Sore Foot Might Sideline Selanne

The Ducks, already without right wing Tomas Sandstrom, who has a broken left wrist, may be without left wing Teemu Selanne tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes. Selanne injured his right foot Sunday blocking a shot and did not practice Tuesday.

Sandstrom underwent surgery Tuesday and will miss at least eight weeks. When Sandstrom was hurt in Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the Ducks figured he would miss about six weeks, but General Manager Pierre Gauthier said a CT scan revealed a more severe injury, necessitating surgery instead of waiting for the fracture to heal.

Selanne, meanwhile, had X-rays, which he said were negative.

“If there is a hairline fracture in there, they can’t see it,” he said of his foot.

“I block a shot once a year and every time, I get injured. Maybe I should learn something from that.”

Selanne said he could not have played Tuesday, but would test his foot during this morning’s skate. The Ducks are 60-46-21 when Selanne and Paul Kariya play. They are 20-38-11 when one is out.

“He should be ready to play,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “We kept him off to give him an extra day.”

Selanne and Kariya lead the Ducks with six goals apiece, with Sandstrom next at five. No other players have scored more than two, but the absence of Sandstrom apparently will not compel Gauthier to make a trade.

“There’s a bigger picture than three months,” Gauthier said. “Everybody has injuries, and I don’t think you can be too reactive to that. That’s why you need depth. “

Tonight

Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.

Fox Sports West 2

* Site--The Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 3-5-4, Hurricanes 6-5-3.

* Record vs. Hurricanes--0-2 in 1997-98.

* Update--There is a special 5 p.m. start because of Veteran’s Day. With Sandstrom out,

Matt Cullen returns to the lineup and will center the second line, with Travis Green moving to right wing and Marty McInnis on the left. Cullen was scratched the last two games after playing poorly. “Sometimes it is good to sit a young player down and let him catch his breath,” Hartsburg said. “He can sit back and reevaluate everything. He’s the type of player who can create things with his play. Sometimes a guy can think too much.” A fair assessment, according to Cullen, who does not have a goal or an assist this season. “Before, I was focusing too much on scoring goals,” Cullen said. “That’s not my main job description.”