Numbers Don’t Add Up in 3-1 Loss

The Mighty Ducks are still mathematically in the playoff race, but only until the teams ahead of them do the math.

That Martin Gerber was in goal Friday night was a tiny indication of that. Gerber was solid in a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders in front of an announced 16,385 at the Arrowhead Pond.

Cliff Ronning and Janne Niinimaa scored unusual goals and Dave Scatchard scored an empty-net goal. Rick DiPietro made a career-high 44 saves to help the Islanders in their effort to hang onto the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Gerber was making his first appearance since a 3-2 victory over Carolina on Feb. 4, just before the All-Star break. Duck hierarchy went with Jean-Sebastien Giguere in an effort to get into the playoff race. He started 15 consecutive games after the break.

Gerber was the better goalie earlier in the season, with a 2.28 goals-against average in 23 starts before Friday.

“You can’t expect someone to sit that long and feel comfortable right away,” Gerber said. “You have to get off to a good start.”

Gerber stopped 27 of 29 shots and the two that got by him were flukes. Ronning sent a backhand pass from behind the net that deflected into the net off the left skate of Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski 17 minutes 43 seconds into the first period. Niinimaa fired a shot from the blue line that hit Gerber on the glove, then trickled just out of his reach and into the net for a 2-1 lead 18:05 into the second period.

Samuel Pahlsson scored the Duck goal, his fifth in the last 10 games.

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Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, out 38 games because of a shoulder injury, will decide after practice today whether he will play Sunday against the Kings.... The Ducks had expected to recall Michael Holmqvist from minor league Cincinnati, but that was put on hold after Holmqvist suffered a leg injury Friday night.