Winning Isn’t Always Easy

The Mighty Ducks have a season-high four-game win streak. There are lasting smiles around the dressing room for the first time this season.

Yet, even winning brings problems, even if they are nice ones to have.

Defenseman Niclas Havelid and forward Kevin Sawyer spend their days working in practice and watching during games. Havelid had played well, but was taken out of the lineup when the pain in Jason York’s right shoulder subsided enough to allow him to play.

That was seven games ago. Coach Bryan Murray would like to get Havelid a game, but he also doesn’t want to tinker with four games’ worth of success.

“I feel bad because he played well when he was in,” Murray said. “Unfortunately he got taken out of the lineup, when Jason was ready to come back.

“Kevin Sawyer is the same way. But with those two we have a couple guys that if something happens, we can put them in and they’re players.”

Nor, Murray said, is there anything wrong with other players knowing that they can be replaced.

“I think the guys understand that if you don’t play hard, you might not be in the next night,” Murray said.

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Among goalies who have played at least 20 games, the Ducks’ Jean-Sebastien Giguere is second to Colorado’s Patrick Roy in goals-against average (2.07) and ranks fourth in save percentage (.921).

TONIGHT

vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Sports Net 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks, 18-29-6-3. Blue Jackets, 14-30-7-1.

Record vs. Blue Jackets--0-3.

Update--The Ducks have outscored opponents, 13-4, in the last four games. Columbus is last in the Western Conference, but the Blue Jackets, an expansion team a year ago, are 6-0-0-1 in two seasons against the Ducks.

Tickets--(877) 945-3946

Chris Foster