Niedermayer takes an earned day off

CALGARY, Canada -- And, on Friday, Scott Niedermayer rested.

It was what the Ducks, in particular Coach Randy Carlyle, are fond of calling “maintenance.” No cause for alarm but more an eye fixed on the schedule -- back-to-back games starting here tonight and Sunday in Vancouver -- to merit the defenseman sitting out practice.

The Ducks haven’t lost in regulation (4-0-1) since he returned, so it has been so very simple, right? No, Niedermayer just makes it look that way.

“It hasn’t been easy, there’s no question,” said Niedermayer, who logged 21 minutes 37 seconds against the Oilers on Thursday. “There’s been a few different issues I’m working through.”

After five games, it has come down to being about “5%” away from his desired level. He was asked whether the road back has been smoother than anticipated.

“No, it’s sort of what I expected. I had an experience with it in a contract dispute one year. . . . I was probably eight years younger,” said the 34-year-old Niedermayer. “It’s different, no question, stepping in. That’s the side of the game too, it’s a pretty big challenge when you’re on the ice, being comfortable in situations, where to look, how to read plays. That only comes from being in those situations as well.”

With the Ducks on their first extended trip since Niedermayer’s return, there are questions about whether a wall is inevitable after the initial adrenaline rush.

“Is there a wall coming?” Carlyle said. “We hope not and we don’t foresee it. If it happens, we’ll deal with it and make the adjustments and make sure he is comfortable.”

Even under intense game conditions, Carlyle, a former NHL defenseman, is able to savor the nuances of Niedermayer’s body of work.

“There’s lots of those,” he said. “The great defensive players in today’s game have an unbelievable stick. When you watch Scott Niedermayer, you watch [Chris] Pronger, you watch [Nicklas] Lidstrom, those players, Rob Blake, they have great sticks. They can defend with the stick alone.

“It’s not easy in today’s game because you’re penalized for use of the stick above the knees or anything parallel. Those players have been able to adapt and play those strong defensive games with the use of the stick.”

As for Niedermayer, he had the quote of the day when asked Friday whether his decision to return came down to a family vote.

“The kids have different ideas about things,” he said. “They wanted me to go back so they could get bubble gum in the dressing room.”

TONIGHT

at Calgary, 7, FSN Prime

Site -- Saddledome.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 19-15-5, Flames 17-14-7.

Record vs. Flames -- 1-0.

Update -- Call Flames Coach Mike Keenan and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff the Odd Couple. How long can they coexist without driving each other crazy? Keenan pulled him Thursday after the goalie allowed five goals on 20 shots in a 5-3 loss to Vancouver. If you’re counting, that’s four times, and the season isn’t even at the midpoint yet.

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com