Huskins’ first goal is a real keeper

Kent Huskins hasn’t had time to think about where he wants to put it, but he figures to keep a close eye on the puck he received Monday night.

Not only did the defenseman score his first NHL goal in the Ducks’ 6-3 victory but it came against the Detroit Red Wings. And he put the puck past future Hall of Fame goalie Dominik Hasek.

“He’s one of the best ever at that position,” the soft-spoken Huskins said. “To sneak one by him makes it a little extra special.”

Perhaps the biggest thing about the goal is that Huskins had the confidence to jump into the play without fear of making a mistake. That was something Coach Randy Carlyle didn’t see during Huskins’ initial training camps with the Ducks.

“For whatever reason, the two previous training camps . . . were terrible,” said Carlyle, who also coached Huskins while with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. “And he can’t explain that. He was at a loss to pinpoint why his performance in training camps were so poor.

“I was perplexed because I’d had him as a player in Manitoba and both he and Joe DiPenta played together there. And in a lot of ways, he was a higher-level player than Joe DiPenta and Joe DiPenta has played two years in the league here. You’re wondering why, why, why.”

The reasoning was simple. Huskins often pored over any mistake he made and it eventually affected his overall game. And with five years in the AHL, the window to make an impact was closing.

“You get to your fourth or fifth year and in your mind, it kind of becomes a do-or-die situation,” Huskins, 28, said. “This might be my last chance. I’ve kind of learned since then to just take it shift to shift and just concentrate on working hard every time I’m out there.”

Huskins earned a recall midway through last season when the Ducks’ defensive corps was hit hard by injury. He impressed the brass with his solid play and his ability to carry the puck out of his zone but was eventually returned to the Portland Pirates, their minor-league team in Maine.

Carlyle kept Huskins in his plans, however, and the Ottawa native came up for good when the Ducks dealt Shane O’Brien to Tampa Bay near the trade deadline. Huskins played in 33 regular-season games and appeared in all 21 playoff contests.

“I think it took him a while to get the confidence he could do it at this level,” Carlyle said.

The Ducks rewarded Huskins with a two-year contract that will pay him $600,000 this season and $625,000 next season. Huskins rewarded himself by purchasing a condominium in Orange after living in a hotel across the street from the Honda Center.

“You never really want to get too comfortable,” Huskins said. The contract “was a nice bit of security that I haven’t experienced before in my career. I don’t want to get complacent. I just want to keep working and keep trying to improve myself as a player. Not take for granted that I’m here.”

Center Todd Marchant said he hopes the swelling will subside enough to get his right foot into his skate after suffering a bruised ankle Sunday after being hit by a shot from Minnesota defenseman Kurtis Foster. Marchant remembered the hardest shot he took. “Al MacInnis,” he said. “Hit me square on the toe and took my toenail right off.”

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider said he hopes to begin skating by the end of next week after having a boot removed Monday that was protecting his broken ankle. He was hurt in a Sept. 15 exhibition against the Kings but couldn’t resist poking fun at his situation. “A guy my age, it’s probably better to miss a few,” the 38-year-old joked.

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 7, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 3-4-1; Predators 2-3-0.

Record vs. Predators (2006-07) -- 2-1-1.

Update -- The Ducks, who played every available player Monday night, recalled center Petteri Wirtanen from Portland. Wirtanen was the team’s final roster cut before it left for London.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.

eric.stephens@latimes.com