Winning Streak at Stake

The Mighty Ducks, winners of 12 of their last 15 games, spent part of Saturday afternoon saying tonight’s showdown against the Detroit Red Wings is just another game.

They are wrong. It’s expected to be as compelling a regular-season game as you’re likely to see in the NHL.

A victory tonight will give the Ducks a seven-game winning streak, a franchise record. A goal or an assist for Teemu Selanne will enable him to extend his point streak to a club-record 16 games.

But more than that, a victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings will give the Ducks more credibility around the league.

Winning will not be easy, however. The Ducks are a feeble 3-14-5 in their six-season history against Detroit, including 0-2 this season.

“It’s really weird,” center Steve Rucchin said when asked about the Red Wings’ domination of the Ducks. “They definitely have our number and they play very well against us. They’ve got the personnel and they know how to win. They never seem to have an off night against us.

“It’s definitely time to change things.”

Rucchin’s return to the lineup after missing three games because of a broken nose and a sinus infection should give the Ducks a big boost. After all, he is their third-leading scorer with 22 goals and 56 points.

Selanne has grabbed most of the headlines recently while scoring 14 goals and recording 13 assists during his 15-game point streak. But Rucchin’s steady improvement has helped him to become one of the league’s best all-around centers.

“We’ve missed him in a lot of little ways that maybe people don’t notice,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said of Rucchin.

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit

5, ESPN

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 29-25-9, Red Wings 32-25-6.

* Record vs. Red Wings--0-2.

* Update--Guy Hebert is expected to start in goal for the Ducks. Detroit center Sergei Fedorov will serve the second game of a five-game suspension for slashing Zdeno Chara of the New York Islanders on Feb. 27. The Red Wings’ 7-2 victory Friday over the Phoenix Coyotes ended a four-game winless streak (0-2-2).

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.