Record Good, but Play Spotty

They are off to their best start after 11 games in their eight-season history, but the Ducks aren’t especially pleased with their play.

“There are some good signs,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “Our record is OK, but we haven’t had everybody play their best yet. Sooner or later, we’ll get everyone going and we’ll be at our best.”

The top two lines are carrying the team offensively and the fourth line has chipped in with some aggressive play. The defense corps has had some breakdowns, but rebounded with a solid effort in a 3-2 victory Friday against the Edmonton Oilers.

However, the third line of Andrei Nazarov, German Titov and Jonas Ronnqvist hasn’t yet played close to expectations, according to Hartsburg.

To be sure, they have been together for only two games since Titov returned from a sore chest, bumping Ladislav Kohn out of the lineup. But Titov, the team’s big off-season free-agent acquisition, has only one goal and one assist. Nazarov, acquired during training camp from Calgary, has only one goal. Ronnqvist, a fourth-round draft pick, has only one assist.

“Nazarov is still trying to find his game,” Hartsburg said. “He hasn’t done the things we have wanted him to do, or that he can do. He’s got to get going.”

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As he regains strength in his left hand, top-line center Steve Rucchin continues to improve his play. Rucchin, sidelined for a month by a broken left hand, won 10 of 16 faceoffs Friday. He took 12 of 17 faceoffs Wednesday against the Kings.

“He’s better,” Hartsburg said of Rucchin. “It’s good that he’s taking more faceoffs. It shows he’s getting stronger.”

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Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere was sent back to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League.

TONIGHT

Calgary, 5 PST, Channel 9

* Site--Pengrowth Saddledome.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 5-3-1-2, Flames 3-7-1.

* Record vs. Flames (1999-2000)--2-2.

* Update--The Flames became the first team to lose to the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild when they dropped a 3-1 decision Friday to the Wild. Valeri Bure scored the Flames’ goal, ending his 25-game scoring drought. The Ducks have been outshot in five consecutive games, but have earned at least one point in all but one of those games.