Sauer Doesn’t Play Like a Rookie

And then there was defenseman Kurt Sauer.

Stanislav Chistov had a goal and three assists. Alexei Smirnov had a goal and an assist. But Sauer, the third rookie in the lineup, was just as important in the Mighty Ducks’ 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues Thursday.

Sauer, 21, is making the jump from juniors to the NHL seem like a small step. He was teamed with veteran Keith Carney, and they battled Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Scott Mellanby--the Blues’ top line.

Said Coach Mike Babcock: “I said to my assistant coaches that maybe tonight he will look his age.... [But] he went out there playing big men and knocked them around.”

Sauer showed his composure in the second period, clearing a puck under pressure.

“That was the best play of the whole night,” Babcock said. “He got a bouncing puck. He has Mellanby coming one way and Tkachuk coming the other.

“He drew them in, flipped to his backhand and got the puck out of there.

“I mean, no one does that.”

Sauer took 28 shifts, playing a team-high 23 minutes 5 seconds.

“Yeah, there was a lot of nerves,” Sauer said. “But after a couple shifts, all you are doing is playing hockey.”

*

Paul Kariya is again the team’s captain. Steve Rucchin and Carney were named assistant captains.... About 1,500 tickets remain for the Ducks’ home opener against Detroit on Sunday.

TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30

Fox Sports Net 2

Site--American Airlines Center

Radio--KPLS (830), joined in progress.

Records (2001-02)--Ducks 1-0-0-0; Stars 0-0-1-0

Record vs. Blues (2001-02)--3-1-1-0

Update--The Stars will be without center Jason Arnott, who suffered a leg injury in Wednesday’s season opener and will be out at least two weeks.

Chris Foster