Page Seeking Support System

Coach Pierre Page hopes to find better scoring through chemistry. If that fails, then perhaps it’s time to make a few trades to bolster a lackluster offense that too often relies solely on Teemu Selanne.

“Over the years, I’ve learned it’s better to change the system rather than to change the players,” Page said. “I didn’t always believe that, but it’s true.”

The Ducks are already on their third system, but after 30 games they still haven’t found someone other than Selanne to shoulder the scoring burden. Selanne has a team- and league-leading 23 goals, but no other Duck has more than five.

“[The coaches] keep saying, ‘Who goes to the net?’ and we look at the videotape and nobody goes to the net,” Page said. “It’s like in football, who wants to catch the ball in traffic? Or in boxing, it’s not so easy to throw punches when you’re getting hit hard too.”

The Ducks spent part of Friday’s practice working on their woebegone power play, which has produced one goal in the past 36 chances. Page has resisted making it a priority because there are so many other areas of concern.

“We’re pretty well on the verge of making it a priority now,” Page said. “But if our power play gets better and our penalty killing drops off, it means nothing.”

*

Page says the Ducks are still struggling to find themselves because unsigned free agent Paul Kariya is not there to lead them.

“We’re trying to get organized,” Page said. “Eventually, we’ve got to figure out our chemistry. This organization is trying to figure out its chemistry without Kariya. Maybe it’s not a talent thing but a chemistry thing. We’ve got to figure out if our chemistry is right or wrong.”

TONIGHT

at

Pittsburgh

* 4 PST

* Channel 9

Site--Civic Arena.

Radio--KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350), KPLS (830).

Records--Ducks 11-13-6, Penguins 15-10-5.

Record vs. Penguins (1996-97)--0-2.

Update--This is the first of two games in five days between the teams. They also will play Wednesday at the Pond to conclude the season series. The New Jersey Devils ended the Penguins’ eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) with a 4-0 shutout Thursday at Pittsburgh. Stu Barnes has taken the spot of Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux on the Penguins’ top line, playing with Ron Francis and Jaromir Jagr. The Ducks have been involved in six shutouts in the last 10 games--two for and four against. Right wing Scott Young practiced Friday and could play tonight after sitting out four of the last six games because of a bruised right ankle. “He’s no more than 50-50 to play,” Page said. “[But] it’s getting better every day.”