Bryzgalov Shines as a Starter

Mighty Duck backup goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov typically starts the second of back-to-back games on the schedule.

But with his strong performance Saturday in a 6-2 victory over the Kings coming off his first NHL shutout, Bryzgalov is making it difficult for the Duck coaching staff to keep him out of the net even with the presence of Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Coach Randy Carlyle didn’t rule out the possibility that the rookie will get more work in the near future -- perhaps even in tonight’s rematch against the Kings -- after starting him in consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 22-Dec. 6, when Giguere was injured.

“I think you can pretty much read in between the lines,” said Carlyle, who has a policy of not announcing his starting goalie for upcoming games. “We said we would try to put the competition up for all positions on our hockey club. Bryz now has [put] himself in position where he’s won two games.”

Bryzgalov, 25, has a deceiving 9-10-1 record because of poor offensive support early in the season. He ranks in the top 10 in goals-against average (2.45) and save percentage (.913) in his first full season.

“When I play more, I get more experience and I feel more confident,” he said.

Giguere, who makes $4 million and has a year left on his contract, has bounced back from a subpar 2003-04 season. Despite battling hamstring and groin problems, he is 14-7-9 with a 2.72 goals-against and still views himself as the first choice in the net.

“I don’t need Bryz to push me or anything like that,” Giguere said.

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General Manager Brian Burke, captain Scott Niedermayer and Carlyle took questions from the roughly 1,000 in attendance at the Arrowhead Pond to watch practice and take part in the team’s first state-of-the-franchise discussion.

Some of the questions were benign. Others were pointed.

When asked if he intends to re-sign veteran defensemen Ruslan Salei and Keith Carney, Burke said. “Certainly in Rusty’s case, and we’ll see in Keith’s case. Whether we can keep them here, it remains to be seen.”

TONIGHT

vs. Kings, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 23-17-10, Kings 30-21-3.

Record vs. Kings -- 2-1-2.

Update -- Duck forward Teemu Selanne needs two points to become the 70th player in NHL history with 1,000 points. Mathieu Garon probably will start in goal for the Kings despite being pulled in the second period Saturday after giving up five goals.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.