman said throughout training camp that he would pair two of his top centers, Sergei Fedorov and Steve Yzerman, on the same line. Bowman was particularly fond of the idea of having Fedorov (34 goals and 53 assists last season) and Yzerman (58 goals, 79 assists) playing in four-on-four situations.

But when the game began, Fedorov and Yzerman were on different lines. Fedorov started the game with Bob Probert on the left wing and Ray Sheppard on the right.

Duck Notes

The first home stand continues with games Sunday against the New York Islanders, Wednesday against Edmonton, Friday against Boston and Oct. 17 against Calgary. . . . Goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov has accepted a conditioning assignment with the San Diego Gulls. He had been recalled from the Gulls because the Ducks were at risk of losing him because of his unclear waiver status.

Firsts for the Ducks

Starting lineup: Guy Hebert, goalie, Alexi Kasatonov, defense, Randy Ladouceur, defense, Troy Loney, right wing, Terry Yake, left wing, Anatoli Semenov, center.

Opening faceoff: Won by Sergei Federov over Semenov at 8:10 p.m.

Goal: Sean Hill, second period, 4:13.

Opponent goal: Aaron Ward, first period, 2:34.

Power-play goal: Hill.

Opponent power-play goal: Federov, first period, 15:11.

Assists: Bill Houlder, Terry Yake.

Fight: Stu Grimson vs. Bob Probert, third period, 14:51.

Penalty: Hill, holding, first period, 11:31.

Major penalty: Grimson (with Probert).

Save: Hebert, first period, :24.