Youngsters Are Fitting in Well

Much has been made of the Mighty Ducks’ kiddie corps this season, and thus far, the players have been worth talking about.

Forward Stanislav Chistov scored his second goal of the season in Sunday’s 3-2 overtime victory over Colorado. Forward Alexei Smirnov battled anyone who violated his airspace.

Defenseman Kurt Sauer spent the day working against Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic and even chased down Forsberg on a breakaway, forcing him into a bad shot.

“Look at Vancouver, their young guys have evolved because they played them,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “That’s what we got to do. We have to play our young people here because that’s the only chance we have to get better.”

Babcock has been able to separate his rookie forwards, which has increased their effectiveness. Smirnov skates with center Adam Oates and right wing Petr Sykora. Chistov has worked with center Matt Cullen and Andy McDonald.

Sauer, with only three years of junior hockey behind him, has been paired with Keith Carney, the Ducks’ top defenseman, every game this season. That usually has him on the ice against the opposing team’s top line.

Yet, Sauer has been anything but starry-eyed. “The kid has been outstanding,” Babcock said. “Even to the point that we never talk about him as a coaching staff. We think about him as part of the team’s framework.”

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Forward Mike Brown, whom the Ducks claimed on waivers from Vancouver on Oct. 11, still is working on visa requirements to enter the United States. Duck officials expect Brown to join the team in Vancouver on Wednesday, the beginning of a five-game trip.