Despite Miserable January, Playoff Hopes Are Real

Say what you will about the 10th-place Ducks, but they know full well how they got into this predicament.

“We had a terrible January,” goalie Guy Hebert said. “We were off to our best start by the end of December. [What happened in January] is all sort of a blur right now. I didn’t play well enough and we were 4-7-2 in January. That will really put you out of a playoff spot, whether it’s early, middle or late in the year.”

The Ducks haven’t given up hope of rallying for a playoff berth, however. Sunday’s 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators moved them within two points of the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

“It’s still an exciting time for us,” Hebert said. “Our destiny is in our hands. We play L.A. four more times. We play San Jose once more. There’s going to be a lot of scoreboard watching.”

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Hebert credited a bit of homework for his shutout Sunday of the Predators.

“I watched most of their game [Saturday] against the Kings,” he said. “[The Predators] keep coming at you. I wanted to be prepared. I saw how they threw a third guy into their attack a lot. They had three guys on the rush. They put the puck on net and look for rebounds.”

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Left wing Paul Kariya and defenseman Niclas Havelid are expected to practice with their teammates today for the first time since they were sidelined by injuries. Kariya has been out since Feb. 19 because of a bruised right foot. Havelid broke his right middle finger Jan. 15.