No Rest Despite a Break in the Schedule

Mighty Duck Coach Mike Babcock is certainly one to learn from history

Babcock gave his team an extra day off during the Christmas break, a three-day vacation at a time when the Ducks had won six of seven games. The extra rest made them the gift that kept on giving after Christmas, as they lost four consecutive games.

This weekend the Ducks are in the midst of a four-day break before playing Ottawa on Wednesday. Babcock, though, canceled all leaves. The Ducks went through a hard workout Saturday then will take today off before returning to practice Monday.

“Before the Christmas break, I was giving them both days off this weekend,” Babcock said. “We had to skate [today], and they were skating, all right.”

Team captain Paul Kariya was the only player given the day off.

“His All-Star break was this weekend,” Babcock said. “He is going to the All-Star game next weekend when everyone else is doing nothing. We figured everyone who made the All-Star game got the day off ... except if you had the day off yesterday.”

Forward Stanislav Chistov, who will play in the YoungStars game during All-Star weekend, was a healthy scratch against New Jersey on Friday. Babcock has been unhappy with Chistov’s energy level during games.

Also practicing was Dan Bylsma, who has sat out three games because of a sore knee. He went through practice Saturday and hopes to be ready in time for Wednesday’s game against the Senators.