Offense Looking for Confidence Booster

The goals simply aren’t coming the way the Mighty Ducks had envisioned when training camp began last month. The Ducks added speed and skill by acquiring winger Ted Donato from Ottawa and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky from Phoenix, hoping they would bolster the scoring.

But after five games, the Ducks have only 10 goals. Two have been empty-net goals.

“We need a big night to get our confidence going,” left wing Paul Kariya said. “When you get opportunities like I had at the end of the game [Wednesday’s 3-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils], you’ve got to bury them.”

Kariya had five shots on net and right wing Teemu Selanne had six against New Jersey.

“We’re going to get our chances,” Selanne said. “Still, our goal-scoring is a little slow here in the first little while.”

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Kariya indicated his sore left hip, which sidelined him during training camp, is close to 100%. Kariya scored his first goal of the season Wednesday.

“My leg feels a lot better,” he said. “There’s some tightness. It’s more that I need to get my wind back and my timing down. I have to take it easier with my off-ice activities.”

Tonight

at Tampa Bay

4:30 PDT, Channel 9

* Site--Ice Palace, Tampa, Fla.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

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

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

* Update--The Ducks’ longest trip of the season continues tonight against the NHL’s doormat. The Ducks have won four in a row and are 6-3-1 in franchise history against Tampa Bay, last in the league last season with 19 victories. Tampa Bay hasn’t played since mustering only 14 shots in a 1-0 loss Saturday to the Devils. The Ducks had 30 shots on net Wednesday against the Devils, but suffered a 3-2 defeat. Left wing Jim McKenzie on Wednesday served the final game of his four-game suspension for beating up Dallas defenseman Darryl Sydor in the Oct. 2 game. Defenseman Pascal Trepanier serves the fifth and final game of his suspension for thumping Dallas center Joe Nieuwendyk into the glass in the same game. Defenseman Ruslan Salei has six more games to serve for his shove in the back that led to Star center Mike Modano’s severe injury.