Ducks bring unhappy backup to N.J.
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 | 11:48 AM ET
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere doesn't want to be planted on the bench, where he has often been in recent times. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)Veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is itching to play, but he'll likely be on the bench on Wednesday night as the Anaheim Ducks begin a four-game trip in New Jersey.
Giguere is healthy after battling a groin injury but he is not interested in serving as a backup to Jonas Hiller, as he did during the spring playoffs.
Hiller has started 38 games dating back to the beginning of March, Giguere eight. Giguere said on Monday said he'd rather retire than serve as a backup.
Problem is, Hiller is playing very well. The Swiss netminder had a shutout streak of over 116 minutes that only ended in the team's last game, a 4-3 victory over Phoenix.
Money and age are also complicating factors. At 27, Hiller is about five years younger and is in the final season of a contract that pays $1.3 million US.
There's no reason to expect that the Ducks won't want to retain him.
Giguere is to earn $6 million in each of the next two seasons. The Montreal native is 0-2-1 with a 3.65 goals-against average in four appearances this season.
Coach Randy Carlyle said that Giguere will definitely play on the road trip and it's likely he'll see action at some point during a span of three games in four nights beginning Friday in Columbus.
Offensively there've been no issues of late for the Ducks, who've scored 20 times while going 3-1-1 in the last five.
Teemu Selanne has three goals and an assist in the last three, while Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan each have two goals and an assist during that span.
Ryan Getzlaf has scored just once in 15 games, but he has 14 assists.
New Jersey is playing prototypical Devils hockey under Jacques Lemaire. The club has won five straight and allowed just seven goals in that span, scoring 12 themselves.
The Devils defeated Ottawa 3-2 on Saturday, scoring all of their goals on the power play as they battled back from a two-goal deficit.
Zach Parise had a goal and assist, with Jamie Langenbrunner setting up two goals.
Several of the Devils, led by veteran Martin Brodeur, then surprised team architect Lou Lamoriello on Monday in Toronto by showing up at his Hall of Fame induction.
Brodeur will one day be enshrined in that building and is on the cusp of history.
He is just one shutout away from tying the late Terry Sawchuk's career mark of 103. The Devils goalie has averaged one shutout every 10 games in his career, and it has been six since his last.
If Lemaire chooses to start backup Yann Danis on Wednesday, Brodeur will get a shot at the record the following night as New Jersey returns to action in Pittsburgh.
A New Jersey team hasn't beaten Anaheim since Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup final, the series that helped Giguere earn the Conn Smythe Award for top playoff performer. The clubs have met only four times since.
The first on-ice battle between the Niedermayers in over four years will have to wait. New Jersey forward Rob Niedermayer is out with an upper-body injury.
Niedermayer left Anaheim, which includes older brother Scott, in the off-season to sign as a free agent with the Devils.
