Janssens Likes Line Mates

Coach Pierre Page’s line-juggling takes a little getting used to for his players, but center Mark Janssens likes the style just fine.

Janssens, who primarily centers the Ducks’ grinding lines, played with all the wingers in the lineup during Wednesday’s 2-2 tie against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It keeps life exciting,” said Janssens, who assisted on the Ducks’ first goal. “It’s nice to look to the wing and see Teemu Selanne or Tomas Sandstrom. Other times it’s nice to see [enforcer] Shawn Antoski. Obviously, with Shawn you have to play a different style than with Tomas.”

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Page apparently harbors no ill-will toward Philadelphia’s Eric Lindros, who refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques when Page was the general manager there in the early 1990s.

Page said he has never had an extended conversation with Lindros, but once chatted with his father for about 30 minutes several years ago.

“The guy is the most dominating player in the game,” Page said of Lindros, who scored one Flyer goal and assisted on the other Wednesday. “He’s playing the game on a different level. The whole package is right there in one guy. He’s big, skilled and tough. He can pass and shoot. He’s got great hands.”

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Mikhail Shtalenkov has been invited to play on the Russian Olympic team along with fellow goaltenders Nikolai Khabibulin of the Phoenix Coyotes and Andrei Trefilov, who is in the Buffalo Sabres’ organization. The final roster is expected to be selected by Dec. 1.

“So far, I said, ‘Yes,’ ” said Shtalenkov, 1-0-1 with a 1.92 goals-against average in two starts for the Ducks. “I don’t know anything else. I don’t know how many players they are selecting.”

TONIGHT

vs.

Edmonton

* 7:30

Site--The Pond.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Ducks 1-2-2, Oilers 2-4-1.

Record vs. Oilers--(1996-97) 4-1.

Update--The Ducks played perhaps their most intense game of their season in a 2-2 tie Wednesday with the Philadelphia Flyers. They continue to struggle on offense, averaging fewer than two goals a game. Center Steve Rucchin is not expected to play, although he practiced Thursday. Rucchin has missed four consecutive games because of a groin strain. Defenseman Bobby Dollas has a bruised toe and is questionable for tonight’s game. Edmonton’s Bill Huard has a sprained knee and is sidelined indefinitely. The Oilers had 50 shots but only two goals against Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy in Wednesday’s 6-2 loss.