By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
STATS Senior Writer
Although Jason LaBarbera came up big in Ilya Bryzgalov's absence in the last game for the Phoenix Coyotes, the Anaheim Ducks probably are still hoping not to see their former goalie.
The Ducks have been shut out in three of Bryzgalov's last four starts against them heading into Tuesday night's Pacific Division matchup at Jobing.com Arena.
Phoenix (16-11-7) did not win in regulation during a six-game road stretch until a 1-0 victory in Sunday's finale over Dallas. LaBarbera stopped 30 shots for his fifth career shutout, improving to 2-2-1 with a 3.25 goals-against average in his last five starts filling in for an injured Bryzgalov.
"(Bryzgalov) is the No. 1 one guy," said LaBarbera, who stopped a penalty shot by Loui Eriksson. "I do my best to fill the role when I can. I'll go back to my normal job. I felt pretty good about the way I've gone."
Bryzgalov is out with an upper-body injury, and it is unclear whether he will start Tuesday for Phoenix's first home game since Dec. 11. His three shutouts over Anaheim (18-17-4) are his most against any opponent, and have come against his former team.
Anaheim has won two of three from Phoenix this season despite going 0 for 9 on the power play in those games. The Ducks solved Bryzgalov in a 6-4 victory Nov. 27 before he bounced back with 26 saves Dec. 5 to help Phoenix to a 3-0 victory.
"That team will always been with me in my heart because I spent seven years in that organization, and you can't throw that away," Bryzgalov said. "But right now my home is with the Phoenix Coyotes."
LaBarbera, meanwhile, is 2-3-1 with a 2.82 GAA in his last six starts against the Ducks, finishing with 32 saves in a 3-2 loss Oct. 17.
While Phoenix is done with a long road stretch, this is the last game of seven in a row away from home for Anaheim, which fell 4-1 to Los Angeles on Sunday. All the game's goals came in the second period, with the Kings scoring the final three.
"We made too many critical mistakes with the puck," coach Randy Carlyle said. "It's always deflating to see them get three goals in a row.
Jonas Hiller stopped 19 of 23 shots before he was replaced with 2:03 left in the second period by Curtis McElhinney.
"I have to play better and give my team a chance," Hiller said. "We gave them way too many chances in our slot. If I stopped some of them, nobody would talk about it."
Hiller is 10-3-2 with a 2.46 GAA against the Coyotes while McElhinney has never faced them.
Corey Perry has five points in his last four games and Ryan Getzlaf has four points in that span. They have combined for 11 points against Phoenix this season.
Phoenix and league-worst New Jersey are the only teams that have no skaters with at least 10 goals. The Coyotes' top four goal scorers - Martin Hanzal, Lauri Korpikoski, Scottie Upshall, Lee Stempniak - have combined for seven in 11 games this month.
