Hebert Doesn’t Cave In to Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche rumbled into the Pond with the best record in the Pacific Division, averaging a league-leading 3.8 goals on the road and compiling more goals in any rink anywhere than any team except Pittsburgh.

But for 52 minutes 8 seconds Wednesday, Colorado was rendered silent by Mighty Duck goaltender Guy Hebert.

Finally, Joe Sakic stopped the drought, ending Hebert’s shutout bid with an impossible-to-stop wrist shot on a three-on-one break. Hebert let nothing else past and the Ducks held on for a 2-1 victory.

Against the Avalanche, 2-1 might as well be a shutout. Colorado has been blanked only once this season.

The Ducks converted the few chances they had against Colorado goalie Patrick Roy and left the rest up to Hebert, who started his club-record 13th consecutive game in goal.

Paul Kariya, who scored one Duck goal and assisted on the other, offered this assessment of Hebert’s performance:

“I don’t know if it’s a lift. We almost expect him to play like that. I know that’s tough on Guy. When he’s extra good, like tonight, it helps our chances.”

Hebert stopped 39 of 40 shots and Roy stopped 31 of 33.

“I don’t know,” Hebert said of beating Roy for the second time this season, “maybe he brings out the best in us. You see a goaltender like that and everybody plays harder.”

It was the Ducks’ second consecutive victory over Colorado at the Pond, but Wednesday was far different from the night of Nov. 15.

Last time, the Ducks raced to a 3-0 lead en route to a 7-3 win. This time, the teams played a tight-checking, defensive battle, dominated by the goaltenders.

Coach Ron Wilson, Hebert’s harshest critic at times this season, heaped praise on his goalie after Wednesday’s performance. Wilson said he has enjoyed watching Hebert’s hot streak. He was even pleased with his play in the Ducks’ 5-4 loss to the Kings Saturday.

“Guy was great tonight,” Wilson said. “He looked sharp in the first period. He’s looked great a lot recently. The difference [from Saturday] was we weren’t giving up outnumbered chances. There was one two-on-one early, but until that three-on-one [that produced Sakic’s goal] we really didn’t give up any outnumbered attacks.”

Later, someone pointed out to Hebert that his season has seemed like something of a roller-coaster ride.

“Yeah,” Hebert said. “I think I’ve been in the front seat all season. . . . It has been an up and down season. I just think we want to be in position with 20 or 30 games left to make a run at the playoffs.”

Hebert hopes Wilson gives him the chance to lead whatever run the Ducks manage to make at their first playoff berth.

“As a goalie, you want to play every night,” Hebert said. “That shows the coach has confidence in you. It can affect a player when you’re juggled in and out of the lineup because they’re unhappy with your performance.”