DUCKS SETTLE FOR DRAW : DUCKS 4 VANCOUVER 4.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Defenseman Bret Hedican's shorthanded goal with 10:53 left in the third period Wednesday night lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-4 tie with the Mighty Ducks.

Hedican's score, which came on a 2-on-1 breakaway with center Mark Messier, completed the Canucks' rally from a 4-2 deficit in the second period.

Vancouver's comeback spoiled the first career multiple-goal game for Anaheim rookie center Johan Davidsson, who scored twice.

The tie gave the Mighty Ducks their best home start ever with a 6-3-3 record and 15 points, topping the previous club record of 7-5-0 and 14 points set in 1995-96.

The tying goal came in the middle of a four-minute power play for Anaheim after Canucks defenseman Chris McAllister had been sent to the penalty box for a double minor for highsticking.

Messier brought the puck down the right side and flipped the puck to Hedican at the bottom of the right faceoff circle. Hedican's wrist shot beat Anaheim goaltender Guy Hebert on the stick side.

Earlier, the Ducks had chased Canucks starting goaltender Garth Snow by scoring four goals on 22 shots in the first 32:20. Snow was replaced by backup Corey Hirsch, who didn't allow a goal as he faced 12 shots.

Davidsson's second career goal at 18:20 of the first period came on a shot from the right faceoff circle that went off Snow's leg and gave Anaheim the early lead.

The two teams combined for six goals in the second period.

Davidsson's second goal at 7:51 gave Anaheim a 3-1 lead, but Bill Muckalt scored 14 seconds later to pull Vancouver to within a goal. Marty McInnis' eighth goal of the year at 12:20 restored Anaheim's two-goal lead.

Canucks center Harry York scored off a rebound from close range with 1:10 left in the second period to cut Anaheim's lead to one.

Penalty-killing kills: The Mighty Ducks' penalty-killers are certainly having their share of ups and downs. It's been like three seasons in one even though the 1998-99 season is barely a quarter old.

Anaheim allowed power-play goals in seven of the first nine games before an eight-game stretch in which it allowed only one goal in 41 opportunities and moved into the top-10 in the league.

But before Wednesday's tie with Vancouver, the Ducks had allowed power-play goals in eight consecutive games and dropped to 15th in the league.

``We were on a good roll for awhile, but it has been little things every night,'' Anaheim coach Craig Hartsburg said. ``Like hitting the referee with a clearing pass in San Jose, it's nothing you can really put your finger on.''

One thing Hartsburg knows for sure is that Anaheim can't repeat last year's penalty-killing performance (25th in the league) and expect to be a contender.

``You can win without having a good power play, but not many get very far without good penalty killing,'' he said. ``With all of the one-goal games in this league it's very important.

Everybody wants to talk about the power play, but at the end of the night it can be the most important (factor in a game).''

Magic numbers: Two and three are lucky numbers for the Mighty Ducks so far this season.

Coming into Wednesday's game Anaheim was 6-2-3 when it limited opponents to two goals or less. The Ducks were 3-8-3 when they gave up three or more.