Pushor Comes to Shove

First impressions are important. Mighty Duck defenseman Jamie Pushor has made a good one as far as Coach Pierre Page is concerned. So far, Pushor also likes what he sees from the Ducks.

“Nothing fancy, just an honest, character guy,” Page said of Pushor, acquired Tuesday from the Detroit Red Wings. “He’s a solid guy. In Chicago [Wednesday], we probably played our hardest game taking the body. He rubbed off on some of our players. We tried again [Thursday against Detroit], but they were a little hard to catch.”

Page played Pushor with feisty assistant captain David Karpa.

“David’s a real competitor,” Pushor said. “I’ve had to pick up his stick and gloves about six times now.”

Of the rest of the Ducks, he said, “I think the guys are working for a cause. There are a lot of young guys and two superstars. I think they’re trying to find the right combination to go with [Paul] Kariya and [Teemu] Selanne.”

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Center Josef Marha, acquired Tuesday from Colorado, and defenseman Pavel Trnka played together for the Czech Republic in the World Junior championships in 1994.

TODAY

at Colorado

* Noon PST

* Channel 11

Site--McNichols Arena, Denver.

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

Records--Ducks 24-37-11, Avalanche 36-20-16.

Record vs. Avalanche--2-1.

Update--This is the seventh and final game on the Ducks’ longest trip of the season. No matter today’s outcome, it has been a success. After a loss to start the trip, the Ducks have gone 3-0-2 for their longest unbeaten streak this season. The Ducks are 4-1-2 since their March 13 brawl with the Dallas Stars. Teemu Selanne leads the NHL with 50 goals and has seven goals and three assists in the last five games. He needs two goals to break the franchise record he set last season. The Ducks have won two consecutive over the Avalanche, including a 5-3 victory March 15 at the Arrowhead Pond. Colorado center Joe Sakic resumed skating this week after a 10-day layoff because of a sprained knee suffered Feb. 18. Center Peter Forsberg leads the Avalanche with 22 goals and 85 points.