DUCKS TIE DALLAS, SEE SIGNS OF HOPE POWER PLAY 0 FOR 6, BUT GERBER STRONG IN GOAL DUCKS 1, DALLAS 1.

Byline: Brice Nixon Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Martin Gerber helped the Mighty Ducks halt a losing streak at five games, and at the rate they had been reeling out of playoff contention, a tie against the Pacific Division-leading Dallas Stars was a welcome result.

The Ducks' winless streak reached six games, but Gerber's performance in place of injured starting goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was a ray of hope for a team that has struggled since Christmas.

But it wasn't enough to beat the Stars, as the teams played to a 1-1 tie in front of 15,393 at the Pond on Sunday.

The Ducks came up empty on six power plays in the game. The Ducks' power play, seventh in the league entering the game, is 0 for 17 in the past four games.

``We could obviously do a lot better,'' Adam Oates said. ``Tonight, if we get one, we win the game.''

Said coach Mike Babcock: ``We don't feel we're getting the puck to the net from the point like we were. Both nights we had a chance on the power play to win the game, and both nights we were unable to get the job done on the power play.''

The Ducks were 0 for 7 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. But Gerber kept it a one-goal game. It was a small step, and Sunday's tie against one of the top teams in the Western Conference was another.

``I was pleased with the last two games at home and the way we played,'' Babcock said. ``We look like we're skating again.''

The Ducks had a couple of chances to win it in the third period. Paul Kariya's centering pass deflected off a defenseman's skate and through the legs of Dallas goalie Marty Turco. But it went off the outside of the post. The Ducks had a four-minute power play later in the period when the Stars' Sergei Zubov earned a double-minor for high sticking. But they couldn't get anything past Turco, who entered the game with an NHL-leading 1.72 goals-against average and second-best .933 save percentage.

Petr Sykora, who had just one goal in his past seven games, gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead 5:26 into the first period. Paul Kariya found a streaking Sykora at the blue line, and Sykora stopped, wound up and beat Turco with a blast.

But Gerber was the real story, stopping 14 shots in the period, including a frenzy in the last two minutes. Gerber started for the second game in a row in place of Giguere, who is out with a stiff neck. He allowed just one goal against the Flyers on Friday and made 26 saves Sunday.

Gerber stopped numerous shots from close range to keep the Ducks afloat. With two minutes remaining in the period, he stopped Ulf Dahlen's shot in heavy traffic, then denied Jere Lehtinen from point-blank range. Bill Guerin had a shot from near the crease, and Mike Modano took aim from outside the left faceoff circle. But Gerber made the save, as he did earlier in the period on Lehtinen's one-timer, Sergei Zubov's slap shot from outside the left circle and Scott Young's shot from the same spot.