KINGS/DUCKS REPORT

Duck right wing Tomas Sandstrom suffered a separated right shoulder after a second-period collision with Jan Vopat.

“During the season, you’d say it would be two to three weeks to recover,” team doctor Ronald Glousman said. “It usually takes six weeks to come around. It’s the same injury Steve Rucchin had in the last game of the playoffs against Phoenix last year. He played with it, but it’s a little different situation now.”

Sandstrom’s first season as a Duck was a disappointing one. He failed to provide the expected goals, assists or scrappiness on the Ducks’ second line.

He had only nine goals, 17 points and a plus/minus rating of minus 25 in 77 games--the worst season in his 14 NHL seasons.

Sandstrom’s future with the Ducks is uncertain. He is scheduled to earn more than $1 million in the second season of his two-year contract. But his lack of production is a major concern to a budget-conscious management.

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Veteran Duck defenseman David Karpa did not play because Coach Pierre Page wanted to look at several inexperienced players. The move paid off when rookies Mike Crowley and Pavel Trnka scored first-period goals. It was Crowley’s first NHL goal and third point in his seventh game. Trnka has three goals and seven points in 47 games.

TONIGHT

Mighty Ducks vs. St. Louis

* 5

* Ch. 9

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350), KPLS (830).

Records--Ducks 26-42-13, Blues 44-29-8. Record vs. Blues--1-1-1.

Update--The Ducks’ 4-1 victory Saturday over the Kings enabled them to escape last place in the Western Conference. But a victory tonight and a loss by last-place Vancouver against Toronto would seal the deal. A victory won’t help the Ducks avoid the worst record during a full season in their five-year history, however. They also cannot avoid the worst home record in the Western Conference. They are 12-22-6, although one victory was in Tokyo against Vancouver. Captain Teemu Selanne hopes his league-leading 52 goals are enough to win the goal-scoring title. He will not play tonight because of a groin injury. Philadelphia’s John LeClair has 51. Vancouver’s Pavel Bure and Washington’s Peter Bondra have 50 each. LeClair, Bure and Bondra are playing today. The Ducks are 2-1-2 in their last five games against. St. Louis.

Tickets--(714) 704-2701.