Hiller still plagued by slowness



Hiller still plagued by slowness

Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller reacts as the puck gets by him for a goal for during a November game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

ANAHEIM – Jonas Hiller looked just fine to observers when he faced some shots and moved around his net.


Hiller practiced Tuesday but did not make it all the way through as vertigo symptoms continue to haunt him.

Coach Randy Carlyle said the plan is to increase Hiller's workload and that it was encouraging to extend his practice time.

Hiller, though, didn't sound as sunny afterward and called the ordeal depressing.

"It's still not the way I want to," he said. "I still have the symptoms and I still don't feel right. It still feels like I've got something slowing me down and it seems like I'm always behind the play. It doesn't hurt or anything, but it's definitely not a nice feeling."

Hiller didn't consider it a setback but said that "it's definitely (taking) longer than I thought and longer than I wanted to."

With the symptoms still alive, Hiller said the strategy is to "provoke" the feelings of panic and slowness in order to get used to it.

But he said it's not something he can play through. He can handle simple movement where he doesn't have to follow the puck but not much else.

Hiller likened it to watching television and being a couple of frames behind.

"If I have to turn my head too often, then it seems like panic mode in my head and I feel all over the place," he said. "It feels like I'm always like a second late. It takes me a second to realize what's going on, especially on plays from behind the net. That's a terrible feeling. I always feel like I'm late and trying to catch up."

It appears the Ducks will have to catch up in the playoff race without Hiller, who sounded like he could use a spiritual pickup as well.

"It's kind of depressing because nothing's really aching," he said. "I can't say I have less headaches than last night. ... It's definitely better than I would have liked a week ago or a week-and-a-half ago, but I still can't say it's gone."


Brad Winchester had his first practice with the team and was on the fourth line with Kyle Chipchura and George Parros.


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