Shields Could Use a Support Group

Goalie Steve Shields did what he could to get the Mighty Ducks a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday. He stopped 29 of 31 shots, including a penalty shot by Alexei Zhamnov.

Yet once again, he could sue for lack of support in a 2-1 loss.

Shields has made 18 starts and the Ducks have scored two or fewer goals in 13 of them.

“I let in a couple goals and we never seem to get three when I play,” Shields said.

Shields has been solid, even with sporadic work, in December. He has allowed only 11 goals in five games. But the Ducks have scored only 11 goals in those games. As a result, he is 2-3 for the month.

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Shields smothered Zhamnov’s penalty shot with nine seconds left in the second period.

“He started to move over to my glove side and I just followed him over,” Shields said. “I got him to where he had a pretty bad angle and had to shoot it.”

Shields is four for four on penalty shots in the regular season during his career. Philadelphia’s Eric Lindros scored one on Shields, then with Buffalo, during the 1997 playoffs.

TONIGHT

at Columbus, 4 p.m.

Site--Nationwide Arena.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 13-20-5-3, Blue Jackets 9-22-6-1.

Record vs. Blue Jackets--0-2.

Update--The Blue Jackets, a second-year expansion team, are last in the West but are 5-0-0-1 against the Ducks in two seasons.