Hebert Gets Save in This Snoozer

The Mighty 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 in a 2-0 victory over the Kings.

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

That Hebert would frustrate 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 memorable starts in 1998-99 against the Kings.

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

The Ducks capitalized on Hebert’s standout play, scoring twice in the second 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 rest his top line of Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel and Ziggy Palffy.

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

At game’s end, Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg singled out Hebert for praise. Hebert was about the only Duck who didn’t handle the puck as if it were toxic.

“Tonight, Guy was the only guy who played well,” Hartsburg said. “I don’t think we had too many guys who were good, but he was.”

Murray said the Kings only had themselves to blame for the loss. “In this game you get what you deserve and we didn’t deserve to win,” he said.

With the exception of Hebert, Hartsburg probably would have said the same of the Ducks (2-1-1 in exhibition play). The Ducks were sluggish with the puck, dominating for stretches but failing to put the Kings (2-1) away with a sustained attack.

Turnovers played a key part in the Ducks’ inability to wrest control of the game from the Kings. After a day off today, Hartsburg plans to address the issue of turnovers in practice Sunday.

Hebert was the first of the Duck goalies to play a full game. He split time with backup Dominic Roussel in last Sunday’s 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

“To be honest, it’s so much better to play the full game,” Hebert said. “The first 10 minutes, I don’t think I faced a shot. Honestly, all we’re looking for is to get into a rhythm. It was a long three months off. I think Craig has had a plan to get our feet wet.”