It Was a Blank Tape After All

Coach Pierre Page woke up early Tuesday morning, slipped a tape into his VCR and watched Monday night’s 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins. The third period didn’t look any better to Page on tape than in person.

“We had 23 scoring chances to their 13 after two periods, but then we lost our composure,” Page said. “Our guys have to be more patient and pick their spots. The defense can follow the play a little better and the forwards have to take the puck harder to the net.”

Boston outshot the Ducks, 9-3, in the third period and became the first team to shut them out since the Philadelphia Flyers last Oct. 22.

“I have to change my style and try different things to score goals,” said leading scorer Teemu Selanne, who has one goal and four points in four games. “We have to find a way to [score], and we haven’t done it yet. This is a good test for our team and how tough we are mentally. We have to come back and do things better.”

*

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic, the league’s highest-paid player with a $17-million salary this season, is good friends with Paul Kariya. They were rink rats as kids growing up in the Vancouver suburbs.

“He’ll be tough,” Sakic told a Denver reporter when asked about Kariya’s contract stalemate with the Ducks. “He knows what he wants. He’s a guy who will stick to his guns. Obviously, [the Ducks] need him there. . . . Until they get him [signed], they’ll probably struggle.”

TONIGHT

vs. Philadelphia

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--The Pond.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Ducks 1-2-1, Flyers 5-2.

Record vs. Flyers (1996-97)--0-2.

Update--The Ducks have scored only once in the past two games against defensive-minded Boston and Ottawa. The Flyers like a faster tempo. But without Kariya and injured center Steve Rucchin, the Ducks probably will continue to struggle on offense. There’s nothing to indicate Kariya will sign soon. Rucchin’s groin strain hasn’t improved and he won’t play tonight. Goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov, who was in net for the Ducks’ only victory this season, is expected to start. The Flyers, the consensus pick to reach the Stanley Cup finals for the second consecutive season, rallied to defeat San Jose, 3-2, in overtime Monday. Eric Lindros leads the Flyers with five goals and 11 points.