After Loss, They Shoot for the Stars

The Mighty Ducks had their season-best six-game winning streak stopped Friday in a 4-1 loss to Carolina. Now the key will be to prevent backsliding into their previous cycle of losing.

“We feel upset about [Friday] because we beat better teams than that,” defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky said. “For some reason, we felt we were good enough to go out there play fancy and score 4-5 goals.”

They won’t be able to do that tonight, when they play Dallas, a team that owes them one. The Ducks routed the Stars, 6-1, on Jan. 25, the same day Dallas Coach Ken Hitchcock was fired.

“I’m pretty sure Dallas will remember we embarrassed them in their home building,” Tverdovsky said. “They are the kind of the team that responds well.”

Whether the Ducks also respond is to be seen. In December, they won four of five games, only to lose those gains with an 0-6-2 streak.

Not letting one loss lead to a string of defeats was Coach Bryan Murray’s concern.

“That’s the big point,” Murray said. “We got to come back and play with emotion and intensity [tonight]. Dallas is in a real fight for its life as far getting into the playoffs. Every game for them is a huge game. We have to play accordingly.”

Paul Kariya said that X-rays on his left pinky were negative. Kariya was struck by a Jason York shot early in the third period Friday and left the game. He underwent X-rays and returned midway through the period. He is expected to play tonight.

*

Center Steve Rucchin, out 42 games because of an ankle injury, participated in practice for the first time Saturday. Murray said he will return after the Olympic break.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 5 PST

Channel 9

Site--Arrowhead Pond

Radio--XTRA (690)

Records--Ducks 20-30-6-3, Stars 24-19-7-4.

Record vs. Stars--1-0-1-0.

Update-- Steve Shields, who has not played since Jan. 21, will start in goal for the Ducks. Defenseman Niclas Havelid, a healthy scratch the last nine games, is likely to return to the lineup. The Stars are 1-2-1 since Rick Wilson took over as coach.

Tickets--(877) 945-3946

*

Chris Foster