Giguere Finally Allows Goal but Keeps Victory

Rarely have fans at the Arrowhead Pond stood and cheered after a Mighty Duck goalie let a puck into the net ... and never without the Kings or Detroit Red Wings being in town.

But that was the case Wednesday after the Ducks’ Jean-Sebastien Giguere surrendered a goal on a blast by Al MacInnis in the second period. The announced 11,144 cheered, to mark the end of a remarkable shutout streak that stretched 237 minutes 7 seconds, the third longest in NHL history.

By then the Ducks were on their way to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues, a win Giguere helped preserve with more acrobatics after MacInnis’ goal, as the Ducks were outshot, 46-17. But that moment was one to cherish.

Giguere had managed to keep the streak alive with extreme measures, including stopping three shots on a power play without a stick in the first period.

Some things, though, are beyond a goalie’s capabilities. MacInnis’ flying toward the net during a five-on-three power play, with time to line up a shot, is certainly one of them. After he buried a shot into the upper left corner, the sparse crowd stood and cheered ... for Giguere.

“That gave me some shivers,” Giguere said. “They haven’t had a lot to cheer for the last two or three years.”

The shutout streak was the longest since 1950, when Toronto’s Turk Broda went 245:33. Montreal’s Bill Durnan holds the NHL record of 309:21, set in 1949.

Giguere’s run was so impressive that its conclusion deserved top billing over another star-studded evening for the Ducks, who won their fifth consecutive game.

Paul Kariya had five points -- two goals and three assists. Adam Oates scored his first goal as a Duck. Andy McDonald ran his point streak to five games.

“[Giguere] won that game for us.”

It was the Ducks’ first in a seven-game stretch against Western Conference teams.

Even Giguere said his performance Wednesday was better than the three previous games, all shutouts. He saw only 65 shots combined in those games.

“The streak has been pretty sweet,” Giguere said. “I’m happy about it, I won’t lie. But I think they should have all the guys there behind, because they have been a part of this too.”

His teammates did a small vanishing act Wednesday.

Giguere got through a power play late in the first period, during which the Blues got off five quality shots, three after Giguere lost his stick. He was still able to turn away a blue-line shot by MacInnis and two rebound tries.

So tired was Giguere after flopping around the crease to stop 15 shots in the second period, he plopped down in the net after the period to rest.

His work was just beginning. After MacInnis scored his second power-play goal six minutes into the third period, Giguere had to turn away a barrage of chances by the Blues.

“In his other games [during the streak], I think we gave up maybe 11 scoring chances,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “I think they had 11 chances halfway through the game tonight. That’s why this game is so special for [Giguere]. He put us on his back.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Drawing Blanks

Goalies who have logged the most minutes without giving up a goal:

*--* Player Team Time Year Bill Durnan Montreal 309:21 1949 Turk Broda Toronto 245:33 1950 Jean-Sebastien Giguere Ducks 237:07 2002 John Vanbiesbrouck Philadelphia 227:40 1999 Ed Belfour Dallas 219:26 2000

*--*