MIGHTY DUCK NOTEBOOK / ELLIOTT TEAFORD : Sacco Brothers Work Together Naturally

Past the Boston city limits, where the suburbs take over the countryside, one particular satellite dish has been pulling in Mighty Ducks games almost every other night. If there’s a game on, the proud parents of Joe and David Sacco are sure to be tuned in.

Linemates for the first time since terrorizing opponents in Medford, Mass., youth leagues, the Sacco brothers have carved a niche in the Duck lineup.

Joe, the elder sibling by 17 months, came to the Ducks from Toronto in the 1993 expansion draft. David came from Toronto in a trade for last season’s leading scorer, Terry Yake, in September. This is Joe’s fifth season in the NHL. David is a rookie. Joe played on the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. David played on the ’94 team. Joe is a better skater. David is a better stickhandler.

They played together for three seasons at Medford High School and for one season at Boston University. But Joe was a right wing then and David a defenseman, so they never played on a line together.

This season, Coach Ron Wilson teamed the brothers with rookie center Steve Rucchin.

“Generally speaking, they’ve been our best line,” Wilson said. “They’ve been forechecking better and been more persistent than the other lines.

“Joe is fast, David has good speed and Steve Rucchin isn’t elegant, but he gets where he’s going in a hurry.”

Through Friday’s game against Winnipeg, Joe Sacco had four points (two goals, two assists), David Sacco had two assists and Rucchin had one assist.

“I think it’s more exciting for my mom and dad,” Joe Sacco said. “I think it’s more rewarding for them to see their sons playing on a line together.”

Said David: “It’s really exciting for them. It’s probably something they’ve dreamed about their whole lives. It’s something maybe we dreamed about as kids, but in the back of your mind you don’t really think it will happen.”

David has been living at Joe’s place, sharing household chores along with the rent. Having his older brother so close has helped ease David’s transition to the NHL.

“David might feel more comfortable, knowing I’m not going to jump down his throat if he makes a mistake,” Joe said.

Said Wilson: “I figured if they were together they’d be motivated a little more. For sure Joe’s going to try to take care of his little brother. And David isn’t going to want to let his older brother down. I played with my brothers in college . . . you’ll stick your nose in to help your brother a little faster. Blood is thicker than water.”

David’s game differs from Joe’s. He’s not quite as fast, but handles the puck and passes a bit better. Joe, perhaps the Ducks’ fastest skater, tries to beat defenders with his speed down the wing.

“Growing up, they always compared us,” David said. “I enjoy his game. Maybe I wish I could play like that. (But) I have to use my strengths. I don’t want to copy his game.”

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As General Manager Jack Ferreira sat high above the ice watching the Ducks open the season at the Edmonton Coliseum last week, he realized they were missing three key ingredients.

“Garry Valk, John Lilley and Patrik Carnback. . . .” Ferreira said. “After the first game, I knew we needed those three guys in the lineup.”

One night later, Carnback returned from Sweden, where he had been playing since the lockout began, and scored one goal with two assists in the next three games as the Ducks won twice.

Lilley, out with a broken jaw suffered while playing for San Diego on Dec. 14, rejoined the Ducks Wednesday. He made his presence felt, playing his usual brand of aggressive hockey.

Valk’s return could take awhile. He suffered a sprained right knee last week and is expected to be sidelined at least two more weeks.

More than Valk’s 45 points from last season, third best on the team, the Ducks miss his versatile, grinding style.

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Last season, Tim Sweeney was the Ducks’ fourth-leading scorer with a career-best 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists). He also played on the power play and supplied steady, if unspectacular, play as one of the key figures in the team’s surprising first-season success.

Now, he’s the odd man out, spending two of the first five games watching from the press box while others take the ice. He returned to the lineup Friday, replacing the slow-starting Anatoli Semenov.

What gives? The addition of quality rookies like Paul Kariya, Valeri Karpov, Lilley and Rucchin apparently have left little room for Sweeney. He was at first left unprotected in the waiver draft, but when the Ducks traded Yake to Toronto for David Sacco, they decided to protect him.

“Some of the younger players have just played better,” Wilson said. “He has to be patient and his time will come.”