Hebert May Be Back in Goal

Guy Hebert could be back in goal for the Ducks tonight, even though Mikhail Shtalenkov has started three games in a row and has three of the Ducks’ four victories this season.

“I’m thinking of going with Guy in Dallas and Mike in St. Louis,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “Guy’s looking better in practice. He looks sharp and Mike does too.”

Shtalenkov seemed a likely bet after holding Toronto to two goals in the Ducks’ victory Wednesday. Wilson, as usual, keeps his goalies guessing.

“It’s OK with me,” Shtalenkov said. “I thought maybe I would play the next game. If not, and I play in St. Louis, it’s OK.”

That placid personality is part of what has made Shtalenkov the perfect backup.

“That’s the way Mike is,” Wilson said. “When he wins, you look out and you’ll find him just looking up to see there’s no time left. It’s like, ‘That’s my job.’

“But even though Mike may not say anything to you guys or many other people, I talk to him all the time and he asks me quite a bit why he doesn’t play. He wants to play.”

Hebert knows from his days in St. Louis what it’s like to be No. 2.

“Unfortunately in the role where you might play 30 games, you have to be ready to play if something happens. That’s something Mike does as well as anybody,” Hebert said.

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The giddiness of Warren Rychel’s early scoring spree is spreading. On the door of Wilson’s office Thursday hung the nameplate from Rychel’s dressing room stall.

Wilson was quick with a retort.

“He still thinks it’s Halloween, and he’s dressed up as a goal-scorer,” Wilson said.

Rychel has six goals, tying him with Kevin Todd for second on the team behind Teemu Selanne’s 10.