Coyote Less Than Coy About Former Team

The first punch of the Mighty Ducks’ Stanley Cup playoff series against Phoenix has been thrown by former Duck defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, only moments after he learned that the Coyotes and Ducks will meet in the first round.

“Good, I want to kick their butts. I hate that team,” said Tverdovsky, who was part of the blockbuster trade that brought Teemu Selanne to the Ducks last season.

“I don’t think they have a lot of talent,” Tverdovsky told the Arizona Republic. “They have just one great line, and a pretty good goalie. That’s all they’ve got.”

Selanne, who scored 51 goals and 109 points this season, is part of the Ducks’ “one great line,” along with Paul Kariya and Steve Rucchin.

Tverdovsky--one of two former first-round picks the Ducks traded for Selanne--emerged as an all-star this season and his 55 points rank him among the NHL’s highest-scoring defensemen.

*

Goalie Guy Hebert has “a stiff neck” after being hurt in the final minute against San Jose on Wednesday, but is expected to be fine when the Ducks start the playoffs.

“Guy’s a little sore, but it’s not worse than yesterday,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “Sometimes after something like that it’s a lot stiffer the next day.”

*

The Ducks are bringing in a third goalie, prospect Igor Karpenko, 20, but only plan for him to practice with the team.