Kunitz has a goal in mind

Chris Kunitz will take a goal, any kind of goal, and it doesn’t matter how. Wrist shot. Slap shot. Deflection. Off his skate. Off his hip.

Anything to shake himself out of a goal-scoring slump in which he has found the net only twice in the last 24 games. The second-year left wing has been stuck on 18 goals since Jan. 9.

“It’d be frustrating if you weren’t having the chances,” Kunitz said. “I’ve had chances, but the puck just isn’t finding its way in.”

In November, Kunitz was among the league leaders with 13 goals after his first career hat trick -- against the Phoenix Coyotes -- but has only five since. Despite this, he has stayed on the top line because of his overall contribution -- nine points in the last 13 games.

“I’ve got two linemates that are scoring and one of my jobs is to get them the puck when they’re the first guy in [the offensive zone],” said Kunitz, fifth on the team with 42 points. “So maybe it doesn’t feel as bad when you’re not scoring goals.”

Teemu Selanne, one of those linemates, said he doesn’t see any difference in Kunitz’s play, even though the winger isn’t scoring as much as he did in the first half of the season.

“I think he’s had great scoring chances and he’s hitting the post or something else,” Selanne said. “It’s going to go in sooner or later. I’ve always said when you have chances, then you don’t worry about it.

“He’s still playing well and that’s what really matters.”

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Coach Randy Carlyle said he was happy to see two of the Ducks’ veterans, Selanne and Scott Niedermayer, talk about how they haven’t played with an edge and need to be more desperate on the ice.

“If they feel that way, then that’s a great sign because they’re taking ownership of that,” Carlyle said. “I think that’s important that the players recognize they can be better.

“It isn’t always about the pretty play. It’s about getting inside and driving and playing the type of hockey that we know and we enjoy playing.”

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Selanne needs three goals to tie Paul Kariya’s club record of 300 and defenseman Chris Pronger’s next assist will be his 500th point.

TONIGHT

at Colorado, 6 PST, Versus

Site -- Pepsi Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 33-15-8, Avalanche 26-25-4.

Record vs. Avalanche -- 0-0-2.

Update -- Figure on Peter Budaj to get the start in net for the Avalanche. Budaj was pulled out of his last outing, Sunday in a loss to the Dallas Stars, but the second-year goaltender was stellar in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Ducks on Jan. 13, when he made 38 saves.

eric.stephens@latimes.com