Ducks’ Defensive Stand Shuts Down Canucks

He had seen all he could stomach of Alexander Mogilny, so Mighty Duck Coach Ron Wilson decided it was time to try a new routine Monday when the Vancouver Canucks visited the Pond.

Murder is probably a harsh term for what Wilson planned to do to one of his defensemen lest they let Mogilny run amok again. Mogilny had scored twice against the Ducks Oct. 18, thrice on Dec. 22 and twice more (with three assists) Feb. 15.

There was to be no cheating by Duck defensemen Monday. They would play sound defense. No two-on-one rushes with Mogilny shredding the Ducks in this all-important showdown in the battle for the playoffs.

“I told our defensemen there was a bullet with their name on it if they got caught up ice,” Wilson said.

Perhaps he was merely kidding because Dave Karpa could remember no such threat, at least not one phrased in such a manner. What was clear was this: “We didn’t want to give Mogilny any two-on-ones,” Karpa said.

Mission accomplished.

The Ducks pitched a shutout, not only against Mogilny but also against the Canucks, winning, 2-0, in front of 17,174.

It helped to have goaltender Guy Hebert stop all 32 shots he faced for his second shutout in the past four games and his fourth this season. But it all started in front of Hebert.

“We’re playing great hockey,” Wilson said. “We have learned how to play defensive hockey. Guy wasn’t really tested except on a few power plays.”

The Canucks went wide and Duck defenders went with them. The Canucks tried to move in close, but couldn’t get there.

Even top offensive standouts Paul Kariya and Anatoli Semenov hit the ice, sliding to block shots from just inside the blue line.

“The Ducks played smart defensively and that won the game for them,” Vancouver right wing Trevor Linden said. “They got up a couple of goals and they played so well defensively we just couldn’t get at them.”

Wilson couldn’t remember more than a handful of outmanned attacks for Vancouver. Mogilny was simply not a factor. Neither was Linden. Nor Cliff Ronning, who scored a goal and added four assists in the Canucks’ 5-3 win Feb. 15.

The teams have gone in vastly different directions since that game, only Teemu Selanne’s fourth after the Feb. 7 trade from Winnipeg. Selanne has bolstered the Ducks’ confidence and their skill level.

But even Selanne admits the game boils down to hard-nosed defense at this time of year.

“We have to be smart defensively,” said Selanne, who intercepted an errant Vancouver pass to set up the Ducks’ first goal. “You don’t want to make mistakes or turnovers for the other team.”

Watching it all happen from the stands could prove frustrating for captain Randy Ladouceur, a healthy scratch for the past 13 games. Ladouceur has seen Jason Marshall and Darren Van Impe, two rookie defensemen, move into the lineup, play well and keep him wearing a suit on game nights.

“I’m proud of the way they’ve stepped in,” he said. “It’s tough to complain when we’ve played as well as we have.”