Ducks Bungle Chance : Hockey: They fail to score during four-minute power play in the second period and lose to the Flames, 5-4.

The Mighty Ducks are a team of players not used to advantages. They are leftovers from other teams, most of them, and they are used to unglamorous work.

The hard work was paying off during most of their 5-4 loss to Calgary in front of 19,811 Thursday night at the Olympic Saddledome. But when they got a big advantage--a four-minute power play--the Ducks looked as if they didn’t know what to do with it.

“It almost looked like we were trying to get a breather,” said goaltender Guy Hebert.

They trailed by only 2-1 when the four-minute manpower advantage began at 16:18 of the second period after Ronnie Stern was sent to the penalty box because of a double minor for elbowing and unsportsmanlike conduct.

But instead of grabbing the advantage, the Ducks went flat, and the game turned when they gave up a shorthanded goal and managed only a single shot on goal during the power play.

Hebert gave up the shorthanded goal to Gary Roberts after coming out to try to poke away a loose puck that caromed off the boards, only to see it go right to Roberts.

“We made a bad play to begin with, and I don’t think he expected the puck that quickly,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “And maybe he got caught napping.”

After scoring two more goals in the first 2:18 of the third period, Calgary led, 5-1.

“That was the big turning point for us, that four-minute power play,” Duck captain Troy Loney said. “We definitely have to get better in those situations.”

The Ducks came back with three third-period goals, trimming their deficit to 5-4 at 11:47, but couldn’t overcome the Flames, who lead the Pacific Division.

“We can’t not play for eight minutes in games, even if we win the other 52,” said Hebert. “If we’re playing the No. 1 team in the division and you give them eight minutes, they’ll win.”

It helped that Mike Vernon, who is 10-1-1 and entered the game with a 2.29 goals-against average, was in goal.

“The only difference was they had Mike Vernon,” Wilson said.

The Ducks had their highlights--Peter Douris scored his first two goals of the season, enforcer Stu Grimson had an assist, his first since Chicago’s season opener against Tampa Bay on Oct. 7, 1992, for his first point of the season, and Bob Corkum scored his team-leading seventh goal.

And the Ducks did at least avoid the fate of the Kings, who were shut out in the Saddledome on Tuesday.

But another good effort ended with no results.

“If you relax for 10 seconds, it can cost you the game,” Wilson said.

Duck Notes

The Mighty Ducks and Kings announced they will play a charity exhibition game Dec. 9 at Anaheim Arena to benefit victims of the recent Southern California fires. A number of celebrities are being invited to play with the teams, said club officials, who hope to raise $300,000 for the American Red Cross’ local fire relief efforts. The first regular-season meeting between the new rivals is Dec. 2 at Anaheim. . . . Goaltender Ron Tugnutt, who strained his neck during practice Tuesday, did not dress, with Mikhail Shtalenkov available as the backup instead. Shtalenkov might get his first NHL start Sunday at Vancouver, Coach Ron Wilson said.

* LEMIEUX SIDELINED

Still not healed from back surgery, the Pittsburgh Penguin star might not play again until January. C3