DUCKS REPORT : Hartsburg Likes What He Sees

Coach Craig Hartsburg’s Kiddie Korps appeared overmatched at times Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks’ A team in the exhibition opener for both teams at San Jose Arena.

Hartsburg wanted a good look at some of the Ducks’ least experienced players, many of whom are ticketed to play in the minors this season, and he got an eyeful during a 1-1 tie.

Rookie defenseman Niclas Havelid had a noteworthy debut, but not for the right reasons. He was rocked off his skates by tough checks early and often by the more experienced Sharks. It was a good test, but perhaps not the one Hartsburg envisioned for the 26-year-old Swede.

Goaltender Tom Askey, who spent last season with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League, looked jittery after replacing veteran Dominic Roussel with the Ducks leading, 1-0, midway through the game. Roussel had 21 stops.

Rookie forward Torrey DiRoberto played on an energetic line with veterans Matt Cullen and Jeff Nielsen. Nielsen scored the first goal of the game, assisted by Cullen only 2:48 into the opening period.

The Ducks led, 1-0, until Jarrod Skalde’s power-play goal for San Jose at 10:31 of the second period. The two teams got their first taste of the new four-on-four overtime format.

“All in all, it’s a positive,” Hartsburg said at game’s end.