It’s Motivation, Not Mind Games

Coach Pierre Page insisted he isn’t playing mind games by benching some veteran players in order to motivate them, but merely tinkering to get more production from his lineup.

“Tell me, now, how do you get more out of this team?” Page asked. “If you can give us two good games out of three or three good games out of four, then we can sit somebody else. It’s not easy. I’m not trying to play mind games like some people have said.

“We just need more.”

Page and winger Warren Rychel met to talk about his benching for Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and subsequent comments to reporters.

“I was upset about not playing,” Rychel said. “And that’s as far as it goes. I talked to Pierre. I talked to the players. There’s no problem.” Defenseman Bobby Dollas also expressed anger over his benching and was traded Friday to the Edmonton Oilers.

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Dollas said he got the news he had been traded while on the golf course Friday afternoon.

“My wife called me on the cell phone, crying,” Dollas said. “She said, ‘We’ve been traded.’ ”

TONIGHT

at

Dallas

* 5 p.m.

Site--Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

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

Records--Ducks 14-23-8, Stars 28-10-8.

Record vs. Stars--0-2.

Update--Dallas goaltender Ed Belfour blanked the Ducks, 4-0, in the first meeting Nov. 16, and 5-0 in the second game Nov. 24. The Stars have the NHL’s best record and are 7-1-4 in their last 12 games. They are coming off a 3-3 tie Friday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. They also are 12-2 in the last 14 games against the Ducks. Goalie Guy Hebert started his 250th game as a Duck in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He needs two victories to record his 100th as a Duck.