DUCKS GOALIE AIRTIGHT GIGUERE BLANKS COLUMBUS, ANAHEIM MOVES UP WITH WIN DUCKS 2, COLUMBUS 0.Byline: Brice Nixon Staff Writer ANAHEIM - There haven't been many times this season it has been necessary, but even the much-improved Mighty Ducks
Mighty Ducks is a half-hour Disney animated series aired on ABC and The Disney Afternoon in the fall of 1996. Twenty-six episodes total were produced. will need their captain and goalie to carry them every now and again. Especially if they make the playoffs. The team's first postseason appearance in four seasons looks even more likely after Paul Kariya's goal and Jean-Sebastien Giguere's stellar performance in goal moved the Ducks into sixth in the Western Conference on Wednesday. The Ducks moved one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Their symbol is a bear made to look like the wilderness. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). after a 2-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional men's ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). in front of 11,641 at the Pond. Steve Rucchin Steve Rucchin (born July 4, 1971 Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a centre who currently plays for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League. Rucchin played high school hockey for Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario. scored an empty-net goal with 3.1 seconds remaining. The Ducks are 13-4-1-1 since Dec. 9, a run that has lifted them from the edge of playoff contention into a solid position with 22 games remaining. At home, the Ducks are 12-3-2-1 in their last 18 games and are unbeaten in their last six. It wasn't a win the Ducks were overly happy with. The Blue Jackets are second to last in the Western Conference. ``I don't think we played a game at our level,'' Giguere said. ``I think everybody's aware of that.'' Coach Mike Babcock Mike Babcock (born April 29, 1963 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada [1]) is a Canadian hockey head coach and former player. From 2002 to 2005 he was the head coach of the NHL's Anaheim Mighty Ducks, leading the Ducks to their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals added, ``We weren't very good as a team tonight, but we found a way to win. It was pretty evident by the number of chances we gave up.'' The Ducks did find a way to win, something they've done well recently. Twenty-one of the Ducks' last 22 games have been tied or within one goal with a minute remaining. Giguere has been a big reason for the team's success in close games. He made 26 saves to preserve Wednesday's win, although he didn't have to do much in the final period. Giguere earned his seventh shutout of the season, a franchise record, to tie for the league lead. The Ducks had four power plays in the first period, their only ones of the game, but couldn't create much with the advantage. Petr Sykora forced Columbus goalie Marc Denis Marc Denis (born August 1, 1977 in Montreal, Quebec) is a professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Playing career Denis was drafted 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. to make a couple of tough saves. With less than four minutes remaining in the period, Sandis Ozolinsh's shot was saved, with the deflection bouncing in the crease behind Denis Denis, king of Portugal: see Diniz. before it was cleared. But those were the few exceptions. The Blue Jackets had some opportunities to score, including two in the first minute of the game. Ray Whitney Ray Whitney can refer to:
CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Columbus' Grant Marshall, right, gets away from the Mighty Ducks' Mike Leclerc in the first period, but Anaheim won 2-0 on Wednesday. Lucy Nicholson/Associated Press |
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