Page Likes Antoski’s Potential

Tough guy Shawn Antoski remains a big part of the Ducks’ plans this season.

He is 6 feet 4, 235 pounds, a strong skater and a bit mean, but Coach Pierre Page expects more offense from the former first-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks.

Antoski combined skill and physical play to record 25 goals, 56 points and 201 penalty minutes in his final season with North Bay of the junior-level Ontario Hockey League. But his goal in the season opener against Vancouver was only his third in the NHL since the Canucks drafted him in 1990.

“He played a key role on the third line with the Vancouver Canucks against the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup final [in 1994],” Page said. “We’ve got to get him back to playing like that again. We have big plans for him. It’s not going to happen overnight. It takes time. But when? Maybe next week, maybe next month.

“The choice is his.”

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Look for Page to play defenseman Jason Marshall at right wing more often. Marshall took one shift as a forward to give Teemu Selanne a rest during the first period of the Ducks’ 2-1 victory over Edmonton on Friday.

“We’ve told him to practice a few skills as a forward in each practice so he’ll be ready,” Page said. “With him and [Brent] Severyn, it gives us two guys who are ambidextrous, or whatever you call guys who can play forward and defense.”

Versatile is probably the word.

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Center Steve Rucchin, sidelined five games by a groin strain, received the go-ahead to resume workouts at full speed. There’s no timetable for his return to the lineup, however.

“It’s up to him now,” Page said. “We can’t get inside this guy’s head. He’s allowed to do drills and have contact. He said he feels much stronger now.”

TONIGHT

vs.

N.Y.

Islanders

* 5 p.m.

* Channel 9

Site--The Pond.

Radio--KRLA 1110.

Records--Ducks 2-2-2, Islanders 2-2-2.

Record vs. Islanders--0-1-1 (1996-97 season).

Update--The Ducks aren’t scoring many goals, but aren’t giving up many either. Defense and goaltending are the reasons they are .500 after six games. Guy Hebert is expected to start his second consecutive game in goal tonight. He stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 2-1 victory Friday over Edmonton and lowered his goals-against average to 1.72. The Ducks’ penalty-killing unit has a 92.9% success rate, second-best in the league before Saturday. Center Robert Reichel leads the Islanders with nine points.