No Suspension, Rychel Hurting

Warren Rychel won’t get an NHL suspension for his game misconduct penalty for joining a fight Thursday against the Kings, but he might not play against Phoenix today anyway.

“He hurt his hand, I guess on Ray Ferraro’s head,” Coach Ron Wilson said after Rychel didn’t practice Friday.

Three game-misconduct penalties in a season can trigger an automatic one-game NHL suspension, but the Ducks received a rules clarification from the league Friday that Rychel won’t be suspended because game misconducts are separated into different categories, depending on whether they’re stick-related or for instigating a fight, for example.

*

The fallout from the ugly 3-1 loss to the Kings included a 25-minute team meeting after practice.

“There was no tongue-lashing. We know what kind of performance it was,” center Steve Rucchin said.

Paul Kariya, the team captain, said the Ducks weren’t prepared and are too impressed by their occasional good performances.

“We get a win and we think we’re God’s gift to hockey,” Kariya said. “To get on a roll like we did last year, we have to work even harder after a win.”