Ducks Experience Calm After Stormy Beginning

A sense of calm overtook the Mighty Ducks after a 5-3 victory Monday over the San Jose Sharks gave them a 2-2 record to start the season. It’s back on the road tonight for the Ducks, who play seven of their first nine games this season away from the Arrowhead Pond.

Normally, trips give teams a chance to bond. The players go to dinner and movies en masse. They share plane and bus rides. But the Ducks had little chance to concentrate on team-building efforts on their first five-night trip to Dallas and Phoenix.

First, there was the violence at Dallas, then the threats--of suspensions by the NHL and revenge by the Stars. The Ducks were out of sync against Phoenix, distracted by suspensions to three players for their rough play against Dallas.

For their home opener, against Dallas, the Ducks couldn’t avoid all the tough talk coming from the Stars. Finally, the Ducks simply got to play a game Monday.

“Four games into the season and we’ve gone the whole gamut of emotions,” goaltender Guy Hebert said. “These are games that build a team’s character. . . . A 2-2 record and going on the road? This is nice. We haven’t played perfect yet, but we’ve been good in bits and pieces.”

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The Duck power play, the league’s best last season with a 22% success rate, went scoreless in the first two games. But the power play clicked for three goals in eight chances in victories over Dallas and San Jose and is three for 14 overall.

“It’s still not very good,” said left wing Paul Kariya, who quarterbacks the power-play unit. “The work ethic is not where it should be. My timing isn’t where it should be. [Monday,] I was bad.”

TONIGHT

at New Jersey

4:30 PDT

* Site--Continental Airlines Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 2-2, Devils 2-1-1.

* Record vs. Devils (1998-99)--0-2.

* Update--The Ducks are 1-4 in their history at New Jersey, including a 7-1 drubbing March 31. This is the fourth and final game of Duck winger Jim McKenzie’s suspension for breaking the left eye socket of Dallas’ Darryl Sydor in a fight Oct. 2. The Devils caught a break this week when the NHL decided against suspending standout goalie Martin Brodeur for his slash on Pittsburgh troublemaker Matthew Barnaby in a game last week. The Devils rallied to tie the Ottawa Senators, 2-2, Monday.