Wilson: Rest Will Energize Hebert

Coach Ron Wilson dismissed the notion that goalie Guy Hebert’s night off against Chicago on Friday came too late.

“I’m not going to second-guess myself,” Wilson said. “People were saying that I should rest him two months ago, and look how well he played.

“Guy’s going to have to fight through this. Other goalies are playing just as much and they’re planning to play another 25 to 30 games in the playoffs.”

Hebert, whose streak of 23 consecutive starts ended when Mikhail Shtalenkov started against the Blackhawks, has been pulled twice in three games. Wilson said he probably will start Shtalenkov against Detroit today to give Hebert more rest.

“A second game off will keep recharging Guy’s battery,” he said.

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Perhaps winger Brian Bellows is the only Duck who doesn’t seem upset at the loss of leading scorer Teemu Selanne for the last three games. Selanne has a muscle strain near his rib cage.

Bellows, filling in on the top line with Paul Kariya and Steve Rucchin, has three goals in the past two games.

“Playing with Paul opens up so many more opportunities,” Bellows said. “He creates so much.”

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Two Ducks took a special interest in the NCAA Division I hockey championship won by North Dakota, 6-4, over Boston University on Saturday at Milwaukee.

General Manager Jack Ferreira was an All-American goaltender and later an assistant coach for Boston University, and right wing Joe Sacco also played for the Terriers.

The 1999 hockey Final Four will be held at the Pond of Anaheim.