DUCKS STRUGGLE AGAINST WINGS : DETROIT 3, DUCKS 2.

Byline: Greg Christensen

The law of averages came into play against the Mighty Ducks as they headed into Sunday night's game with the Detroit Red Wings.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions had lost four straight games for the first time since 1993 and Anaheim hadn't defeated Detroit since March of 1997, going 0-7-1 in that stretch, including four losses in the 1997 playoffs.

But nothing could have really prepared the Ducks for the events that took place in a frustrating 3-2 loss before 17,174 at the Pond.

Anaheim (3-5-4) outshot Detroit 39-34, and for the most part outplayed the Red Wings, only to lose red-hot Tomas Sandstrom with a broken left wrist, followed by losing the game when a harmless shot from the blue line by Igor Larionov bounced in off Brendan Shanahan at 14:11 of the third period.

Shanahan, who snapped out of a six-game goal-scoring drought with two, was on his rear end in the crease after being knocked down by Kevin Haller.

The goal was reviewed, but referees Dave Jackson and Mark Faucette ruled that since the Anaheim defenseman was going to be penalized on the play, Shanahan didn't have to attempt to get out of the crease.

Shanahan's game-winner came less than two minutes after Marty McInnis scored his first goal as a Duck, converting Teemu Selanne's centering pass for Anaheim's second power play of the game and fifth in three games.

But by that time, Sandstrom, who scored the Ducks' other goal, at 11:55 of the first period, was having a splint applied thanks to a hard, clean hit by Detroit's Kirk Maltby midway through the second period.

``It's part of the game, said Sandstrom, who had six points in his last seven games. ``It was just a bad accident, just the way I went into the boards.''

Craig Hartsburg admitted Sandstrom will be missed. But the Anaheim coach said the Ducks can't get frustrated by Sandstrom's absence or the fact that they have only one point to show for their last two games, in which they outshot San Jose and Detroit by a combined total of 86-64.

``I feel bad for the guys who paid the price and worked their butts off, but tomorrow's a new day, he said. ``Anybody who has been in the building the last two games knows the intensity is there . . . but we have to get better, learn things from tonight.''

A goal by Steve Yzerman tied the game 1-1, at 3:03 of the second period. Detroit then took a 2-1 lead at 9:43 of the third, when Shanahan cut off a clearing pass along the boards, cut to the slot and converted Larionov's centering pass.

``We played them hard, but not perfect,'' said Paul Kariya, who finished with 12 shots on goal, including a team-record nine in the first period. ``We are a long way from (being) a Stanley Cup contender, but the effort is there. Our style of play is coming along. We just have to keep taking steps.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Detroit goalie Chris Osgood stretches to block a shot by Tomas Sandstrom. Sandstrom broke his wrist in the Ducks' 3-2 loss.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press