Haller, Marshall Annoy Foes Again

The job isn’t an easy one, but it’s one defensemen Kevin Haller and Jason Marshall got used to last season.

With defenseman Ruslan Salei suspended for 10 games because of his hit on Dallas’ Mike Modano, Coach Craig Hartsburg has reunited Haller and Marshall and asked them to badger the opposition’s top line.

Haller and Marshall were pretty good at it last season. But when Haller needed arthroscopic knee surgery last month, Hartsburg was forced to make other plans.

Now, Hartsburg has little choice but to play his top two defensive-minded defensemen together. Their task is to muzzle the opponent’s top line.

“Our main objective is to play safe and smart,” said Haller, whose recovery from surgery is complete. “We want to eliminate any scoring chances they get. Little mistakes can turn into big things.”

Goals, in other words.

“Our focus is not to jump up into the play,” Haller said. “We’re never cheating [by venturing into the attacking zone].”

After all, Haller’s goal in Friday’s 3-0 victory over Dallas matched his total for last season. Marshall also scored only one goal last season.

vs. San Jose

4, Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 1-2, Sharks 3-1.

* Record vs. Sharks (1998-99)--3-1-2.

* Update--The 4 p.m. faceoff is no misprint. The early start is because of the Columbus Day holiday. (It’s also Thanksgiving Day in Canada). San Jose defenseman Gary Suter makes his first regular-season appearance at the Pond since his famous Feb. 1, 1998 cross check of Duck captain Paul Kariya. Kariya missed the Nagano Olympics and the final 28 games of the NHL season because of post-concussion syndrome. Suter played an exhibition at the Pond last month, but Kariya was sidelined by a sore left hip.

* Tickets--(714) 704-2701.