Reliever Roussel Earns a Start

With the game heading toward a rout, Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg spared starting goalie Guy Hebert from further abuse and backup Dominic Roussel got his first action of the season.

Did he ever.

The first shot Roussel faced was a quick shot on a second-period breakaway by New Jersey’s speedy Alexander Mogilny. Roussel turned away Mogilny and six other shots, earning a chance to start Monday’s game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Hebert, who gave up all four goals in the Ducks’ 4-2 loss to the Devils, will play Tuesday against the New York Islanders, Hartsburg said.

“I felt good out there,” said Roussel, who won a training camp battle with Jean-Sebastien Giguere to keep his job as Hebert’s backup. “All that hard work in practice is paying off again. I’ve got to keep my mind ready in case I have to go in there.”

Roussel, who was 6-5-3 with a 3.16 goals-against average in 20 appearances last season, was pleased to learn he would be starting Monday against the Rangers.

“For sure, I’d like to get into as many games as I can,” he said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

*

Frustration was clearly visible on the face of center Matt Cullen, who got a good look at a wide open net late in the game but fired his shot from the slot off the crossbar.

“The puck was lying on its side and he was lying down,” Cullen said, referring to New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur. “I had a whole lot of room upstairs. It could have turned the game around.”

With the Ducks pressing late in the third period, a goal could have cut New Jersey’s lead to 4-3 with more than three minutes to play. But the puck struck the crossbar and flew out of harm’s way for New Jersey.

*

After a credible start, the Ducks’ penalty-killing unit appears to have reverted to last-season’s form. The Ducks gave up three power-play goals on five chances Saturday, dropping to a 74.1% success rate. They were last among the league’s 28 teams last season with a 79.1% success rate.

“We got caught with our forwards out too high and it created three-on-twos for them down low,” Cullen said. “When we get tired, we’ve got to stay lower.”