Tverdovsky Just Keeps Going

One could make a strong case that defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky didn’t belong on the ice Saturday against the Kings. One could make a stronger case that Tverdovsky was the best player on the ice.

Tverdovsky suffered a concussion Wednesday against the Dallas Stars, but it hardly seemed to trouble him Saturday. He had the tying goal and logged more ice time (26 minutes 40 seconds) than anyone else in the game. He also made a superb play to intercept Ziggy Palffy of the Kings on a breakaway, swatting the puck out of harm’s way after catching the speedy winger.

“I felt good enough,” said Tverdovsky, who acknowledged feeling a little out of sorts at the start of the game. “It felt a little weird on my first shift. [Defenseman Pavel] Trnka passed me the puck and I said, ‘Whoa, too fast.’ I’ve been exhausted the last few days. I’ve been sleeping, but I’m still tired. As the game went on, I felt better.”

Tverdovsky played his 284th consecutive game Saturday, the league’s second-longest active streak. Chicago’s Tony Amonte has played in 320 in a row.

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Jean-Sebastien Giguere has developed quite a fan club on the rival Kings, who couldn’t stop raving about his play in goal during a 3-3 tie between the teams Saturday.

“I thought Giguere was just tremendous,” King Coach Andy Murray said.

Added winger Luc Robitaille: “He’s a very good goalie. He makes a lot of key saves. I think he’s going to be a great goalie.”

Giguere is 10-15-3 in 29 games, which includes 19 consecutive starts. His goals-against average is 2.55 and his save percentage is .911.

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The Ducks did not practice Sunday and do not play again until they face the Sharks on Thursday at San Jose. It will be the first game between the teams since the Ducks on March 5 traded Teemu Selanne to San Jose for Jeff Friesen, Steve Shields and a conditional draft pick.