Hebert Provides More Quiet Leadership

The significance probably was lost on many of the 15,975 early-departing souls Sunday evening at the Arrowhead Pond.

After all, the Mighty Ducks’ 5-1 rout over the overmatched Calgary Flames certainly looked like just another thorough victory in their run toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Left wing Paul Kariya scored two goals and assisted on a third. Right wing Teemu Selanne scored his NHL-leading 43rd goal and added two assists. The tough guys worked along the boards and in front of the net and produced goals by Jeff Nielsen and Jim McKenzie.

And enforcer Stu Grimson punched out a helpless foe after the Flames tried some rough stuff against Selanne early in the third period.

All of which enabled goaltender Guy Hebert to match his career high for victories with 29. With 10 regular-season games remaining, Hebert is almost certain to pass it.

Many fans were long gone by the time Hebert’s accomplishment was announced over the public-address system moments after the final buzzer sounded. Others certainly could be forgiven for having visions of the offensive wizardry of Kariya and Selanne still dancing in their heads.

Hebert’s work was difficult to notice at times Sunday. But the Ducks’ second consecutive 5-1 victory never could have happened without Hebert’s 25 saves.

“These were two huge wins,” Hebert said of Sunday’s victory and Friday’s 5-1 romp over the league-leading Dallas Stars. “I think we put some teams behind us and we control our own destiny, as the cliche goes.”

The fact is the Ducks’ season probably wouldn’t have gone as smoothly as it has without Hebert, who is 29-24-9 with a 2.34 goals-against average.

“Whenever a new coach comes in, we all have something to prove,” Craig Hartsburg said after his 72nd game as Duck coach. “I have something to prove to them too. I still had respect for Guy because I had seen him when I was with Chicago and I had seen him play very well during the run they had here two years ago.

“He didn’t have to prove much to me as far as how good he was. He’s having a real solid year for us and he’s the backbone of our team.”

This time a year ago, Hebert was sidelined by a shoulder injury that forced him to undergo surgery. The Ducks finished 12th in the 13-team Western Conference, missed the playoffs and headed into a summer of turmoil and change.

Hebert’s return to form this season is one of several reasons the fifth-place Ducks lead the sixth-place St. Louis Blues by four points and the seventh-place San Jose Sharks by six this morning.

“Just getting back and feeling healthy is a reward in itself,” Hebert said. “This is icing on the cake. The whole team is doing what we thought we were capable of. It took us a year layoff to get back to where we were two years ago--back to the playoffs.”

Hebert blanked the Flames until right wing Valeri Bure’s power-play goal at the 10:22 mark of the third period. The Ducks only had themselves to blame, getting a bit overzealous in attempting retribution for the Flames’ rough tactics against Selanne.

Grimson slashed Calgary’s Dave Roche before recording a decisive victory during their ensuing fight, drawing an extra two-minute minor. Roche had hit Selanne from behind moments earlier.

Next, Ted Drury drew a double minor for high-sticking Calgary’s Derek Morris in the mouth. Drury’s offense appeared to be accidental, but he still bloodied Morris.

Bure then scored while the Flames held a two-man advantage, cutting the lead to 4-1.

The Ducks had the game well in hand by then, but Bure’s goal did wreck Hebert’s bid for his sixth shutout.

Kariya, Selanne and Nielsen provided a 3-0 lead for Hebert. Kariya’s second of the game made the score 4-0. McKenzie added the Ducks’ fifth goal seven minutes after Bure scored.