Home Is Sweet After 10-Day Trip

The Ducks are only 3-7-3 at the Pond this season, but at least one player believed it was good to be back home after a five-game, 10-day trip across North America.

“I don’t like to use this as an excuse, but it’s a comfortable feeling to be home,” defenseman Bobby Dollas said. “You can see your family. You can eat at home and sleep in your own bed. You can just see the mood on the ice is more upbeat. It’s fun again to come to the rink.

“I think we’re going into this home stand with a fresh attitude.”

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Dollas said the slashed tendon in his left forearm, which sidelined him about a month, has almost healed.

“There’s less and less tape [to protect it], which is good,” he said. “I had so much tape on there for a while that it was like a cast. And I don’t have the most gifted of hands anyway.”

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Enforcer Brent Severyn, sidelined by a herniated disk in his back since Oct. 25, resumed skating on his own last week.

But he said he’s no closer to playing.

Severyn is scheduled to meet today with a team doctor and a physical therapist.

“I was going to start skating with the guys on Monday, but couldn’t,” said Severyn, who had 50 penalty minutes but no points in nine games before he was injured.

“It’s been a slow, slow process. I usually heal fast. It’s been what? Seven weeks? It’s very frustrating.”

TONIGHT

vs. Pittsburgh

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--the Pond.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350.

Records--Ducks 11-14-6, Penguins 17-10-5.

Record vs. Penguins--0-1.

Update--This is the first game of a season-high six-game home stand for the Ducks and the second game between the teams in five days. Jaromir Jagr had two goals and an assist and Ron Francis had a goal and three assists in the Penguins’ 5-2 victory Saturday in Pittsburgh. The Ducks gave up a season-low 17 shots on goal. The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, including a 2-1 victory over the Kings on Tuesday. Neither defenseman David Karpa nor Scott Young is expected to play tonight for the Ducks. Karpa underwent an MRI exam because of a strained hamstring. An MRI of Young’s right ankle revealed a bone bruise. Left wing Warren Rychel, who needed three hours of oral surgery after he was hit in the mouth by a puck last week, will wear a football-style facemask.