Coach Looking for Home Identity

The Mighty Ducks are 1-3-1 in home openers, which is no reflection on new Coach Craig Hartsburg.

But Hartsburg said he isn’t particularly concerned about winning over Duck fans, who have had their share of disappointments since the team reached the second round of the 1996-97 playoffs under Ron Wilson.

“We’ve got to come out and create an identity in our building,” he said. “We’ve got to use our speed and work hard and pay the price to win. We know what our job is as a team. If we play the way we’re supposed to, the rest will take care of itself.”

The Ducks haven’t played at home since a Sept. 28 exhibition against the Kings. After playing three games in four nights to open the season, the Ducks have only three games in a two-week span.

“Strange schedule,” Hartsburg said. “but we’ve got to make the most of our practice time. We should be excited and fired up to play again.”

Tonight

vs. Boston

7:30, Fox Sports West 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--KDIS (710).

Records--Ducks 1-3, Bruins 3-2-1.

Record vs. Bruins (1997-98)--1-1.

Update--The game was not a sellout as of Tuesday afternoon, although only a few hundred single tickets remained. The Ducks haven’t played since defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-3, last Thursday. They have had difficulty putting the puck in the net, scoring only once in their first three games. Their power play has converted on only one of 21 chances (4.8%). Only the pitiful Tampa Bay Lightning (one for 26, 3.8%) is worse with the man advantage. Guy Hebert is expected to make his fourth consecutive start in goal. This is the final game of defenseman Ruslan Salei’s five-game suspension for tripping Daniel Briere of the Phoenix Coyotes in an exhibition. This is the fifth game of a seven-game trip for Boston, which lost, 3-1, Monday to the Coyotes. Keep an eye on center Jason Allison, who might be the best player you’ve never heard of. Allison has one goal and five assists. Left wing Sergei Samsonov also has six points (two goals, four assists) for the Bruins.