Fourth Line Provides Unexpected Consistency

They have been teamed since the season began, and the way they have played leaves no reason for a breakup.

The Mighty Ducks’ fourth line--right wing Jim Cummins, center Tony Hrkac and left wing Dan Bylsma--has been about the most consistent thing about the team this season. The trio has provided plenty of punch, literally and figuratively.

They have checked, as all good fourth lines should. Cummins has also hit, when needed. They have also provided some offense.

Hrkac has four goals and eight points. Bylsma has five assists and Cummins, the Ducks’ enforcer, has four goals and eight points. Stu Grimson had four goals and six points in 123 games the last two seasons as the Ducks’ enforcer.

“As for goals, we’re getting more from those guys than we probably thought,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “That is not their focus. We’re getting everything we can get from them, as far as effort and honest play [are concerned].”

The Ducks picked up Cummins and Bylsma over the summer. They are specialists. Cummins is a tough guy, as he showed when he pummeled Detroit’s Darren McCarty Nov. 12, and Bylsma is a penalty killer, a role he excelled in with the Kings last season. But they have meshed well with Hrkac.

Cummins scored the team’s first goal this season, with Bylsma getting an assist.

“We’re experienced players and we know our roles,” Bylsma said. “We play simple hockey and don’t try to do anything fancy. We put the puck in deep and then go forecheck.”

Hrkac and Cummins each had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 victory over Phoenix last Saturday, which ended the Ducks’ eight-game winless streak.

This is nothing new to Hrkac, who had 13 goals and 27 points in helping the Dallas Stars win the Stanley Cup two seasons ago.

Cummins, though, is only two goals shy of his career high, set with Chicago in 1996-97.

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Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky didn’t practice for a second consecutive day because of a stiff back. Tverdovsky was injured Saturday against Phoenix, when he was checked into the boards by Shane Doan.

The injury didn’t prevent Tverdovsky from playing Sunday against the New York Islanders.

TONIGHT

New Jersey, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 8-9-3-2; Devils 8-8-3-0.

* Record vs. Devils (1999-2000)--0-1.

* Update--The Devils got a whole lot better Monday after signing free agents Jason Arnott and Scott Niedermayer, who were pivotal players in their Stanley Cup drive last season. Both could play tonight. This game matches two of the worst penalty-killing teams in the league. New Jersey ranks last in the league at 77%. The Ducks are 28th among 30 teams at 80.2%.

* Tickets--(714) 703-2545