The Future Isn’t Now for Ducks

These were two teams working on different timetables.

The San Jose Sharks are working in the here and now. Their 4-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks on Friday tightened their grip on first place in the Pacific Division. An announced sellout crowd of 17,174 at the Arrowhead Pond saw the Sharks dominate after erasing an early 2-0 deficit, and Alexander Korolyuk’s two third-period goals moved them five points ahead of second-place Dallas.

The Ducks, meanwhile, have an eye fixed on next season -- if a labor agreement allows for a next season.

Stanislav Chistov is trying to show he’s a dependable player, not the goal-starved lost boy he has been this season. Sandis Ozolinsh is trying to get in a few games following shoulder surgery, so as not to be left wanting all summer. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere is trying to expunge the bad taste left from his poor start.

Friday’s loss was merely a stepping stone toward what the Ducks hope is a better future. For the Sharks, it was a beeline for the playoffs.

“I thought we got some good saves from Jiggy and we had some real good players tonight,� Duck Coach Mike Babcock said. “But [the Sharks], they find a way to get it done night in and night out. That doesn’t happen by accident.�

Giguere, who had a 2.23 goals-against average in 16 starts since the All-Star break, replaced starter Martin Gerber 11:34 into the game. Giguere made 27 saves in relief.

The only goals he allowed were by Korolyuk. He fired a shot through two Duck defensemen for a 3-2 lead 3 minutes 52 seconds into the third period. Korolyuk then sent a pass to the net that went off the skate of Duck forward Rob Niedermayer and into the net with four minutes left.

It was the third time the Sharks have come from behind in their last three games, all on the road. They outshot the Ducks, 41-23.

“The biggest difference [between the two teams] is their perseverance,� Duck captain Steve Rucchin said.

The Ducks found their upside in the moral victory column. Ozolinsh, a key player with his ability to move the puck, returned to the lineup after missing 42 games with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

“I didn’t want to spend all summer waiting to play hockey again,� Ozolinsh said. “I had to take sleeping pills [Thursday night] because I was so nervous about playing.�

It was the Sharks, though, who seemed a bit groggy at the start. Goals by Chistov and Sergei Fedorov gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead 4:42 into the game.

It was Fedorov’s sixth goal in the last nine games and Chistov’s second in 49 games, a stretch that was interrupted by a 42-day tour of the American Hockey League.

Duck officials, frustrated by Chistov’s poor play and unwillingness to shoot the puck on net, demoted him, hoping that a lengthy stint in the minor leagues would be a wakeup call.

Asked if he noticed a difference in Chistov after his first game back, Babcock said, “His hair is longer.�

Chistov got the Ducks going Friday. He had the puck to left of the net at the goal line, did a quick survey of the scene, then flicked a shot past a surprised Evgeni Nabokov for a power-play goal and a 1-0 Duck lead 2:43 into the game.

“If the message of riding the bus for as long as he did doesn’t drive you to work, you’re never going to work,� Babcock said.