Page Redefines Players’ Roles

Coach Pierre Page moved from player to player in the Duck dressing room Wednesday morning, speaking to each for a few moments.

“I talked to everyone briefly to explain their roles,” Page said. “I met with everyone for a few minutes. You try to tell them, in a minute or two, what you want from them. Then they can tell you what they want.”

Page said after Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins he wanted to redefine the roles of his players.

“We’ve got to help the players be as good as they can be,” Page said. “When you hit a snag like we have, you have got to find a way to get back on the right path. We’ve got to try hard to be flexible enough to go down the right path.”

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Shawn Antoski, who probably will miss the rest of the season after suffering a skull fracture in a Nov. 24 auto accident, visited the team’s offices Wednesday.

He was hospitalized for four days and underwent surgery, but is expected to make a full recovery.

“I’m doing pretty good,” Antoski said.

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Center Steve Rucchin suffered back spasms during Tuesday’s practice, but reported no pain after Wednesday’s morning skate and was in the lineup against Pittsburgh.

Rucchin, normally the Ducks’ top center, started the game playing on the third line with Kevin Todd and Tomas Sandstrom. He later moved up to play with Teemu Selanne and Joe Sacco on the top line.

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An MRI exam on defenseman David Karpa’s strained hamstring was negative, but he did not play Wednesday. . . . Rookie right wing Jeff Nielsen, who was on the ice for all five of the Penguins’ goals Saturday, was scratched by Page.