So Far, So Good, but Nothing’s Set Yet

Going into the All-Star break, the Mighty Ducks were tied for fifth with Edmonton in the Western Conference, with the best record in franchise history at this point.

Now comes the hard part.

“A lot of teams underneath us didn’t have very good starts, and they are going to get a lot better,” Paul Kariya said. “So we can’t continue on this pace and expect to make the playoffs.”

The Ducks, ninth at the break in 1996-97, went 19-11-8 and made the playoffs for the first and only time in their existence. Two coaches later, they are trying to line up another run.

Before Tuesday’s games, they were seven points ahead of the Kings, Vancouver and Nashville, the three teams tied for ninth.

“You start to feel the pressure this time of the year,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “The games are more intense. The closer you get to the playoffs, the more it builds. This is the fun time of year.

“We don’t have to worry about it if we take care of things ourselves.”

*

Backup goalie Dominic Roussel did not practice Tuesday, when his wife, France, had labor induced. He will not play tonight. Guy Hebert, who was out because of a stomach virus and lost 10 pounds, will return against the Colorado Avalanche. . . . How did left wing Jim McKenzie spend the All-Star break? “Viva Las Vegas,” McKenzie said. “Along with three-fourths of the NHL.”

TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 17-19-9; Avalanche 22-19-4.

* Record vs. Avalanche--1-1.

* Update--Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy was in the final year of his contract, but signed a two-year extension worth $15 million. Roy, 33, has a 1.49 goals-against average.

* Tickets--(714) 940-2167.