Success Has Special Feel

There has been a lot that is special about the Ducks’ special teams this season, which has a lot to do with their success.

The Ducks rank fifth in the NHL in power-play percentage at 20.1%. They are also fifth in penalty killing at 86.2%.

“That’s the game within the game, you got to have success in those areas,” Duck Coach Mike Babcock said. “It’s been real positive for us, our power-play in particular. We’re not the biggest team in the whole world, but if your power is going good, you get bigger fast.”

Before Thursday’s game, the Ducks had a power-play goal in seven consecutive games and 13 goals in their last 39 chances with a man advantage. Their power play ranked last in the NHL in 2001-02.

The penalty-killing units have blanked opponents 45 of the last 49 power-play opportunities. The Ducks were seventh in penalty killing last season at 86.1%, a team record.

“As much as the power play gets momentum for you, so does the penalty kill,” Babcock said.

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Left wing Kevin Sawyer, out since leaving the King game after being knocked woozy Dec. 19, was examined by doctors Thursday, but there was no change in his status. Sawyer has been suffering from headaches after a fight with the Kings’ Brad Norton. He won’t be allowed to travel until the headaches subside.

Duck officials said that Sawyer is not suffering from a concussion.

“Once he gets cleared, he’ll have to get himself skating and has to handle the exercise,” Babcock said. “Once he handles the exercise, he’s back in the lineup. We’re not rushing anything here.”

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The Ducks signed center Joel Perreault to a three-year entry-level contract Thursday. Perreault, 19, was a fifth-round pick in the 2001 draft.

-- Chris Foster