Rucchin: Giguere, Gerber Spark Success

Steve Rucchin, who has been around for the ups, downs and rock bottoms of the Mighty Ducks the last nine seasons, doesn’t need more than a second to point out the reason for the team’s rapid rise this season.

The list is topped by goalies Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Martin Gerber.

“This is the best goaltending this franchise has ever had,” Rucchin said. “That’s not to say anything bad about Guy Hebert. He was the reason we made the playoffs twice.

“But these two guys are both No. 1 goalies. That gives us the ability to do some things.”

Giguere already broke Hebert’s season goals-against record when he gave up only 2.13 per game in 2001-02.

After Saturday’s overtime win, Giguere has passed Hebert’s season record for victories with 32 and he probably will break many more of the Ducks’ goalie records before he is through.

Giguere had the third-longest goal-less streak in NHL history earlier this season.

All Gerber has done as a backup is tie an NHL record by giving up two goals or fewer in 10 consecutive starts.

That streak ended Thursday in a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Louis. Gerber has a 1.99 goals-against average.

“He’s amazing,” Duck captain Paul Kariya said. “In training camp, I couldn’t score on the guy. I tried everything.”