Offensive Output Builds Confidence

The Ducks had several concerns as their five-game road trip ended Thursday, but scoring goals wasn’t one of them.

The Ducks have 12 goals in the last two games after having 15 in their first seven. This shouldn’t shock any one. A team that has Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya should score plenty of goals.

“That’s a good confidence-builder for us,” Kariya said. “But we can’t expect to score that many goals every night. What is good is that we created opportunities.”

It wasn’t the amount of goals that pleased Coach Craig Hartsburg, but the amount of work that went into getting them.

“How we scored them is much more important,” Hartsburg said. “We forced turnovers and then turned those chances into goals. We got a couple power plays and made people make mistakes.”

The power play got a boost with the return of defenseman Fredrik Olausson, who missed two games because of a sprained ankle. He played against Chicago on Friday and the Ducks scored two power-play goals after going scoreless in 20 power plays on the road.

“Freddy is just smart out there,” Hartsburg said. “He knows when to slow things down and when to speed things up.”

*

Defenseman Ruslan Salei skates during practice, then cools his heels during games. He has only two games remaining in his 10-game suspension for shoving Dallas’ Mike Modano from behind and will play Friday against Washington.

“I’m starting to get excited,” Salei said. “[Assistant coach] Newell [Brown] has done a good job of keeping me in shape. Now I want to play so I can get away from Newell.”

The waiting may be the hardest part, but it’s hardly a new experience. Salei was suspended the first five games last season for tripping Phoenix’s Daniel Briere. This season, he was suspended after the Ducks’ first game.

“This is like a two-month training camp for the second year in a row,” Salei said.

Sitting nearby, defenseman Pavel Trnka said, “Yeah, some guys just need a little more time to get it together.”

TONIGHT

vs. Boston, 5

Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--KOGO (600).

* Records--Ducks 4-4-1, Bruins 1-5-4.

* Record vs. Bruins (1998-99)--1-1.

* Update--This begins a six-game homestand for the Ducks. “Even though it’s October, every point is important right now,” Kariya said. “Especially since we’re playing at home.” The Bruins seem like the perfect opponent to get the homestand started, at least on paper. They are off to one of the worst starts in franchise history. They are also a little beat up, with center Jason Allison (wrist, forearm), right wing Rob DiMaio (ankle) and goalie Rob Tallas (ankle) all nursing injuries. All three will likely play. Tallas stopped 38 of 40 shots in a 2-2 tie with the Kings on Wednesday while nursing that sore right ankle.

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.