Mighty Ducks Edge Closer to Playoffs

Four games left in the regular season, and Mighty Duck Coach Ron Wilson would like his team to step on the accelerator.

Their first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs is almost in hand, even though they missed a chance Tuesday night to put the Chicago Blackhawks well back in their rear-view mirror.

Instead, the Blackhawks managed a 3-3 tie in front of 17,174 at the Pond. But it was the Ducks who had to come from behind for the final goal, and gain another precious point.

With 78 points, the Ducks are still tied for fourth in the Western Conference, six points ahead of ninth.

They also extended their franchise-record unbeaten streak at the Pond to 12 games (8-0-4).

“We’re one step away,” said Teemu Selanne, who returned to the lineup after missing four games because of a strained muscle in his side. “The main thing is, we got a point. At this point, every point is important.”

The Blackhawks are holding the final playoff spot, in eighth with 75 points.

“We’re playing hard doing everything possible to get in the playoffs,” Chicago Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “It’s not a lack of effort on our part.”

The Ducks were coming off an arduous trip that they handled with aplomb, going 3-3. Wilson wanted them to keep the pedal to the metal, but they couldn’t quite put the Blackhawks away. “You’ve seen some teams slow down and then struggle and it costs you once you’re in the playoffs,” Wilson said. “You always want to go in with momentum. Enthusiasm can overcome fatigue.”

The Ducks were closer to full strength with Selanne in the lineup.

He contributed two assists, giving him his second 100-point season in a row and the third 100-point season of his five-year NHL career.

“I think Teemu at times was a little tentative,” Wilson said.

Selanne’s linemate, Paul Kariya, scored his 40th goal of the season despite missing 13 games because of injuries, marking his second 40-goal season in a row after scoring 50 last season.

Steve Rucchin, who centers the pair, scored the tying goal in the third period and had two assists.

Goalie Guy Hebert got one more day of rest before his scheduled return to the net tonight against San Jose. Mikhail Shtalenkov started a third consecutive game in goal after 23 consecutive shots by Hebert.

The Ducks twice had one-goal leads, but Chicago thwarted them on a nearly four-minute power play to start the third period, then broke a 2-2 tie at 7:17 of the third on a power play of their own.

With center Richard Park in the box for tripping, the Ducks left defenseman Chris Chelios open at the right point and Chelios took his time unleashing a shot that banked in off teammate Murray Craven’s leg.

The Ducks came back, though, again making good on their power play, which has been a staple of their recent run. This time, Kariya zipped a pass to Selanne at one corner of the net. Selanne fumbled but got the puck to Rucchin who put it in the net over goalie Jeff Hackett, tying the score, 3-3, at 8:23.

Selanne played cautiously at times, he took his regular shift and at one point sprinted down the right wing and fired a hard shot on Hackett.

Selanne wore a protective supporting brace around his midsection.

“I felt pretty good tonight. I can’t say I feel great,” Selanne said. “After eight days at least I was playing. I was a little nervous before the game. My timing wasn’t there.

“I really have to play smart. I know I’m not exactly 100%, but close.”

Selanne took a sharp blow to the jaw late in the second when Chicago defenseman Keith Carney high-sticked him during a Duck power play, cutting Selanne’s chin and drawing a double-minor.

The Ducks are beginning to feel confident they’ll make the playoffs and have their sights on home-ice advantage. (They could win it by finishing fourth.) But they have to keep one eye on the crowd behind them--and another out for the tell-tale bumps and lesions of chickenpox after defenseman Bobby Dollas came down with the it Tuesday morning.

* DESERVING: The Ducks and their fans deserve to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs. C9

* IN POWER: The Ducks’ power play, which had long been a joke, is now a force to be reckoned with. C9