Hebert Delivers on Both Ends of Ice With Assist, Shutout

Until the last 30 seconds of Friday’s game, Guy Hebert was the leading scorer for the Mighty Ducks. Well, tied for the lead anyway.

There was no bigger sign that the Ducks haven’t started the season as planned. With three players suspended, and no goals scored, their first two games had a rather ominous feel.

But they turned to Hebert in this time of stress. Once again, he delivered, beyond the novelty of his first-period assist.

Hebert made 37 saves in a 3-0 victory over Dallas Friday. He weathered a barrage in the third period to finish with his 23rd career shutout.

More importantly, he had the Ducks feeling comfortable, even before the game began.

“I saw him sitting there and he looked so focused and so relaxed,” Teemu Selanne said. “When he is like that, I know he’s going to have a big game. Guy-Bo was there tonight.”

The Stars outshot the Ducks, 15-5, in the first period. They had nothing to show for it.

“When we’re in a rut, Guy is usually the guy who gets us out of it,” defenseman Kevin Haller said. “He is one of the best at rebound and control. A lot of guys can stop the first shot, but where does the rebound end up? With Guy, it’s in the corner. That makes a big difference.”

The Stars had a 13-2 edge in shots in the third period. Again, they got zip.

Hebert was tested from the beginning--he smothered Brett Hull’s point-blank shot on a power play three minutes into the game.

He was strong in the third period, when the Stars, the defending Stanley Cup champions, had four quality chances in the opening minutes.

And he was a bit lucky. A Hull shot beat Hebert, but the puck “pinged” off the right post with six minutes left.

“Everybody did their job,” Hebert said. “But a goalie can make a huge impact. If you let a so-so goal in, or a bad one or even a good one, it can affect the team. You try to put your team in a good position.”

Hebert’s last two games showed both sides.

He was yanked in the second period against Phoenix Tuesday after giving up four goals. It was as poor a game as Hebert has had. He followed it up with one of his best.

“I wasn’t happy in Phoenix,” Hebert said. “I never felt good out there. When you get a couple pucks behind you like that, you start fighting the puck.

“I spent the last couple days trying to get back to the basics. If you’re going to get beat, get beat wide.”

Hebert may have prepared, but he wasn’t ready for his own offensive contribution. He was awarded an assist on Haller’s first-period goal--equally stunning, since Haller has two goals in his last 97 games.

An empty net goal by Oleg Tverdovsky, who also had an assist, kept Hebert and Haller from sharing the team lead.

“That’s something that Haller and I can live on for a day,” said Hebert, who has four NHL assists.

There had been bad blood between these teams after last Saturday’s game resulted in the suspension of the Ducks’ Ruslan Salei, Jim McKenzie and Pascal Trepanier.

The Stars, or rather Coach Ken Hitchcock, how vowed revenge. The Ducks were more interested in getting a victory.

Said Hebert: “All the comments made it easier for us to focus on the game.”