Bertuzzi takes steps toward returning

The Ducks’ Todd Bertuzzi took his first significant step Wednesday toward a return, participating in some shooting and non-contact drills alongside his teammates during practice at the Honda Center.

Bertuzzi has been out of the lineup since Oct. 14 because of a concussion he suffered as a result of an open-ice hit by Minnesota Wild enforcer Derek Boogaard.

“Just introducing myself back to the everyday program,” he said. “It’s the same as last time. Do as much as you can. Feel better. After that, if nothing happens, we’ll see what that leads to.”

Bertuzzi has played in seven games since signing a two-year, $8-million free-agent contract in July but was off to a slow start with one goal and one assist.

Said Coach Randy Carlyle: “It’s the first time he’s skated with our group for any extended period of time. The steps hopefully are going to be smaller ones as we go forward.”

Bertuzzi, 32, indicated he has been symptom-free for four days -- no headaches, no dizziness.

“I just want to see how I feel in the morning when I wake up,” he said. “If nothing goes on, I’ll go back at it again and skate a little bit harder.”

Ducks captain Chris Pronger had his automatic one-game suspension rescinded by the NHL on Wednesday after it was determined that he did not instigate the fight he had with the Kings’ Michal Handzus at the end of overtime Tuesday night.

Angered that Handzus sent a shot toward goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere after the horn sounded, Pronger started pushing the forward along the boards. The two exchanged shoves before Pronger started punching.

The suspension was automatic because the instigator penalty came in the final five minutes of the game.

“All you got to do is look at the tape,” Pronger said. “It’s not like I went straight out there, dropped my gloves and started fighting him. Those spontaneous moments happen throughout the course of a game, whether at the end of games or at the beginning of games.”

So, do the Kings have a special plan for Pronger tonight, perhaps hatched by Coach Marc Crawford after watching the miniseries “The Company?”

“Not really. He’s gonna play an awful lot,” Crawford said. “Everybody respects his competitiveness.”

To be sure. Pronger led the Ducks in terms of ice time, logging 29:53.

Of the fight, Crawford said, “I didn’t think it warranted anything and it didn’t get anything.”

Kings defenseman Jack Johnson had an up-close-and-personal view of Pronger unloading on Handzus. It would have been one thing to take on Raitis Ivanans (who was probably searching for the nearest pain pill after his facial surgery Tuesday), but Handzus?

“I don’t know why he would do that,” Johnson said of Pronger. “I just kind of laughed at him. I kind of expected that out of him. . . . Whatever.”

Earlier in the week, the issue of pests and instigators came up in the dressing room. On Saturday, the Kings were greatly amused as they watched the antics of their former teammate, super pest Sean Avery, and his pre-game altercation with Toronto forward Darcy Tucker.

The Ducks recalled center Ryan Carter from Portland of the American Hockey League. . . . Ducks defenseman Mathieu Schneider was given a day off and did not practice.

TONIGHT

Ducks vs. Kings, 7:30, FSN West

Radio -- 830,1150.

Site -- Staples Center.

Records -- Kings 8-8-1, Ducks 8-8-3.

Record vs. Ducks -- 1-1-1

Update -- Kings forward Alexander Frolov, who played 30:48 against the Ducks, had an abbreviated practice because of the workload, and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky didn’t practice.

Tickets -- 888-546-4752.

eric.stephens@latimes.com

lisa dillman@latimes.com