Emphasis Swings Back to Defense

Look for the Ducks to try a more defensive stance on a six-game trip that begins tonight against the St. Louis Blues.

Before defeating the Calgary Flames, 5-1, at the Pond on Monday, the Ducks had given up at least three goals in nine consecutive games.

“The goalies say they can’t recognize the team right now because it’s playing so loose defensively,” Coach Pierre Page said. “Maybe we’ve mentioned to the players that we need to score more goals too much.”

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Defenseman-left wing Brent Severyn spent the last few days skating at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., hoping to return to the lineup on this trip. He has missed the last 26 games because of a herniated disk in his back. . . . Defenseman Dan Trebil and left wing Shawn Antoski remain on the injured-reserve list because of a broken right thumb and a skull fracture, respectively.

TONIGHT

at St. Louis

* 5:30 PST

* Channel 9

Site--Kiel Center.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350.

Records--Ducks 13-18-6, Blues 22-13-5.

Record vs. Blues--0-1.

Update--The Ducks’ Teemu Selanne, the leading goal scorer in the NHL with 30, has at least one point in five consecutive games--six goals and three assists. Paul Kariya also has a five-game point streak--four goals and five assists. Dmitri Mironov has a team-leading 18 assists. Guy Hebert, who defeated his former team, 2-0, Nov. 22, is expected to start in goal tonight. Hebert is 7-6-1 with a 2.49 goals-against average against the Blues. Rookies Jeff Nielsen and Jeremy Stevenson scored their first NHL goals in the first game between the teams.