Ducks Look Solid Again

After reaching the Western Conference finals last spring, the Ducks began this season with lofty expectations.

They’ve done nothing to dispel them so far.

Behind Ilya Bryzgalov’s 34 saves, the Ducks improved to 2-0 with a 2-1 victory over Phoenix Saturday night. Teemu Selanne and Dustin Penner each scored for the Ducks, who beat the Kings, 4-3, one night earlier.

“In our minds, we didn’t play a very complete game [Friday] night, but we were a better team tonight,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “It’s only the second game of the year. I think every team is still a work in progress. We’re no different. Our work ethic has been strong and that’s what we’re going to continue to build on.”

Zbynek Michalek scored the only goal for the Coyotes.

The Ducks have enjoyed superb goaltending in the season’s first week. Jean-Sebastien Giguere had 41 saves, including 22 in the first period, against the Kings.

Giguere could have played against the Coyotes, but Carlyle decided to give him the night off and start Bryzgalov.

That was a smart move, given Bryzgalov’s record against Phoenix. He’s 6-0 against the Coyotes.

“I don’t think about who we play against,” Bryzgalov said. “I just try to do the best that I can, and stop the puck, and help to win the game.”

The Ducks went 7-0-1 against Phoenix last season. And they wasted little time re-establishing their dominance.

“This team is one of the best teams in hockey,” Phoenix Coach Wayne Gretzky said. “They’re physical, they’re fast, they’re unselfish. They’re getting good goaltending.”

After Phoenix center Jeremy Roenick drew a roughing penalty, the Ducks took a 1-0 lead on Selanne’s power-play goal at 2:15 of the first period.

The Ducks got a power-play goal with 2:15 left in the period. Ryan Getzlaf fired a low shot at Curtis Joseph. Penner got the rebound and scored.

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The Ducks signed center Zenon Konopka to a two-year, two-way contract that would pay him $500,000 if he plays in the NHL and $75,000 in the American Hockey League. He’ll be sent to the Ducks’ affiliate in Portland, Maine.

Konopka, 25, played four games with Togliatti Lada of the Russian Super League. Last season, he had four goals and seven points in 23 games with the Ducks and 18 goals and 44 points with Portland.

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Times staff writer Eric Stephens contributed to this report.