COYOTES GOALIE HAS DUCKS IN HOLE.

Byline: Associated Press 

Although Phoenix goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin gives away a few years to most NHL players, the 24-year-old Russian hasn't given away much of anything to the Mighty Ducks.

The Coyotes have followed a time-tested Stanley Cup success formula - physical play, depth and a hot goalie - to a three-game winning streak after an 0-2 start, and could wrap up the best-of-seven Western Conference series with a victory today.

If they do, they will have won three straight at home for the first time all season.

The Ducks need to do something they haven't done this year - win in Phoenix - to regain home ice and send the deciding game back to Anaheim, where their only loss in 17 contests was to Phoenix on Thursday.

``People think this is bleak,'' Ducks coach Ron Wilson said. ``We had a 1-9-3 start to the season. Now that's bleak. But we worked hard, finished fourth, and we know what it takes to come out of a hole.''

Khabibulin, the Russian goalie in last year's World Cup, got into 26 games as a Winnipeg Jets rookie in 1994-95, with an 8-9-4 record.

He opened eyes the next season with a 26-20-3 mark, two shutouts and two playoff wins against eventual conference champion Detroit, including 51 saves in the fifth game.

Khabibulin was 30-33-6 this season, but his other numbers were better - a 2.83 goals-against average and seven shutouts, including three in a row in March that coach Don Hay considers the turning point for the relocated franchise.

``Ever since we went on the road to Florida and won three straight shutouts, we've been a different team,'' he said. ``We've really picked it up in every area.''