Ducks Take Crucial Road Test

The road to the Mighty Ducks’ first playoff appearance more or less resembles a map of the nation’s interstate highway system.

A two-week ramble through Washington, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas and San Jose that begins tonight against the Washington Capitals is the biggest obstacle between them and their goal: a possible first-round matchup against the Red Wings.

They start the trip three points behind Winnipeg for the final Western Conference playoff spot, and if they can go .500, picking up six of a possible 12 points, they’ll probably be in good position.

When the Ducks come home, they’ll have five of their last seven at the Pond, including a final game against Winnipeg that Coach Ron Wilson sees as potentially his team’s unofficial playoff game for a playoff spot.

This trip is a crucial one, as full of opportunity as potential for disaster.

“You have to keep the pressure up; you can’t let up,” Wilson said. “At the same time, you can’t let the pressure become too much.

“One thing in our favor is that games are more important to us than they are to most of the teams we play. That game against Colorado meant so much more to us. It’s easier for them to get frustrated and decide it doesn’t mean anything for them.”

The Ducks understand they need to have a good showing on this trip--their longest of the season. But they’re putting aside thoughts of their poor road record. They’ve won seven of their last 10 home games, but have won only nine games away from home all season. Only the Kings, Ottawa, the Islanders and San Jose have worse road records.

“I expect us to continue playing the way we are,” Wilson said. “I could go back 20 games and see we were playing better. We had some stinkers, but that’s going to happen to any team.

“Our guys don’t fear being down a goal now. If it’s 2-0, and they make it 2-1, we know we can still score.

“A lot of guys are really starting to feel confident. That confidence starts to help you get breaks.”

The catalyst for all this has been Teemu Selanne, who was acquired Feb. 7 from Winnipeg.

Goalie Guy Hebert tries not to let his mind wander during games, but as he watched the Ducks’ relentless attack on the St. Louis Blues’ net in the third period Sunday at the Pond, he couldn’t help himself.

“Things never creep into my mind, but I thought for a split second: ‘What a great trade,’ ” Hebert said, laughing. “It’s like everybody has rallied around him. We were so eager to get him, everyone’s stepped up their game. Me, Paul [Kariya], even the more defensive players.”

The unselfish give-and-take between Selanne and Kariya is something to behold. The power play, once dismal, is vastly improved with the addition not only of Selanne but point man Fredrik Olausson, and it’s clipping along at about 17% with Selanne in the lineup, compared to 10% before he arrived.

And Hebert, who seemed tangled in Wilson’s unpredictable rotation a couple of weeks ago, is sharp again. Over his last four starts, he has a 4-0 record with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage.

“Right now, it’s a pretty scary thing going on,” defenseman Bobby Dollas said. “The power play is great, Guy’s playing great. I was telling Dave Karpa, it’s getting to be a scary feeling, like we’re a great hockey team.”

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Duck Notes

Winger Peter Douris, who appeared in 31 games, getting eight goals and 15 points, will undergo season-ending surgery today on a groin injury that has kept him out of the lineup nearly three months, the team announced.

The injury, first diagnosed as a groin strain, originally occurred in early December but didn’t heal on its own. Sometimes referred to as a “hockey hernia,” the injury is to a muscle several layers deep, and causes pain when skating.

Staff writer Elliott Teaford contributed to this story.