Nov 30, 2008 - 3:38 AM
0 shoutsAnaheim (13-8-3) at Carolina (12-10-2), 7:00 pm EST
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Defense suddenly became a major issue during the Anaheim Ducks' early season struggles. Now, it has become the reason they are winning.
Coming off several stellar defensive outings, the Ducks hope to win their fourth straight game when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
The Ducks yielded three or more goals in all five losses during their 1-5-0 start to the season, but have regrouped dramatically. They have surrendered two goals during their current three-game run.
With Jean-Sebastien Giguere back in his native Montreal attending to a personal matter, backup goaltender Jonas Hiller made 26 saves and earned his second shutout in his last four appearances in the Ducks' 1-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Hiller is 4-0-0 in his last six games and has stopped 131 of 138 shots. He is also among the league leaders with a 2.07 goals-against average.
Giguere is expected to rejoin the team for this contest, but coach Randy Carlyle may opt to stick with Hiller's hot hand.
Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. The Hurricanes have been outscored, 13-8, in their last four games.
They defeated the Ducks, 3-1, on October 19 in the teams' only meeting.
From the Bleachers
-
ANAHEIM: 4
CAROLINA: 1
Final
Nov 30 9:26 PM -
NHL
ANAHEIM 4
CAROLINA 1
3RD PRD: ANA - ROB NIEDERMAYER 5 (RYAN GETZLAF, SCOTT NIEDERMAYER)
14:55
Nov 30 9:22 PM -
NHL
ANAHEIM 3
CAROLINA 1
3RD PRD: ANA - ROB NIEDERMAYER 4 (TRAVIS MOEN, BRENDAN MORRISON) 8:25
Nov 30 9:08 PM -
NHL
ANAHEIM 2
CAROLINA 1
3RD PRD: ANA - (PP) TEEMU SELANNE 13 (CHRIS PRONGER, RYAN GETZLAF)
7:16
Nov 30 9:05 PM -
ANAHEIM: 1
CAROLINA: 1
End of 2nd
Nov 30 8:36 PM -
ANAHEIM: 1
CAROLINA: 1
End of 1st
Nov 30 7:46 PM -
NHL
ANAHEIM 1
CAROLINA 1
1ST PRD: CAR - MATT CULLEN 6 (PATRICK EAVES, RYAN BAYDA) 6:48
Nov 30 7:19 PM -
NHL
ANAHEIM 1
CAROLINA 0
1ST PRD: ANA - RYAN GETZLAF 10 (BOBBY RYAN) 1:54
Nov 30 7:12 PM
