Advertisement

If Selanne’s Still Out, Lineup Could Change

Share

Right wing Teemu Selanne’s status is, “day to day,” according to the Ducks. He did not join the team for a two-game weekend trip to Calgary and Vancouver, remaining in Orange County to nurse foot and thigh injuries to his right leg.

A similar thigh strain in his left leg forced Selanne to miss last season’s final four games.

With Selanne possibly out for a third consecutive game and Tomas Sandstrom sidelined by a broken left wrist for up to two months, Coach Craig Hartsburg probably will tinker with his lineup again.

Advertisement

Hartsburg had a good thing going against Calgary with Paul Kariya, Johan Davidsson and Marty McInnis on the top line and Jim McKenzie, Steve Rucchin and Jeff Nielsen on the second line.

There also was a “three centers” line with Antti Aalto, Matt Cullen and Travis Green. Stu Grimson, Ted Drury and Pascal Trepanier formed the fourth line.

“We wanted to try to see if we could generate some other things with our other lines without Sandstrom and Selanne,” Hartsburg said. “Rucchin’s line really controlled play for long periods [against Calgary]. Cullen’s line was good too.”

*

Kariya’s remarkable streak of shots on goal ended with a meager output of two in the Ducks’ 1-0 victory Saturday over the Flames. He had 11 shots Friday against Vancouver, 10 against Carolina Wednesday and 12 against Detroit on Nov. 8.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no other player in NHL history has had three consecutive games of 10 or more shots since individual totals started being compiled in 1980.

*

Defenseman Milos Holan, released by the Ducks during training camp, completed his two-year comeback from leukemia, playing a league game Friday in his native Czech Republic. Holan’s team, Vitovice, lost to Slavia, 6-3.

Advertisement

“I’m the happiest man on Earth now,” Holan said. “I have the same feelings as when I first played in the NHL.”

Tonight

Ducks vs. Kings

7:30 p.m., Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690), KRLA (1110).

* Records--Ducks 5-6-4, Kings 5-9-3.

* Record vs. Kings (1997-98)--1-3-1.

* Update--This might be a better game if Sandstrom, Selanne and King defenseman Rob Blake (out six to eight weeks because of a broken right foot) were playing. There are two ways to look at the Ducks’ most recent run. The Ducks have won two of three and could have a three-game winning streak if not for a third-period meltdown in a 5-2 loss Friday at Vancouver. But the Ducks also are only 2-3-3 in their last eight games. There’s no question that the Kings are slumping. They have lost three in a row, including a 5-3 defeat Saturday against Carolina and are 1-5-1 in their last seven.

Advertisement