DUCKS NOTEBOOK: DEFENSE BECOMES FOCUS.

Byline: J.P. Hoornstra

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- After allowing 11goals in their past two games, the Ducks turned their focus to defense during an up-tempo practice at the Honda Center on Thursday morning.

"In any sport, defense is not always the most glorious part of the game, but that's what wins games," defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. "Whether it's basketball, football, hockey, it doesn't matter. That's the one thing that's consistent throughout sports."

Perhaps it was a necessary reminder for a team that has allowed 49 goals in 17games. Only the Edmonton Oilers (55) have allowed more goals among Western Conference teams.

Making matters worse, neither Jean-Sebastien Giguere on Monday nor Ilya Bryzgalov on Wednesday were able to finish the game they started.

While head coach Randy Carlyle said it wasn't entirely their fault, he didn't let his goaltenders off the hook, either.

"I think the goaltending is in line with the rest of our game," Carlyle said. "There are areas they can improve on. Some of the situations (Wednesday), they didn't have a chance on."

Case in point: With 4:15 to play in the second period of Wednesday's loss to Phoenix, a slap shot by the Coyotes' Ed Jovanovski ricocheted off the jersey of Steven Reinprecht en route to the net. Bryzgalov had little chance of stopping the deflected puck, which sailed over his stick hand.

But the Ducks' defense looked simply confused when Radim Vrbata skated effortlessly into the crease one minute, 26 seconds later, received a pass from behind the net and scored to put Phoenix up 4-2.

Rumor mill

The agent for Scott Niedermayer said, in a recently published report, that the defenseman has been skating since last week.

Much speculation has surrounded the status of Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, both of whom announced their temporary retirements in the offseason.

But Epp said in the report that Niedermayer still has no concrete plans for if -- or when -- he would return.

Niedermayer is under contract with the Ducks, but is suspended and has not been receiving salary. Selanne, the team's all-time goal-scoring leader, became a free agent after the 2006-07 season.

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DUCKS

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vs. San Jose.

Time: 7 p.m., Honda Center.

TV/Radio: Ch. 56/830-AM.