Ducks Inching Toward Playoffs

Four games left in the regular season, and Mighty Duck Coach Ron Wilson wants his team to step on the accelerator.

Their first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs is almost in hand, but they missed a chance to put the Chicago Blackhawks well back in their rear-view mirror Tuesday.

Instead, the Blackhawks managed a 3-3 tie in front of 17,174 at the Pond.

“You’ve seen some teams slow down and then struggle and it costs you once you’re in the playoffs,” Wilson said. “You always want to go in with momentum. Enthusiasm can overcome fatigue.”

The Ducks were coming off an arduous trip that they handled with aplomb, going 3-3.

They weren’t as sharp Tuesday, but even after the tie they are tied for fourth in the Western Conference, six points ahead of ninth. The Blackhawks are holding the final playoff spot, in eighth with 75 points.

The Ducks were closer to full strength with Teemu Selanne back in the lineup after missing four games because of a strained muscle. He contributed two assists, giving him his second 100-point season in a row and the third of his five-year NHL career.

Linemate Paul Kariya scored his 40th goal of the season despite missing 13 games because of injuries, marking his second 40-goal season in a row after scoring 50 last season. Steve Rucchin, who centers the pair, scored the tying goal in the third period and had two assists.

Goalie Guy Hebert got one more day of rest before his scheduled return to the net tonight against San Jose. Mikhail Shtalenkov started a third consecutive game in goal after 23 consecutive starts by Hebert.

The Ducks twice had one-goal leads, but Chicago thwarted them on a nearly four-minute power play to start the third period, then broke a 2-2 tie at 7:17 of the third on a power play of their own.

With center Richard Park in the box for tripping, the Ducks left defenseman Chris Chelios open at the right point and Chelios took his time unleashing a shot that banked in off teammate Murray Craven’s leg.

The Ducks came back, though, once again making good on their power play, which has been a staple of their recent run. This time, Kariya zipped a pass to Selanne at one corner of the net. Selanne fumbled but got the puck to Rucchin, who put it in the net over goalie Jeff Hackett, tying the score, 3-3, at 8:23.

Selanne played cautiously at times. He took his regular shift and at one point sprinted down the right wing and fired a hard shot on Hackett.

“I’m rested. Too much,” Selanne said before the game. “It was a long eight days for me.”

Selanne wore a protective supporting brace around his midsection and admitted he wasn’t quite 100%

“Close enough,” he said. “I really have to play smart. I know I’m not exactly 100%, but close. When you don’t play for a week it always takes your timing off. At least I know I can play now.

“I don’t think I can do any damage. Of course, when you come back from an injury, you have to deal with the pain a little bit, but that’s normal.”

Selanne took a sharp blow to the jaw late in the second when Chicago defenseman Keith Carney high-sticked him during a Duck power play, cutting Selanne’s chin and drawing a double minor.

That gave the Ducks a long power play--a stretch of 3:56 with a man advantage to start the third with the score tied, 2-2. But they were foiled.

Nevertheless, they’re beginning to feel confident they’ll make the playoffs and have their sights on home-ice advantage. They could win it by finishing fourth.