Things Are Quiet on Eastern Front

Hitting the road and getting away from the negative vibes at the Pond have been good for the Ducks, who are 2-0-2 in the first four games of their five-game trip. Game 5 is Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings.

“It’s been huge,” said captain Teemu Selanne, who has nine goals in the last six games. “When we left, I said it would be good to play without the pressures we have at home. But the bottom line is, we have to find ways to win, no matter the circumstances.”

Selanne said Thursday’s 3-0 victory over the Boston Bruins at the FleetCenter was “maybe the best we’ve played this season. I think we played smarter, for sure.”

The Ducks were roundly booed as they struggled to a 1-3-2 record in the season’s first six home games last month at the Pond. Fans have been quick to vent their anger about the management’s inability to re-sign free agent Paul Kariya.

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Coach Pierre Page didn’t play a typical fourth line against the Bruins. Instead of tough guys, he played a small but speedy line of Richard Park, Matt Cullen and Espen Knutsen.

“They gave us the life, enthusiasm and drive we were looking for,” Page said.

Added General Manager Jack Ferreira: “They were really doing some amazing things. They were making plays and getting offensive chances.”

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Page’s salary of $450,000 ranks 10th among the 26 NHL coaches this season, according to figures released this week by The Hockey News. Page is scheduled to receive $475,000 next season and $500,000 in 1998-99.

Detroit’s Scotty Bowman tops the list at $970,000. Former Duck Coach Ron Wilson, now coaching the Washington Capitals, is seventh at $600,000. Ottawa’s Jacques Martin is last at $236,000.

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Page gave the Ducks the day off Friday as a reward for their victory over the Bruins. It was a double reward for Boston-area natives Ted Drury, Joe Sacco and Scott Young. . . . The Ducks’ 5-4-4 record is their best for the month of October. They were 1-9-2 last October after playing the first 11 games without Kariya, who was sidelined by a stomach injury.