Not Playing to the Crowd

Duck players were a bit shocked at the sparse crowd Wednesday night, although they were able to come up with reasons for the lowest turnout in team history.

An announced crowd of 13,963 at the Pond watched the Ducks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-3, but far fewer were actually in attendance. An estimated 9,000-10,000 were in the building, as all season tickets--even no-shows--are counted toward the attendance.

“I kind of look at it as hockey crowds know the teams that are coming in,” defenseman Fredrik Olausson said. “Tampa Bay’s record last year wasn’t too good.”

Tampa Bay, which won just 17 games last year, was partially responsible. But some Ducks also looked in the mirror.

Said goalie Guy Hebert: “It was a Wednesday night game, we had played a couple home games already, Tampa Bay didn’t have a great year last season . . . and we didn’t have a good year ourselves. We have to show people we can play well and bring them back to the games.”

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Antti Aalto had his first NHL goal Wednesday--for about 20 minutes. Aalto fired a shot that beat Tampa Bay goalie Daren Puppa midway through the second period. It didn’t stand. The play was reviewed at the end of the period and replays clearly showed that the puck deflected off teammate Stu Grimson’s skate. Aalto had to settle for an assist, his first NHL point.

“I knew it was Stu’s goal,” Aalto said. “I saw it go off his skate. I work hard, so I will get it. Yesterday just wasn’t the day.”

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Hebert will start in goal tonight against the Dallas Stars, but backup Dominic Roussel might start Saturday in St. Louis. . . . At 3-3-1, the Ducks are off to their best seven-game start, even if it is grading on a curve. They were 3-4 once and 2-3-2 twice in the past.

TONIGHT at Dallas

5:30

Site--Reunion Arena.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 3-3-1, Stars 5-1-1.

Record vs. Stars--(1997-98) 1-3.

Update--This is the first time these teams will have met since they racked up 167 penalty minutes March 13 in a 6-3 Dallas victory--153 in the third period when Teemu Selanne was slammed into the glass by Star defenseman Craig Ludwig. That set off a free-for-all, which included Duck enforcer Brent Severyn pummeling Darryl Sydor. “I haven’t thought anything about that,” Selanne said. “You forget about those things in hockey.” Apparently the Stars have because they signed Severyn during the off-season. Joe Nieuwendyk, who missed six months after two surgeries on his right knee, returned to the Stars last week and scored the game-winning goal against San Jose Saturday.