Hebert Is the Star in 2-0 Win Over Kings

The Ducks and Kings showed why fans should be charged no more than $5 to watch NHL exhibition games, putting to sleep an announced crowd of 12,743 that paid full price Friday at the Arrowhead Pond.

Perhaps the only saving grace was the superb play of Duck goaltender Guy Hebert, who was easily the most impressive player on the ice during a 2-0 victory against the Kings.

Hebert stopped all 29 shots he faced in helping the Ducks defeat the Kings for the first time in nine exhibition games.

That Hebert would blank the Kings should not have been a surprise to anyone who recalls last season. Hebert was 5-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average in five starts against the Kings.

Hebert went into Friday’s game with only 30 minutes of exhibition action behind him. He seemed to be in midseason form, stopping several point-blank flurries in the second period.

The Ducks capitalized on Hebert’s standout play, scoring twice in the second period to take a 2-0 lead into the final period. Defenseman Ruslan Salei, at the 3:45 mark, and winger Marty McInnis, who scored a power-play goal at 14:47, had the goals.

That was more than enough support for Hebert, who caught a break when King Coach Andy Murray decided to save his top line of Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel and Ziggy Palffy.

Still, the Kings outshot the Ducks, 29-22.

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The Ducks took another long look at rookie defenseman Niclas Havelid.

Coach Craig Hartsburg has a pretty good idea of Havelid’s strengths and weaknesses and he believes the 26-year-old from Sweden will fit into the lineup just fine when the regular season begins Oct. 2.

That’s not to say Havelid has locked up one of the top six defensive spots, but Hartsburg says he will be on the roster to start the season.

“He’s still learning the game,” Hartsburg said of Havelid, selected in the third round (83rd overall) of the 1999 draft. “He’ll be fine. We think he’s done a good job so far.”

The Ducks normally wouldn’t toss a rookie into the action so quickly, but Havelid has plenty of international experience while playing on Swedish national teams.

Perhaps the biggest adjustment Havelid has had to make is skating and passing the puck at a faster clip because of the smaller NHL ice surface.

In his debut last week against San Jose, Havelid appeared tentative at times. He was more relaxed in games against Colorado and San Jose.

So far, Havelid has performed just as advertised.

“The scouts said he’s a great skater, and he is,” Hartsburg said. “There really haven’t been any surprises with him. We’re pleased with him. He’s one of eight defensemen we’re going to have here [to start the season].

“Everyone is competing for ice time.”