ELLIOTT TEAFORD , Times Staff Writer

NASHVILLE -- After recording only two assists in his first eight games, Oleg Tverdovsky has become a more consistent contributor. He has two goals and eight points in his last six games, including the Ducks' lone goal in a 1-1 tie Wednesday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

"In the last half of last year, he really had the passion to get us into the playoffs," Coach Craig Hartsburg said.

"He's doing it again."

The Ducks missed the playoffs by four points last season, but Tverdovsky had 51 points, including a career-best 15 goals. He played a full 82-game schedule for the second consecutive season. His streak of 222 consecutive games--which dates to 1997-98--is the second-longest in the NHL behind Chicago's Tony Amonte, who has played in 260 in a row.

Although he's only 24, this is Tverdovsky's seventh season. Hartsburg counts the young defenseman as one of the team's leaders. Tverdovsky played a game-high 30 minutes 55 seconds Wednesday.

"He doesn't try to hide the facts," Hartsburg said. "He doesn't cheat or make excuses. If he doesn't play well, he's not going to try and hide it. When we win, it's always 'we.' When we lose, he always looks at himself first.

"Oleg never makes excuses. Oleg is always looking for solutions. If he plays good, he says he should have played better. If he plays bad, he says he should have done this or that better."