Shields Eager to See Action

Goalie Steve Shields let in a cheap goal during a two-on-none drill Wednesday, turned and swatted the net, causing a water bottle and pucks to fly. This, obviously, is someone who may not be content to be a backup.

Shields is getting his first real taste of life as a Mighty Duck. He was acquired with Jeff Friesen from San Jose for Teemu Selanne in March. Unlike Friesen, Shields never played for the Ducks after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair ligament damage in his left shoulder.

Now Shields is healthy and ready to play. He is competing with Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks’ No. 1 goalie the second half of last season.

The Ducks have not had competition at goalie since their expansion season in 1993-94. The job belonged to Guy Hebert, whose skills deteriorated the last two seasons. He was released in March.

Giguere was recalled from Cincinnati, the Ducks’ minor league affiliate, on Jan. 7 and was given Hebert’s job soon after. Giguere had a 7-5-3 record with a 2.18 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in his last 15 games.

“That type of competition drives me to play better,” Shields said. “The worst thing you can be is a backup goalie on a team that has a great goalie, who goes out and plays every night. You don’t have any job security in that situation.”

Shields knows of what he speaks, as he was Dominik Hasek’s backup in Buffalo before being traded to the Sharks before the 1998-99 season.

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Duck defenseman Mat Snesrud was wheeled out of the dressing room on a stretcher by paramedics following practice. Snesrud was conscious and alert.

Duck officials said he suffered from excessive cramping in his legs.