Krygier Gets a Real Shot With Ducks : Hockey: Former Capital assists in both scores in 2-1 victory over old team as a starter.

The Mighty Ducks’ Todd Krygier was so far out of the Washington Capitals’ plans last February that they traded him to the Ducks for no more than a fourth-round draft pick.

Not only has Krygier found a place with the Ducks, he has found a place on what is for now the first line, with left wing Paul Kariya and rookie center Chad Kilger.

Facing his former teammates for the first time Wednesday, Krygier assisted Kilger on a second-period goal and fed Kariya on a two-on-one in the third period of the Ducks’ 2-1 exhibition victory over the Capitals before a paid crowd of 16,391 at The Pond of Anaheim. Though he didn’t face Washington last season, Krygier had 11 goals and 11 assists for the Ducks in 35 games.

Kilger, the fourth pick overall in July’s NHL draft, continued his strong bid to make the team at age 18. He has two goals and an assist in two exhibition games.

Duck goalie Guy Hebert, making his first appearance of the exhibition season, shut out the Capitals until Sylvain Cote scored at 17:48 of the third.

Earlier in the day, the Ducks reduced their roster to 37 by assigning five players to minor league-affiliate Baltimore: defensemen Nikolai Tsulygin and Alain Deeks, forwards Jeremy Stevenson and Peter Leboutillier and goaltender Mike O’Neill. In addition, Leboutillier agreed to a multiyear contract.