Rucchin, Cullen Draw Praise

The Mighty Ducks hit the 30-game mark with a 2-1 loss Friday to the Colorado Avalanche.

The Ducks’ 13-13-4-1 record ranks high on a list of things to improve the next 30 games. However, the play of their top centers isn’t one of the Ducks’ troubles so far.

Steve Rucchin has played some of his best hockey since Coach Craig Hartsburg promoted him to the top line Nov. 26. Matt Cullen’s point production isn’t what it was while centering the top line, but he’s still handling many of the less creative tasks quite well.

“He can go long stretches of games without scoring and still be contributing,” Hartsburg said of Rucchin, who has seven goals and 18 points. “When he skates, and he’s a good skater, is when he’s at his best. When he’s just gliding along is when he gets into trouble.”

Of Cullen, Hartsburg said: “When you’re not playing with [wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne], you have to pay attention more to the whole game. He has to be diligent and make sure he’s doing all the little things.”

Cullen has five goals and 14 points, but has only one assist in seven games since switching lines with Rucchin.

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Hartsburg continues to field questions about the small, reserved crowds at the Arrowhead Pond. He refuses to use it as an excuse for the Ducks’ 0-4-2 winless streak at home.

“We have to do it [win] ourselves,” he said. “I don’t think it’s my job or the players’ jobs to be asking anybody to provide energy for us. We have to do our jobs.”

During the home winless streak, the Ducks have led only once after the first period and they ended up losing that game, 4-2, to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 1.

“We’ve got to get it done earlier in the games,” Hartsburg said, when asked if the Ducks’ poor starts played a role in the lack of energy from the fans.

TONIGHT

vs. Atlanta, 5, Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 13-13-4-1, Thrashers 7-18-2-2.

* Record vs. Thrashers--First meeting.

* Update--The expansion Thrashers would seem to be just the thing to get the Ducks out of their goal-scoring slump. Atlanta has lost three in a row, including Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Atlanta has given up a league-high 100 goals. The Ducks haven’t scored more than two goals in a game since defeating the Nashville Predators, 4-3, Nov. 27.

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.