Sandstrom Flashing Old Form

Coach Craig Hartsburg can’t say for sure what happened to right wing Tomas Sandstrom last season because he was coaching the Chicago Blackhawks in 1997-98. But to Hartsburg, Sandstrom looks like his old self again.

“He’s a very smart player, very competitive, a guy with lots of offensive skills,” Hartsburg said of Sandstrom, who has four goals in 11 games this season after scoring only nine in 77 games last season.

How good was Sandstrom in the Ducks’ 2-2 tie Friday against the San Jose Sharks?

Hartsburg said Sandstrom, who had one goal and very nearly two others, and left wing Paul Kariya were the Ducks’ best players. And Sandstrom certainly had the vote of goaltender Guy Hebert.

“I couldn’t sleep after the game, so I ended up watching the third-period replay on TV and he was dominating,” Hebert said. “He’s been like that for most of the games.”

Asked about the difference between Sandstrom’s play last season and this season, Hebert said:

“Last year was just a bad year for everybody. He just seems rejuvenated. He’s getting lots of time on the power play. I know, if I were a forward, if the coach played me on the power play, I’d get lots of scoring chances.”

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Hebert is expected to make his 11th consecutive start tonight, and the streak could reach 12 before Dominic Roussel makes his first appearance since Oct. 10 against the Washington Capitals.

Hartsburg indicated Roussel would start against either the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 13 or the Calgary Flames on Nov. 14. Hartsburg said the same thing going into games on consecutive nights on the last trip to Dallas and St. Louis, but Hebert talked him into playing both.

Tonight vs. Detroit

5, Fox Sports West 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 3-4-4, Red Wings 6-6.

Record vs. Red Wings--0-3-1.

Update--The Ducks are 3-1-4 in their last eight games. The Red Wings have lost four in a row for the first time since October 1993. The Red Wings began the season with a 4-1 record, but have gone 2-5 since. Detroit leads the all-time series with the Ducks, 12-3-5. Brendan Shanahan leads the Red Wings with seven goals. He and Steve Yzerman have 14 points each.