The Ducks couldn’t stop talking about Wayne...

The Ducks couldn’t stop talking about Wayne Gretzky after he recorded his 1,850th and 1,851st assists, more assists than any other player in NHL history has points.

“Gretzky is playing as great as I’ve ever seen him,” Duck Coach Pierre Page said.

Right wing Teemu Selanne said: “It’s unbelievable how smart that guy is. I don’t know how he can pass like that. He’s got eyes in the back of his head. He’s an amazing player, so for sure, any time we play against him it’s going to be a tough night.”

Said defenseman Bobby Dollas: “The guy doesn’t break all the records for nothing. You can’t make a mistake with that guy because he sees everything.”

Right wing Tomas Sandstrom said: “You’re so scared of getting beat by the guy that you only commit halfway [to defend Gretzky], then you’re really in trouble.” *

Almost lost amid Gretzky’s assists and the Ducks’ third-period comeback were two crucial saves by goaltender Guy Hebert on New York defenseman Brain Leetch in the final 90 seconds of regulation.

First, Leetch moved in from the right wing and delivered a shot that Hebert stopped with his chest. Then, Leetch whistled a slap shot from the left wing that seemed destined for the upper right corner of the net.

“It glanced off the tip of my shoulder, I think,” Hebert said. “He’s very dangerous.”

Instead of scoring, however, Leetch’s second shot merely slammed into the glass in the corner and out of harm’s way.