It looks like Hiller’s the man in Anaheim–for now
Jonas Hiller got his fourth straight start in the Anaheim Ducks goal and his team held on to defeat the visiting Buffalo Sabres 3-2 last night. Hiller turned back 18 of 20 shots in a solid if unspectacular effort for his third victory in the last four games. The Thurgau native has now started six of Anaheim’s last seven games, with the team compiling a 4-2 record in that stretch. Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle told the Associated Press the team now has “1A and 1B” goaltenders and that Jean Sebastien Giguere, who was the starter the first half of the season would play again soon. Still, there can’t really be any doubt who the man is in Orange County right now, even if it is “only” as 1A.
The Ducks are in second place in the Pacific Division, but have played five more games than the third-placed Dallas Stars (a team that has struggled with its own goaltender issues, though unlike Anaheim it has never given its backup, ironically another Swiss netminder Tobias Stephan, a chance to win the job). Fourth-placed Phoenix is even on points with Dallas, but has played 51 games to the Stars’ 48. Looking at the Western Conference as a whole, things are even tighter. Minnesota, Edmonton and Columbus have the same point total as Dallas and Phoenix, with Vancouver just one point behind the quintet. For Carlyle to trust Hiller at such a crucial stage of the season, with the standings this close, makes a statement.
The Ducks play three more times this week, all on the road. Anaheim visits Minnesota Wednesday, Nashville Thursday and Calgary Saturday. Expect Giguere to start at least one of these games, presumably Thursday’s at Nashville.
