Stability Helps Offense Improve

The Mighty Ducks won’t be accused of having a prolific offense but they’ve shown a greater knack for finding the net while having the Western Conference’s best record since Thanksgiving.

The Ducks have scored 39 goals in their last 12 games -- an average of 3.3 per game -- in compiling a 7-3-2 record, including Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to San Jose.

It is an improvement of nearly a goal per game over their first 23 contests.

Not surprisingly, the Ducks have also stuck with some consistency among their lines, which forward Rob Niedermayer said has been met with a positive reaction.

“Any player will tell you that when you play with someone for a while, you become familiar with what they’re going to do,” Niedermayer said. “Your guy is going to be in a spot that much sooner and you’re going to know where he is that much sooner. It definitely helps.”

While he wouldn’t say that he has tinkered with the lines too much, Coach Randy Carlyle said the players had become frustrated with the many changes. Forward Petr Sykora was one who met with Carlyle before a game in Montreal earlier this month to express his displeasure.

“For a while there, we were changing from game to game and it was unsettling for our players,” Carlyle said. “As a coaching staff, we consciously sat down and said we’ve got to make a decision and go with some people here and give them an opportunity to find familiarity with one another.”

Playing mostly with checking forwards Jonathan Hedstrom and Samuel Pahlsson, the 30-year-old Niedermayer has been strong offensively, particularly in power-play situations.

Known more for his strong work along the boards and solid two-way skills, the 12-year veteran is on pace for 23 goals and 59 points. Those totals would be the most since his breakout 1995-96 season when he helped the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup finals.

Niedermayer, in his second full season with the Ducks, is taking his scoring burst in stride.

“There are times when you’re working as hard as you can and it doesn’t seem to go in and then there’s times where you just seem to be in the right spot at the right time,” he said.

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TONIGHT

vs. St. Louis, 7:30, FSNW2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 15-14-6; Blues 7-19-4.

Record vs. Blues -- 1-1-0.

Update -- The Ducks had a season-high six goals in a 6-4 victory over St. Louis Oct. 28. Teemu Selanne scored twice for the Ducks to rally them from a two-goal deficit.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.