Bylsma Is One of the Few Positives

As bad as the last-place Ducks have been this season, they probably would be worse off without energetic winger Dan Bylsma. He’s not their best player by any stretch of the imagination, but he has been one of their few warriors.

“He takes a lot of pride in what he does and he’s very professional about it,” Coach Guy Charron said of Bylsma, nominated for the Masterton trophy by the Anaheim chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Assn. The award goes annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.

Bylsma has only one goal and nine points in 70 games. But he has been a key to the recent success of the Ducks’ penalty-killing unit, which has been successful in 56 of its last 62 short-handed situations (90.3%) over 12 games.

“It’s tough to say you’ve done a good job when things have gone the way they have,” Bylsma said. “The only way it’s going to get better is if everyone tries to do their jobs and to be enthusiastic. I try to be determined and enthusiastic and try to find something positive in every situation.”

TONIGHT

at Washington, 4 PST

Channel 9

* Site--MCI Center.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 22-35-8-5, Capitals 37-20-10-2.

* Record vs. Capitals--0-1.

* Update--The NHL’s trading deadline is noon today, but it wasn’t clear whether Pierre Gauthier had further deals in mind. Last week, the Duck president and general manager traded Teemu Selanne to the San Jose Sharks for left wing Jeff Friesen, goalie Steve Shields and a conditional draft pick. Gauthier might deal center Tony Hrkac or defenseman Jason Marshall, since each will be an unrestricted free agent July 1. The Ducks’ four-game winning streak is their longest this season. The Capitals have won five in a row.