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Ducks look to start new streak vs. Blackhawks

Dec 3, 2008 - 1:34 PM Anaheim (14-9-3) at Chicago (10-6-6) 8:30 p.m. EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- With Jean-Sebastien Giguere in and out of action because of personal problems and a sore groin, the Anaheim Ducks have not missed a beat.

Backup goaltender Jonas Hiller has a lot to do with the recent success for the Ducks, who hope to continue a recent run of success (4-1-0) when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday.

Giguere made his first start in three games against Detroit on Monday, stopping 37 shots before leaving the game after two periods with cramping. Hiller came on to give up the game-winner in third, suffering his first loss since October 31.

Hiller is 6-2-1 with a 1.99 goals against average in 11 appearances this season, giving the Ducks two reliable options in net.

The Blackhawks return home from a two-week road trip on a sour note, going 0-2-1 in the second half of the trip. Chicago is experiencing goalie problems with Nikolai Khabibulin day-to-day after suffering an undisclosed injury at San Jose on November 26.

Backup netminder Cristobal Huet has lost four straight games, but goal scoring has been the problem lately for the Blackhawks, who managed just four goals in the last three contests of the trip.

Nonetheless, led by 12 goals and 16 assists from Patrick Sharp and 13 and eight from Patrick Kane, Chicago ranks fourth in the NHL with 3.32 goals per game.