Rucchin Will Go on Trip After All

Center Steve Rucchin, sidelined eight games because of a groin injury, will accompany the Mighty Ducks on their five-game trip, which begins Saturday against the New York Islanders.

Rucchin practiced with the team Thursday, going at full speed, and tests later in the day determined he was close to 100%.

Mighty Duck Coach Pierre Page had said Rucchin, the team’s third-leading scorer, would stay home unless there was a chance he would play on the trip.

“We needed to get a second opinion,” Page said. “We need Steve with two good legs.”

Rucchin’s absence--along with the contract stalemate with Paul Kariya--has forced Page to juggle his lines. Even with Rucchin available, the Ducks might recall a player from Cincinnati.

Center Antti Aalto would be a strong possibility. “He nearly made this team,” Page said. “He’s a big guy who can check and score.”

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The Ducks held a 30-minute meeting after Thursday’s practice.

“Hopefully, they went home with some answers,” Page said. “We had the defensemen meet separately from the forwards. It gave the defensemen a chance to talk freely about the forwards and the forwards a chance to do same about the defensemen.

“We did some things on the ice and we watched video.”

Tops on the viewing list was Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The Ducks, who were playing their second game in as many nights, were fatigued, Page said.

“We’ve had four games in six days and we weren’t fresh,” Page said. “Now we have to find out what to do when we’re faced with that situation. We have to use our experience and we have to use our smarts.”

They also may use some fresh legs. Page didn’t rule out more moves to bolster the 23-man roster.

“Maybe we need to bring in some fresh troops,” Page said. “In hindsight, we needed two or three fresh legs out there [against Detroit].”

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Defenseman Bobby Dollas, who is recovering from a broken big toe on his right foot, did not practice Thursday but said he expected to play Saturday against the New York Islanders.

“If it keeps improving the way it has, I’ll play,” Dollas said. “I’ve had bruised toes before, but they were nothing like this. The other night, I bumped my toe against the boards just a tad and I felt like crying.”