PUCKNET / NHL : A weekly update on the Mighty Ducks, with Internet links to various teams and topics throughout hockey.

BACK

Ducks are 21-37-10 (52 points)

Seventh in Pacific Division

Thirteenth in Western Conference

Only two shots, and one goal, in first period against Flyers

FORWARD

At Canadiens, 4:30 p.m. Saturday: Martin Rucinsky, who won a gold medal with the Czech Republic in Nagano, admits he’s struggling. “I don’t feel good right now,” he told the Montreal Gazette. “I have no jump. I’ve lost that and my speed, and that’s my bread and butter.”

https://www.montrealgazette.com/HOCKEY/980318/1696219.html

At Senators, 4:30 p.m. Sunday: The trade for Per Gustafsson is being considered a cheap form of insurance for the stretch drive. “He gives us some depth on defense going into the playoffs,” Senators Coach Jacques Martin told the Ottawa Sun. “And you can never have enough depth on defense.”

https://www.canoe.ca/ HockeyOttawa/ mar18--hott1.html

At Blackhawks, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Matthew Barnaby, who makes Gary Suter look like a saint, has asked to be traded from Buffalo. The Blackhawks are interested in making a deal that would include San Jose’s Todd Gill, the Chicago Tribune reports.

https://www.chicago.tribune.com/sports/ blackhawks/article/ 0,1051,ART-5591,00.html

At Red Wings, 4:30 p.m. Thursday: The Masterton Trophy goes to players who have shown perseverance and dedication to hockey. The Red Wings’ Viacheslav Fetisov, a nominee for the award, told the Detroit Free Press winning it would be one of many bonuses he has received from the game. “I work all my life with what I love to do. Hockey has been so good to me,” he said. “All I have now is because of hockey.”

https://www.freep.com/ sports/redwings/qwcorn18.htm

OPEN

It’s finals week for the four Division I college hockey conferences, with berths in the NCAA tournament on the line. Three top-seeded teams remain: Michigan State, Yale, North Dakota. Boston University, on the sidelines after being upset by Merrimack (Mass.), must hope for an at-large berth. You can follow the action here.

https://www.uscollegehockey.com/ box/19971998/thisweek.cgi

QUOTE

“Alan Eagleson is a thief. That has been established. That’s why he’s in jail, and it is in jail that he belongs, not the Hall of Fame.”

--The Toronto Sun’s Al Strachan makes his case for removing the former NHL Players’ Assn. boss from the hockey shrine

https://www.canoe.ca/Hockey/ mar18--strachan.html