DUCKS TO THE RESCUE; HARTSBURG TRIES TO BUILD DEFENSE FROM SCRATCH.

Byline: Greg Christensen

Mighty Ducks executives certainly know how to defend themselves. They defend controversial front-office personnel moves, inexplicable coaching changes and, of course, the annual ticket price increases.

But can the Ducks defend their own goal and return to the Stanley Cup playoffs next spring?

Few outside the organization believe they can, but that's the last of new coach Craig Hartsburg's worries as the Ducks prepare for Saturday's season opener against the Washington Capitals and former coach Ron Wilson.

Hartsburg has been trying to instill a system that will give his suspect defense the best possible chance of being competitive. Poor defense was a factor in the team's slide from fourth in the Western Conference in 1996-97 to 12th last season.

``There is no magic wand,'' said Hartsburg, a former all-star defenseman who was the fall guy for the less-than-talented Chicago Blackhawks' failure to make the playoffs last year.

The combination of Teemu Selanne and a healthy Paul Kariya figures to be magical, especially since they just completed their first training camp together.

Kariya, who played in only 22 games last season, has scored 129 goals and 277 points in 220 career games. Selanne has 119 goals and 231 points in 179 games with Anaheim.

Last year, Selanne put together an amazing season with virtually no offensive support. He tied Peter Bondra for the goal-scoring title (52) and became the fourth player in NHL history to score more than 25 percent of his team's goals (25.4).

The upbeat Selanne insists things aren't as bleak as they might seem.

``I'm optimistic,'' he said. ``I know we have good players and I know we don't want to go through what we did last year.''

Hartsburg has tired of answering questions about the Ducks' defense, saying, ``All everybody talks about is the defense, but we are just trying to teach the game the way it should be played.''

Selanne admitted defense will be the key to any success Anaheim might have this season. But he said patience might be in order.

``When a new coach comes in, it always takes time to get on the same page,'' said Selanne of a team that never got on the same page with Pierre Page last season. ``But when we get on it, (the team) will take off.

``I don't want to remember last year. This team is hungry and wants to prove more than last year's team.''

Veteran goalie Guy Hebert describes Anaheim's 26-43-13 record last season as a ``disaster,'' but he believes the Ducks have a great chance to prove their doubters are all wet.

``We are picked last in pretty much everything, except for our big line,'' said Hebert, who is being counted on to rebound from shoulder surgery and his worst season since arriving in Anaheim. ``It's kind of nice. Now, we'll go out as the underdog in every game and just try to prove to people we are a solid organization.

``There's no doubt we can make the playoffs, but we'll have to play up to our capabilities.''

Of course, Hebert will need help from a rag-tag group of defensemen and an increased defensive commitment on the part of the Anaheim forwards.

There is no confusing any of the Ducks' defenders with Rob Blake, Chris Chelios, Ray Bourque or Nicklaus Lidstrom.

Even so, Hartsburg - who coached Chelios for three years - is putting the best possible spin on the situation.

``A lot of teams don't have a Chelios, but that doesn't mean they can't have a solid defense,'' Hartsburg said. ``Sometimes having six solid guys is better than having one star.''

Hartsburg can only hope the approach works better this season. Last year, the Ducks allowed 261 goals, 28 more than in '96-97. Only Vancouver (273) and Tampa Bay (269) allowed more.

The Ducks scored only 205 goals (a drop of 40), but that number should rise with the return of Kariya, a healthy year from center Steve Rucchin, a good year from Travis Green, a possible return to form by Tomas Sandstrom and the emergence of promising youngsters like Johan Davidsson, Josef Marha and Frank Banham.

SEASON OPENER

DUCKS at WASHINGTON

Saturday, 4 p.m. / Ch. 9

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Anaheim's Paul Kariya, who played just 22 games last season, looks forward to an improved team.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press