McInnis Is Filling the Role Just as Hartsburg Planned

Marty McInnis isn’t sure how he fell out of favor in Calgary, but he likes where he landed.

Last year, he was the Flames’ third-leading scorer with 19 goals in 75 games, but when this season began, he didn’t “seem to have any role at all.” He played in only six games with Calgary before he was traded to Chicago and then the Ducks a day later on Oct. 27.

Now, he’s the primary offensive force on the Ducks’ second line with 16 points in the last 17 games. Four of his eight goals with the Ducks have been game-winners.

“It’s been a great fresh start for me,” McInnis said. “I’m really happy to be contributing and hopefully taking a little pressure off Paul [Kariya] and Teemu [Selanne].”

McInnis said Coach Craig Hartsburg told him during their first meeting that he wanted more offensive production from his second line and that a big part of his job would be to put the puck in the net. “It’s good to put some pressure on yourself and to have some outside pressure too,” he said.

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Goalie Dominic Roussel is trying to get better but it’s difficult when you never get to play.

Roussel, who has played in three games, hasn’t had a start in almost three weeks. And since Guy Hebert has stopped 78 consecutive shots and has two consecutive shutouts, he probably won’t get another until the Ducks play consecutive games against Colorado on Dec. 21 and 22.

“One thing I do is watch Guy,” Roussel said. “He’s always in the right position and never seems to be off-balance.”

Roussel, who has been working with goaltending consultant Francois Alliare and taking as many shots as he can every day, is used to long layoffs. He spent the 1997-98 season with the Canadian national team.

“We’d play three or four games a week for a couple of weeks and then go back to training camp for three weeks,” he said. “Then we’d jump right into a tournament, playing teams that had been playing all along, so I think that gives me an advantage. . . . It’s not like I’m thinking, ‘Oh, man, I’ve haven’t played in so long.’ I just say to myself, ‘I’ve done it before and I can do it again.’ ”

TONIGHT vs. Nashville

7:30, Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 11-11-6, Predators 10-14-3.

* Record vs. Predators--0-1.

* Update--The Ducks are off to their best start with 28 points in 28 games and are 8-3-3 at home, where they have lost only one of their last nine games. Predator goalie Mike Dunham has missed four games and is listed as day to day because of a groin injury. His backup, Tomas Vokoun, has a 1-0-2 record in the last three games with a 1.88 goals-against average.