Page Concerned About Defense

Coach Pierre Page always tries to find some nugget of praise to pass along to his players after a game--even a blowout loss.

A good check, a nice job on a faceoff, a fine clearing pass. But he was stumped after Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

“After the game, it seemed like none of us [coaches] had anything positive to say,” Page said Monday morning. “It definitely seems like everybody’s gotten too offensive right now. We’re really focused on scoring goals.

“Our mentality has changed since Paul Kariya came back.”

The Ducks gave up 20 goals in the four games before Monday’s contest against the Calgary Flames.

Page remains concerned about the ineffectiveness of Steve Rucchin, who centers the top line. Rucchin had only four goals going into Monday.

“He’s really thinking too much out there,” Page said.

Goalie Guy Hebert’s wife Sarah delivered the couple’s first child three weeks early at 3:30 a.m. Monday. Madeline Elizabeth weighed in at five pounds, eight ounces.

Mother and child were doing fine. The proud father looked a bit sleepy on the Duck bench as Mikhail Shtalenkov started in his place against Calgary.

Brent Severyn, sidelined the past 26 games because of a herniated disk in his back, said he will join the Ducks on their six-game, nine-day trip that begins Saturday in St. Louis.

Severyn, 6 feet 2 and 211 pounds, hopes he is the big, physical defenseman the Ducks have lacked the past few weeks.