Hard-Line Stance on Defense

Coach Guy Charron had a simple message for the Ducks before playing the Detroit Red Wings.

“To be honest, a 0-0 score was our goal,” he said. “I told every line they had better not get scored on.”

Every line, that is, but the Paul Kariya-Tony Hrkac-Teemu Selanne line, which was encouraged to be a bit more creative with the puck, seeking out scoring chances.

The other three lines, plus the defense corps, were told to cut down on the odd-man rushes that have been enabling opponents to wheel and deal in the attacking zone. Going into Friday’s game, the Ducks had been outscored, 13-5, during a three-game losing streak.

Detroit had only a handful of odd-man rushes but still managed to take a 3-2 victory.

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To make room for Kariya on the roster, the Ducks sent forwards Andy McDonald and Bob Wren to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Kariya played his first game Friday since breaking his right foot Dec. 17.

at Columbus, 4:30 PST, Channel 9

* Site--Nationwide Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 15-27-6-4, Blue Jackets 16-26-4-3.

* Record vs. Blue Jackets--1-1.

* Update--A Duck loss would vault the Blue Jackets past Anaheim and into 14th place in the Western Conference. The Ducks, who have the fewest victories in the conference, would fall to 15th. They haven’t been last in the conference since 1997-98. Jean-Sebastien Giguere is expected to start in goal for the Ducks.