Chistov Receives Rave Reviews

With each game, rookie Stanislav Chistov seems to improve and his play Sunday against San Jose gained solid reviews from his teammates and first-year Coach Mike Babcock.

Chistov skated 21 shifts against the Sharks and was on the ice for nearly 13 minutes. He finished with five shots on goal, all in the first period, including a score 19 seconds into the game.

“He’s an unbelievable player who’s getting better all of the time,” Babcock said about Chistov, who has three goals and eight points this season. “He had a real special first period.”

Added winger Petr Sykora: “He’s one of the most skilled players that I’ve seen in a long time.”

Chistov’s goal was the fastest scored by a Mighty Duck at home in franchise history and the third fastest ever. Paul Kariya needed eight seconds to score a goal at Colorado on March 9, 1997, and Steve Rucchin scored 16 seconds into a game at Calgary on Jan. 15, 1997.

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Pierre Gauthier, who was fired as president and general manager of the Ducks after last season, attended Sunday’s game as a scout.... The Ducks honored the World Series champion Angels during a pregame ceremony and had the World Series trophy on display on the main level of the Arrowhead Pond.