Hicks Comes Through When Ducks Need Him

Here was Teemu Selanne in his debut at the Pond, making plays and turning heads for the Mighty Ducks. Then there was Paul Kariya scoring twice, getting his team-leading 32nd and 33rd goals.

Boston’s Rick Tocchet was a hit in his return to the Southland, scoring a goal, receiving cheers from Bruin fans and jeers from Kings fans. Then there was former Duck Tim Sweeney sending the game into overtime with his second goal as a Bruin this season.

But in one determined rush down the ice and a simple, almost innocent-looking wrist shot Alex Hicks seized Wednesday’s game and made it his.

His second goal of the game gave the Ducks a 4-3 overtime victory over Boston in front of 17,174.

The Ducks led, 1-0, trailed, 2-1, led, 3-2, were tied, 3-3, and eventually won their second-consecutive overtime game. They have won a league-high five overtime games. It also marked the first time the Ducks have won two in a row since defeating Pittsburgh Dec. 13 and Ottawa Dec. 15.

“We seem to play with a lot more confidence in overtime,” said Hicks, whose overtime goal enabled the Ducks to defeat Vancouver, 2-1, Jan. 24.

Sweeney’s game-tying goal, with 4:55 left in regulation, seemed to signal another disappointing end to a spirited third period by the Ducks. A loss would have wiped out any momentum the Ducks gained from Saturday’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Kings.

But Hicks’ wrist shot from the high slot, which beat Boston goaltender Craig Billington 1:35 into overtime, changed all that.

“It’s one of those things,” Hicks said. “You’ve just got to shoot the puck in overtime when you’ve got the chance.”

Selanne, still growing accustomed to the Ducks’ method of operation after the Feb. 7 trade from Winnipeg, couldn’t have been happier. His first home game as a Duck was better than he could have imagined.

“This is unbelievable,” he said after recording his eighth point in his sixth game as a Duck. “It’s so great to get a win like this. I’ve seen that this team is really hungry and really wants to win. That’s a good sign.

“For a guy like Hicks, it’s great he scored that goal. It gives him confidence and is a good example for other players.”

Recalling the victory over Vancouver, Duck Coach Ron Wilson said: “When it comes to crunch time, stick Alex out there.”

Hicks’ goal probably won’t make any year-end highlight reels, but the result was all that mattered to the Ducks. He zoomed around Boston defenseman Rick Zombo and snapped the puck toward Billington. It passed through the goaltender’s legs.

“He cut across the ice and I tried to stay with him,” Billington said. “There is no excuse. I should have had that one with no problem.”

Billington was in goal only because starter Bill Ranford left the game with a twisted right ankle after the first period.

Kariya, assisted by Selanne, gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead with the first of his two goals 39 seconds into the second period.

Tocchet countered at 15:59 of the second.

Joe Mullen put Boston ahead at 4:32 of the third period. Kariya tied it at 9:58, then Hicks gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead 16 seconds later.

Sweeney dribbled a shot over Mikhail Shtalenkov and into the net and the teams headed to overtime.

“We were lucky to get to overtime,” Wilson said. “It was a strange game--back and forth.

“We’ve got more overtime wins than any team in the league and we have the least firepower. You figure it out.”

Duck Notes

Defenseman Jason Marshall, called up from Baltimore (AHL), played in only his fourth NHL game Wednesday. Marshall, acquired in the deal that sent Bill Houlder to St. Louis Aug. 29, 1994, replaced Don McSween. . . . Center Mike Sillinger, who hasn’t scored since Dec. 10, was a healthy scratch for the fourth time in the last five games. . . . Atlanta Falcon quarterback Bobby Hebert presented Guy Hebert with a Falcons jersey following the Ducks’ morning skate. Bobby, from Louisiana, said he wanted to meet Guy, from upstate New York, for some time. They aren’t related.