Hot Ducks Near Playoffs

Around the NHL

The Anaheim Mighty Ducks are the NHL’s hottest team, having gone unbeaten since Feb. 20. But a bigger challenge awaits - trying to make the playoffs for the first time in the club’s four-year history.

The Ducks are 7-0-5 in their last 12 games, the longest stretch without a loss in franchise history. Their last defeat was to the Los Angeles Kings, who lost 6-2 at Anaheim on Wednesday.

The streak gets tested again tonight when the Ducks begin a season-long six-game road trip at Colorado.

The Avalanche have clinched a playoff berth and lead the Western Conference with 97 points. The Ducks (30-30-11) are tied with Phoenix for the fifth playoff spot with 71 points, but the Coyotes have three more victories.

“That’s going to be a big test to go in there and try and save our streak,” said Ron Wilson, who’s coached the Ducks since their inaugural season in 1993-94.

That year they finished 33-46-5. The Ducks dipped to 16-27-5 during the strike-shortened 1994-95 season, then just missed the playoffs last winter with a 35-39-8 mark.

Rib injury benches goalie

Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek has a hairline fracture in one of his ribs and will not start two games this weekend, the team said.

Hasek is expected to recover fully before the playoffs begin next month. He has a 35-17-9 record.

On the ice

Joe Mullen, the league’s oldest player at 40, scored two goals as Pittsburgh beat Toronto 6-3 to win consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 5… . Grant Fuhr blocked 28 shots and Pierre Turgeon had two goals and an assist as the St. Louis Blues beat the Hartford Whalers 4-1 to hold the fifth and final Western Conference playoff spot.