Hartsburg Says It’s Too Early to Judge Success

The Ducks reached the Christmas break over the .500 mark for the first time in their six-season history.

But, in his typical cautious fashion, Coach Craig Hartsburg discounted any notion that the Ducks are among the NHL’s most surprising teams this season.

“We’re only 32 games into it,” Hartsburg said. “I don’t think there have been any surprises--good or bad--yet. Maybe at 60 games, you can say this team is a surprise. There’s still a long ways to go. It’s pretty early to talk about surprises, good or bad.”

He also warned about feeling too satisfied with a 13-12-7 record after 32 games. The Ducks must play better hockey in order to make the playoffs, according to Hartsburg.

“If you stop trying to get better, it’ll be the first sign you’re not going to get better,” he said. “Teams like Dallas, Detroit and New Jersey. . . . It’s how they’ve gotten better. We’re one game over .500. It’s nothing to be jumping up and down about. We’ve got to keep pushing ourselves. That’s how you get better.”

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Hartsburg might talk about self-improvement behind the bench, too. But he has impressed General Manager Pierre Gauthier after his first 32 games on the job.

“I didn’t know Craig that well when he was hired,” Gauthier said of Hartsburg, who spent three seasons as the Chicago Blackhawk coach before the Ducks hired him to replace the fired Pierre Page last summer.

“I know people who know him well and, obviously, his track record spoke for itself. He’s a former player and he’s relating well to the club. He’s no-nonsense and very direct and he has a good relationship going with the players.”

Today

at Ottawa

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* Site--Corel Centre.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 13-12-7, Senators 15-13-3.

* Record vs. Senators (1997-98)--1-0-1.

* Update--The Ducks are 6-0-1 in their last seven games against Ottawa and 6-1-1 in their history against the Senators. Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne each have eight points in four career games against Ottawa--two goals, six assists for Kariya and six goals, two assists for Selanne. Kariya leads the Ducks with 14 goals and 41 points. The Ducks are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games. Ottawa is short-handed defensively. Lance Pitlick has been sidelined for five games because of a hip injury. Janne Laukkanen has the flu, but played in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alexei Yashin leads the Senators with 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists).