Ducks get a clue, a 3-0 win over Chicago and a winning streak

Less than two weeks ago the Ducks were flailing through defensive lapses, suffering through porous goaltending and plummeting to the bottom of the Western Conference.

Altogether, they looked like a team that had never played the game before.

"I agree with you," said Coach Randy Carlyle, who is rarely agreeable about anything.

Carlyle could afford to laugh heartily on Friday. The same group that couldn't get out of its own way has won three consecutive games and four of its last five, including a decisive 3-0 victory this afternoon over the Blackhawks at the Honda Center.

The Blackhawks came to town with an eight-game winning streak, but the Ducks outworked, outhit and outhustled them, scoring three power-play goals against one of the NHL's best penalty-killing teams and getting an 28-save performance from Jean-Sebastien Giguere in his 32nd career shutout, the first of this season.

Ducks dominating Blackhawks in Anaheim matinee

Went to the Honda Center to see the won-eight-in-a-row Blackhawks face the Ducks, figuring the game would provide good material for a future column on the Blackhawks' surge toward the top in the West.

They had won seven straight before winger Marian Hossa made his Chicago debut after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery. Their eight-game win streak included two victories over the league-leading Sharks -- the second a 7-2 rout -- and one ech over formidable teams such as the Flames, Kings and Canucks.

So what has been happening here in Anaheim?

Jean-Sebastien Giguere has been outstanding in goal, Teemu Selanne has scored twice, and the Ducks have been turning Chicago's defense inside out while building a 3-0 lead in the third period.

It continues a dramatic turnaround for the Ducks, who had plummeted to the bottom of the West standings before winning three straight and four of five.

Go figure.

More later from Robyn Norwood at www.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott

Loktionov hurts shoulder; Schenn becomes King for a day

 

Short on forwards after losing Andrei Loktionov to a dislocated shoulder, the Kings today signed center Brayden Schenn to a one-day amateur tryout agreement. He skated with the team during the morning skate at GM Place in Vancouver, Canada, and is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against the Canucks, according to a team spokesman.

Schenn, chosen fifth by the Kings in the June entry draft and a late cut during training camp, on Wednesday played in nearby Victoria for a Canadian junior all-star team in a tournament against a Russian junior team.

With center Jarret Stoll unable to play in the Kings' 3-1 victory at Edmonton on Wednesday because of an unspecified injury, Schenn zoomed up the depth chart and will get a chance tonight.

Loktionov, 19, had been called up from minor league Manchester on Monday and was injured in his NHL debut Wednesday. He was placed on injured reserve. He spent Wednesday night in an Edmonton hospital but was expected to fly to Vancouver today to meet the team. The Kings are short on centers at the minor league level too after the injury to Loktionov and a previous injury to Justin Azevedo.

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Kings center Andrei Loktionov takes a shot against Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss in an exhibition game shootout in September. Credit: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Ducks get to laugh a little

The Ducks played two-on-two hockey with the wrong ends of their sticks for part of practice Tuesday, a bit of earnest silliness a day after a shootout victory over Calgary for their second win in three games.

"You can't always be doom and gloom when you come to work," Coach Randy Carlyle said. "When you don't have the success that you feel you're capable of, then you're always trying to push for more. You're criticizing and analyzing, and all that stuff can be draining on you.

"When you have some success, you've got to lighten it up and feel good about yourself."

Teemu Selanne added to the lighthearted air when he talked about the seemingly unlikely pairing of him and Saku Koivu with hulking 6-foot-5 bruiser Evgeny Artyukhin -- a combination it turns out Selanne requested.

"I have never seen that fast guy in my life. He's 260 pounds and he's machine, you know," Selanne said. "I guess there's a lot of things he has to learn, but he has all the tools.

"I call him Mr. Incredible. He doesn't even know how fast and strong he is. He's one of those guys that touch something and he breaks it.... I try to teach him little things because he can be really, really good."

But the biggest reason for the Ducks' optimism might be the suddenly sharp play of goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who said goalie consultant Pete Peeters encouraged him to be more aggressive in coming out of the net to challenge opponents.

"Sometimes you forget when you're in a slump, and you need to be reminded," said Giguere, who is expected to get a second consecutive start Wednesday against Carolina after the win.

-- Robyn Norwood

Notes from practice and beyond: Loktionov to play with Frolov and Brown, Hickey to have shoulder surgery

Some interesting bits of news emerged from the Kings' practice today:

Andrei Loktionov, summoned from Manchester of the American Hockey League on Monday, centered a line with fellow Russian Alexander Frolov and Dustin Brown. In a curious move Teddy Purcell, who hasn't scored a goal since the third game of the season and has played on the second, third and fourth lines, was moved up to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams and will get a chance there for at least Wednesday's game at Edmonton and Thursday's game at Vancouver

"I need him to get going. I want to give him every opportunity to play well," Coach Terry Murray said of Purcell.

And if he doesn't get going...he could be gone. From the top line, anyway.

"I need to have that conversation with him," Murray said. "'Hey, it's time. I need you to give us some statistics here. Points. That's a big part of your game, is to create. Score. This is a great opportunity.'"

Defenseman Rob Scuderi and center Jarret Stoll skated Tuesday but wore red non-contact jerseys. Murray said both will go on the trip but they're questionable for both games.

NHL suspends Laraque -- but not nearly long enough

The long and trembling arm of the law reached out from NHL headquarters Monday to suspend Montreal Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque for five games without pay for an ugly knee-on-knee hit to Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall last Saturday. It's about 15 seconds into this clip.

Kronwall suffered a severely sprained left knee and will be out four to eight weeks.Laraque will lose $38,860.10 in salary and won't be eligible to play again until Dec. 4.

"Mr. Laraque's actions were dangerous and caused a significant injury to his opponent," said Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior executive vice president of hockey operations.

No kidding.

Laraque should have been banished for eight to 10 games, and the on-ice officials who gave him only a tripping penalty should be sanctioned too. Laraque clearly stuck his knee out recklessly and could have ended Kronwall's career. Five games isn't enough to emphasize the message that dirty hits simply won't be tolerated, whether delivered to the head, the knee or anywhere else.

-- Helene Elliott 

Kings promote Andrei Loktionov, Brandon Segal from Manchester

With center Jarret Stoll questionable for Wednesday's game at Edmonton because of an undisclosed injury  -- and already out of spare forwards after the upper-body injury that is expected to idle Ryan Smyth for a month -- the Kings called up two forwards from Manchester of the American Hockey League on Monday.

They summoned center Andrei Loktionov, who was leading the Monarchs in scoring with six goals and 17 points in 20 games, and right wing Brandon Segal, who had six goals and 14 points in 21 games. Segal ranked third in team scoring, behind Loktionov and Oscar Moller, who has eight goals and 16 points in 19 games. 

Both are expected to arrive in time to practice Tuesday at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo before the team leaves for games on successive nights in Edmonton and Vancouver.

Smyth was placed on injured reserve Monday, essentially a bookkeeping move.

Helene Elliott

Rob Scuderi skates again, Jarret Stoll doesn't, call-ups coming

Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi, out since sustaining a lower-body injury on Nov. 14, skated Monday for the second straight day and was much improved, a team spokesman said.

However, center Jarret Stoll, injured late in the Kings' 5-2 loss to Calgary on Saturday, did not skate in the team's second straight lengthy practice. He's not sure if he will participate in Tuesday's practice before the Kings leave for games in Edmonton and Vancouver.

The Kings are expected to call up two players this afternoon from Manchester of the American Hockey League to ensure they have enough healthy bodies for their Canadian trip. General Manager Dean Lombardi was in Manchester last week to evaluate players, probably his favorite part of the job, so he has a fresh perspective on who's doing what for the Monarchs.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Rob Scuderi, right, battles Phoenix's Taylor Pyatt for the puck during a game on Nov. 2. Credit: Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press

Kings' Jarret Stoll injured; reinforcements might be on the way

Center Jarret Stoll didn't take part in the Kings' practice today because of an undisclosed lower-body injury he suffered during the last five minutes of Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, a club spokesman said.

Stoll's status for Wednesday's game at Edmonton is unclear, but it's likely the Kings will call up someone from their Manchester farm team before they leave for their trip to Edmonton and Vancouver, Canada.

Defenseman Rob Scuderi, out since he sustained a lower-body injury Nov. 14, skated alone before the rest of the team today and might be able to play Wednesday.

-- Helene Elliott

Ducks: Ryan Carter expected to be out an additional four weeks

 

Ducks center Ryan Carter is expected to miss an additional four weeks after a second X-ray revealed a fracture in his right foot, the team announced.

Carter hasn't been on the ice since a Nov. 12 practice where he was hit by a shot from defenseman Ryan Whitney. Coach Randy Carlyle had suggested this week that Carter's injury appeared to be more serious than initially indicated.

The team cited a "lack of improvement" in his injury that spurred Carter to have the second X-ray taken.

-- Mark Medina

Photo: Ducks center Ryan Carter is congratulated by teammate Mike Brown after scoring in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 14. Credit: Francis Specker / Associated Press