Goalies Make Murray’s Choice Difficult

Coach Bryan Murray has a nice problem these days, deciding who will start in goal for the Mighty Ducks.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Steve Shields have both performed well this season. Giguere, who has won back-to-back games, will start tonight against Colorado. Shields will start Wednesday against San Jose, his former team.

“Having two guys competing for ice time pushes us both,” Shields said. “We need the two of us playing our best for this team to make the playoffs.”

Shields played well in the first five games, when Giguere was on the injured reserve because of a groin injury. But Giguere has been exceptional the last two games, stopping 56 of 59 shots in victories over Vancouver and Phoenix.

“Both have been solid,” Murray said. “In every game, you need four or five huge saves from your goalie to win.”

Shields will have had almost two weeks off before he plays Wednesday.

“That’s out of my control,” Shields said. “It’s an awfully long season. The better I play, the more ice time I’ll get. If it had been three weeks, then I might get a little grumpy.”

Giguere has a 1.99 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage this season. Shields, who received little help defensively in the first three games, has a 2.92 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

“I want to play as much as I can,” Giguere said. “All I can do is play as hard as I can when I have the chance.”

After Saturday’s practice Murray and his staff met individually with players, and they will continue meeting every 10 games this season.

“We discuss their individual play,” Murray said. “You can set goals for players to reach in a 10-game period.”

TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 5, Channel 9

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--KDIS (710).

Records--Ducks 4-5-1-0, Avalanche 6-5-0-0.

Record vs. Avalanche (2000-2001)--0-3-1.

Update--The Ducks are 0-4-2 in their last six games against the Avalanche. Patrick Roy, out two games because of an injured hip, played in a 1-0 loss to Phoenix Saturday. This is the first of eight consecutive home games for the Ducks.