Hartsburg Likes Team’s Versatility

The Mighty Ducks matched the New York Rangers’ chippy play last Wednesday at the Arrowhead Pond. The Ducks kept pace Friday with the smooth-skating Edmonton Oilers. And Sunday they thumped a bad team, the Chicago Blackhawks.

If nothing else, the Ducks proved over their last three games they can play all manner of opponents while not abandoning their high-tempo game plan.

Instead of waiting passively in the neutral zone, the Ducks are aggressively forechecking opponents in an attempt to create turnovers that lead to scoring chances.

“Sometimes Xs and O’s are overblown,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “We shouldn’t have to change styles whether we’re playing a speedy team or a physical team. We just want to stay with it.

“The big thing is we’re not turning the puck over. If you don’t turn the puck over at center ice it makes it difficult for the other team [to generate scoring opportunities].”

*

The Ducks will wait until after this morning’s skate to clear Teemu Selanne to play tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. But it looks good for Selanne, who has sat out six consecutive games because of a strained right thigh.

TONIGHT at Detroit, 4:30

Fox Sports West 2

Site--Joe Louis Arena.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 8-7-4, Red Wings 10-8.

Record vs. Red Wings--0-1.

Update--A victory tonight would give the Ducks the best record after 20 games in their six-season history. The Ducks were 8-7-5 last season. The Ducks are 3-13-5 lifetime against the Red Wings. Detroit’s Kirk Maltby won’t play because of a lower abdominal strain. Maltby, expected to be sidelined about two weeks, broke Duck winger Tomas Sandstrom’s left wrist with a clean check into the boards on Nov. 8.