Selanne’s Improving, May Return Wednesday

Teemu Selanne took another step toward rejoining the Duck lineup, skating at about 80% effort during Monday’s practice.

The Ducks do not practice today, so the final test will be at Wednesday morning’s skate in Detroit. If Selanne’s strained right thigh is sound, he will be in the lineup against the Red Wings that night.

“It looks as if he’s a go,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said of Selanne, who has missed six consecutive games.

However, don’t expect Selanne to be reunited immediately with Paul Kariya on the Ducks’ top line. They will play together only on the power play.

Selanne is expected to skate with Josef Marha and Antti Aalto on the second line, at least to start Wednesday’s game. Kariya, Steve Rucchin and Marty McInnis will remain together on the first line.

That’s OK with Selanne.

“I’m more happy to be playing again and to be healthy,” said Selanne, who had seven goals and 15 points in 13 games before he was injured Nov. 11 against the Carolina Hurricanes. “The lines are working pretty good right now. I don’t want to mess anything up.”

Selanne is familiar with his new linemates, so he believes adjusting won’t take long. “We’ll just keep it simple and play it smart and there won’t be any problems,” he said. “I played with Marha some last season. I know Antti [a fellow Finn] well.”

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Travis Green, who sprained his left knee Friday against Edmonton, will not play Wednesday against Detroit. . . . Hartsburg expects to give backup goalie Dominic Roussel at least one start on the trip, probably Friday against expansion Nashville.