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Hiller looks for a chance to impress

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Times Staff Writer

Jonas Hiller realizes he is being scrutinized in the Ducks’ training camp.

The 25-year-old goaltender has gotten two chances so far to show the brass what he can do, first against the Kings on Saturday and then the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday.

Results were mixed. Hiller gave up both Kings goals in 14 shots of a 3-2 victory but stopped all 13 shots he faced against the Coyotes before letting in both shootout chances in a 2-1 loss.

With three games left in the preseason after the Ducks’ 3-2 overtime victory Monday night at Vancouver, Hiller figures to get another chance to be evaluated.

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“I think it’s real early,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “He’s in a huge transition from European hockey all of his life and now stepping in and playing in the NHL. It’s a huge change.”

Hiller signed with the Ducks in May after spending his professional career in his native Switzerland with the club Davos in the Swiss National League. In the last three years as their lead goalie, he has a 76-43-9 record with a 2.38 goals-against average and 15 shutouts.

With Jean-Sebastien Giguere still recovering from hernia surgery, it’s possible Ilya Bryzgalov could be the starter when the Ducks open the regular season in London on Sept. 29. And Hiller could be the backup.

“I was looking to battle for a No. 2 job,” Hiller said. “I’m kind of lucky right now because Giguere is still hurt. Hopefully I’ll have a chance.”

Because of his inexperience with the smaller NHL rinks as opposed to those overseas, Hiller admits there are key differences he is getting used to.

“Everything goes much faster and things happen closer,” he said. “You give up more shots. It’s more of a shooting game and you’ve got to get used to it. But I like it so far.”

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Hiller said the Ducks had been talking to him for the last two seasons and that it was agreed he needed more seasoning before making the jump.

“I got a great chance to play with Davos,” he said. “I was young when I came up there as the No. 1 goalie. They gave me that chance and I was really happy. Everything went well for me and that’s all a goalie can ask for.”

Hiller parlayed that success into a one-year contract with an $850,000 base salary. Now he has to prove that he can make Bryzgalov expendable with Giguere already locked in to a four-year, $24-million deal.

Otherwise, Hiller could spend much of the season at the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate in Portland, Maine.

“I’m happy to get the chance at all,” he said.

Petteri Wirtanen scored his second goal of the game with 1:36 left in overtime to lead the Ducks over the Canucks.

The Ducks rested most of their big-name players and the fourth line of Wirtanen, George Parros and Brad May picked up the slack, combining for all three goals and seven points.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com

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