Hebert Blames Only ‘Dumb Luck’

Goaltender Guy Hebert would not fault himself or defenseman Pavel Trnka for giving up the only goal of the game Tuesday.

“He was trying so hard to go cover the man at the post,” Hebert said of Trnka, who was struck by Montreal defenseman Vladimir Malakhov’s shot, redirecting the puck into the net. “I knew Malakhov was going to one-time the pass from the other defenseman. Pavel was going in front of me to prevent a rebound. It was dumb luck.

“We talked after the play, and next time it happens he’ll say, ‘The one thing I’m not going to do is screen my goalie.’ It’s my job [to stop the shot] and I’ll try not to leave the rebound there [for the opposing team].”

Hebert said he’s been pleased by the play of the defense in front of him during his starts Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers and Tuesday against Montreal.

“I’m very encouraged,” he said. “We’re doing a good job in our own end. A power-play goal here or there is going to make a difference.”

It certainly did Tuesday. Malakhov’s goal was scored midway through the second period with the Canadiens having the man advantage.

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Hebert continues to treat his separated shoulder with ice, but said he feels fine.

“It’s a little sore,” he said of the right shoulder he injured during an exhibition game Oct. 3 against the expansion Nashville Predators. “Having that extra day helped.”

Dominic Roussel started the season opener against Washington, but Hebert has played the last two games.

“I hated like hell missing that first game, but it’s probably for the best,” Hebert said. “It probably has paid off. It gave me an extra day of practice to test it and get it ready.”

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The Ducks heaped praise on Montreal goalie Jocelyn Thibault, who recorded his eighth career shutout.

“Thibault made some incredible saves,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “He was just unbelievable, probably the reason why they won.”

Said left wing Paul Kariya: “Thibault took up a lot of the net. There wasn’t a lot to shoot at.”

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As promised, Hartsburg shuffled his forward lines dramatically Tuesday.

Center Travis Green moved between wingers Kariya and Teemu Selanne on the first line. Center Steve Rucchin dropped to the second line to play with wingers Johan Davidsson and Tomas Sandstrom.

Enforcer Jim McKenzie, scratched for the first two games, saw his first action on a line with center Matt Cullen and right wing Jeff Nielsen. Defenseman Pascal Trepanier moved to right wing on the fourth line, joining enforcer Stu Grimson and center Antti Aalto.

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Going into this season, the Ducks had lost only two games by a score of 1-0--both in their inaugural season in 1993-94. They then went 318 games without losing by a 1-0 score, but have been defeated by that margin twice in the first three games this season. . . . Center Josef Marha continues to be sidelined because of a sprained ankle. . . . Defenseman Ruslan Salei served the third game of his five-game suspension for tripping Daniel Briere of Phoenix in an exhibition game last week.