Ducks Get Reckless in Loss

The Mighty Ducks ruled another third period with an iron fist. Teemu Selanne’s slump seemed to be ancient history. Steve Rucchin played his first game since the onset of a staph infection in his left ankle last month.

So, why were these guys in such a sour postgame mood Saturday at San Jose Arena?

The Ducks simply found another way to lose, taking a needless penalty and surrendering a third-period power-play goal en route to a 4-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Defenseman Ruslan Salei’s interference penalty was particularly tough for the Ducks to stomach since it came only 38 seconds after Paul Kariya tied the score, 3-3, with his second goal of the game at 10:07.

San Jose’s Marco Sturm then scored the second of his two goals at the 11:54 mark of the final period and the Ducks were losers again.

“We’re finding too many ways to shoot ourselves in the foot,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “Everybody has to be better and that means more disciplined. I’m sick of hearing we’re close, we’re on the right track. We’ve got to keep pushing to get something done.

“And that means cutting out stupid mistakes.”

Asked specifically about Salei’s penalty, Hartsburg said, “It was an undisciplined play. Dumb. There was no reason for that penalty at that time of the game.”

Hartsburg didn’t limit his postgame criticism to Salei, however. He also believed goalie Guy Hebert could have played a stronger game. Hebert gave up four goals on 22 shots.

“We didn’t get the big save when we needed it,” Hartsburg said. “We need Guy to step up. He’s got to step up right now. He’s one of the guys we’re counting on.

“Rucchin is back. Everything is in place. Now, we need everyone to step up.”

Indeed, the most encouraging signs Saturday for the Duck were Selanne’s second goal in two games and the return of Rucchin, who has been out since Dec. 27.

A third-period rally from a 3-1 deficit on two goals by Kariya also pleased Hartsburg at game’s end.

“Our best guys are giving us a chance to win,” Hartsburg said. “Those two guys [Kariya and Selanne] were just outstanding.”

Added Marty McInnis, who centered the Ducks’ top line Saturday: “They’re flying around out there. There’s no one in the league who can stop them.”

Rucchin assisted on Kariya’s tying goal, a pretty tic-tac-toe play in which the puck touched the sticks of four of the five Duck skaters.

Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky tipped the puck to Rucchin in the neutral zone. Rucchin hit a trailing Kariya as they moved into the attacking zone.

Kariya then hit Selanne. Selanne hit Kariya. Kariya hit the back of a wide open net.

“It’s great to be back,” Rucchin said. “It was good to get through the game. [The ankle] is only going to get better from here on out.”

Kariya’s first goal of the game, a power-play goal, trimmed the Ducks’ deficit to 3-2 at 7:36 of the third period. His third goal in as many games got the Ducks even, but the tie didn’t last long.

The Ducks outshot San Jose, 16-3, in the final period, but their bid for a third consecutive come-from-behind victory or tie failed on Salei’s penalty and Sturm’s goal.

Twenty seconds into the game, the Ducks had a 1-0 lead.

Selanne raced down the right wing and unleashed a blistering shot that knuckled past San Jose goalie Steve Shields for the third-fastest goal in Duck history.

Kariya (eight seconds), and Rucchin (16 seconds) have scored faster for the Ducks from the opening faceoff.

Of course, Selanne always seems to score against the Sharks. He has 32 goals and 66 points in 35 games against San Jose, more than any other opposing player.

The Ducks’ lead lasted until well into the second period. But a couple of fortunate bounces and a turnover enabled San Jose to rally for a 3-1 lead.

First, Stephane Matteau banged home a rebound after Tony Granato’s rebound of a Brad Stuart shot was kept out of the net by defenseman Jason Marshall, who backed up Hebert.

Granato wiped out Hebert on the play, but no penalty was called. The play was reviewed by the video replay official, but it was difficult to determine why.

TV replays available to reporters in the press box clearly showed Marshall saving the puck, but putting it on the stick of Matteau, who put it in the back of the net at 9:12.

Next, Patrick Marleau split a pair of Ducks while San Jose was on a power play. Hebert swatted Marleau’s weak dribbler aside, but Sturm potted the rebound for a 2-1 Shark lead at 13:44.

Finally, after center Antti Aalto’s turnover in his own end, the Sharks pounced again. Granato’s quick shot through Salei’s legs and past Hebert gave San Jose a 3-1 lead at 18:49.