Ducks’ Strength Is in Nets : Hockey: Goaltending tandem of Hebert and Tugnutt has expansion team on 28-victory pace.

The ghost of the 1974-75 Washington Capitals and their all-time NHL-worst eight victories is already in the Mighty Ducks’ past.

But they will have to wait to match the Ottawa Senators’ 10-victory mark of last season. The Kings saw to that Thursday night, denying the Ducks’ attempt to win their 10th game as the teams met for the first time in the regular season in an intense, penalty-filled game.

It’s a loss the Ducks can live with, considering.

“This is our 27th game. This is their (27th) year,” said Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira.

Still, the Ducks have become an expansion success story--they’re on a pace to win 28 games at the moment, though as Ferreira said: “This league can catch up to you.”

One of the reasons for the record is the goaltending tandem of Guy Hebert and Ron Tugnutt.

It was Hebert’s turn in goal Thursday, and he stopped 35 shots in a 3-2 loss at the Forum. It wasn’t enough, but it helped keep the skill-starved Ducks in the game against the more talented Kings. When Jari Kurri’s shot beat him in the third period to break a 1-1 tie, Hebert looked to the heavens in frustration. That’s his lot--the smallest error is expensive.

There is a similar story line in Miami, where the Florida Panthers have won nine games, largely because of the goaltending of John Vanbiesbrouck, who has been in goal for eight of them.

“That’s the big difference,” Ferreira said. “I talked to (Panther President) Bill Torrey last night, and we were saying we both had the opportunity to get two good goaltenders.”

That’s because of generous expansion draft guidelines that allowed existing teams to protect only one goaltender.

The Ducks have made the decision to play both goalies, which is fine with them. They were both backups last year, Hebert in St. Louis and Tugnutt in Edmonton.

They are quite a pair. Hebert is a kid from Troy, N.Y. who has adopted the French pronunciation of his name just because everybody in hockey assumed there was no way his name was Guy as in Lombardo. Tugnutt is a slight fellow who once made 70 saves in a game for Quebec--and didn’t win. He understands what it’s like to play for a bad team.

Over the seven games leading up to game against the Kings, the pair have been at their best, stopping 222 of 236 shots--a .941 save percentage with a 2.01 goals-against average.

Vanbiesbrouck, 30, might have better stats--he is 8-8-2 and had a 2.54 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage before beating the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, on Thursday night.

Hebert entered the game with a 3-8-1 record, 2.86 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

Tugnutt has given up a bunch of goals a few times and has a 3.28 goals-against average. But look at his record--6-6-1--and his save percentage (.904).

Each has had moments of glory--and the occasional off-night. Their styles are different, but the effect has been similar.

“Guy’s more of a position guy, Tugnutt’s more of a reflex guy,” Ferreira said. “The thing I like about both of them is they’re both skilled. I think both eventually have the ability to be a No. 1. Their age, that’s the other thing--they’re young (both 26). Another thing I like is both of these guys instill confidence in their teammates.”