Rivalry Is Not a Major Concern

Right wing Teemu Selanne paused for a moment Saturday, then proclaimed the Kings--not the Phoenix Coyotes--the Ducks’ top rival.

Goaltender Guy Hebert acknowledged there is some bad blood between the Ducks and Coyotes, however.

Left wing Jim McKenzie, a former Coyote, simply was looking forward to seeing the rivalry from a different side.

Coach Craig Hartsburg said he’s more concerned about improvement than grudge matches.

“I know it sounds like a broken record, but we want to be better against Phoenix than we were against Boston,” he said.

It would seem like a difficult task for the Ducks, who played one of their best all-around games in more than a year in a 3-0 victory over the Bruins on Wednesday.

Hartsburg hopes playing against the Coyotes helps the Ducks continue to raise the level of their play. Selanne, Hebert and McKenzie don’t believe that’s going to be a problem.

“We don’t care when it is--preseason, regular season or playoffs--we want to beat them any day of the week,” Hebert said. “It’s certainly going to be a high-intensity game. It’s going to be good, physical hockey.”

TONIGHT vs. Phoenix

5, Channel 9

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 2-3, Coyotes 2-2.

Record vs. Coyotes (1997-98)--1-3.

Update--Duck defenseman Ruslan Salei will not play, although he is eligible after serving a five-game suspension for tripping Coyote center Daniel Briere in an exhibition game Oct. 6. Duck center Josef Marha is expected to be sidelined for the fifth consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle. Defensemen Michel Petit (concussion) and Deron Quint (concussion) and right wing Dallas Drake (broken ankle) are not expected to play for Phoenix.