Hiller provides good backup

Now that their onetime safety net Ilya Bryzgalov is entrenched as the starter in Phoenix, the Ducks and their chances at repeating as Stanley Cup champions might appear to be in trouble if Jean-Sebastien Giguere gets hurt, as he did Friday when he developed back spasms before their loss to San Jose.

But there’s a solid backup plan in place.

In his first season in the NHL, Jonas Hiller has made sure that there has been little dropoff when Giguere is given a rest. The 26-year-old Swiss goalie is playing at a level that has instilled confidence throughout the team.

Hiller has given up two goals or fewer in five of his last six starts while averaging 32 saves over that span. Overall, he’s 8-6-1 with an impressive 2.09 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.

Making starts on consecutive nights for the first time, Hiller stopped a season-high 41 shots in the Ducks’ 2-1 loss to the Sharks and made 30 saves in a 2-1 win over Phoenix.

“What we think is we have people that we can put in situations that can provide us with a level of goaltending for us to have success,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “We did that last year. We did it the year before.

“Obviously Bryz in our situation did provide us with some goaltending that got us through some rounds. The way Jonas Hiller has played, we think he can continue [that]. It’s not like we’re putting a raw rookie in the lineup.”

Hiller’s experience has come from five seasons in his native Switzerland, the last three with Davos of the Elite League. In 2006-07, he led Davos to a championship and was voted the league’s best goalie.

When asked whether he thought he’d be ready if called upon in the playoffs, Hiller said, “It wouldn’t be my first playoffs. I’ve played in a lot of playoffs back home in Switzerland.”

Hiller said he feels more comfortable now than in October and credits the Ducks’ goaltending consultant, Francois Allaire, with improving his technique and making him more sound in net.

Hiller also said he learns “just by watching the game too and seeing how Jiggy plays, and the other guys that play [against] him. It’s good to look at those guys too and see how their game works over here.”

As for the shot he took off his mask from San Jose winger Jonathan Cheechoo, Hiller said, “It hit me right on the cage, so the puck didn’t deflect anywhere. I had the full force of the shot. I was lucky that it was not worse.”

Still, he could manage a laugh when he saw himself instinctively move across the crease before falling to the ice.

“Everybody says, ‘What are you doing?’ ” said Hiller, who was wearing a bandage Monday. “It was just the situation, you know. You take shots and follow the rebound. And so I had to follow it and I thought, ‘Oh, my head’s sore. That’s not good.’ ”

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Center Ryan Getzlaf reported improvement in the sore shoulder that caused him to sit out Saturday’s win at Phoenix. Getzlaf said he injured the shoulder when he ran into San Jose center Joe Pavelski in the third period.

“It’s obviously day to day right now,” said Getzlaf, who missed three shifts. “It’s looking good for Wednesday.”

Leading goal scorer Corey Perry and rookie forward Ryan Carter are also on the road to recovery, although neither is close to being back on the ice.

Perry’s torn right quadriceps has improved enough to where he is off crutches and has a full range of motion. The winger has been riding a stationary bike but isn’t able to lift weights yet.

Carter had the metal pins in his surgically repaired right wrist removed, and the team is holding out hope that he can be available before the end of the regular season.

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Left wing Chris Kunitz also didn’t practice after taking a spill into the boards Saturday night in Phoenix. Carlyle called it a “maintenance” day, and Kunitz figures to be in the lineup Wednesday.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com