MIGHTY DUCKS

The Ducks complete a stretch of four exhibitions in five nights by hosting the Colorado Avalanche at 7 tonight at the Arrowhead Pond.

“We’ll have another totally different lineup,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “These four games are a chance to look at a lot of different players. Obviously, we’re not going to wear out our top players. Probably in the last two or three games we’ll play pretty close to our regular lineup.”

Hartsburg said he doesn’t mind jamming so many exhibitions into such a short span at the outset of training camp. It affords him a better chance to evaluate young players such as centers Antti Aalto and Johan Davidsson.

“If we don’t have all these games maybe an Aalto or Davidsson doesn’t get to play,” Hartsburg said.

Hartsburg didn’t exactly play the “A” team in Tuesday’s exhibition against the Kings at the Forum, leaving his top line of Paul Kariya, Steve Rucchin and Teemu Selanne at home.

Davidsson, as impressive as any veteran during the Ducks’ exhibitions Saturday and Sunday against Phoenix and Calgary, also did not play.

Of Davidsson, Hartsburg said: “He’s a unique player. We’ve played him on both wings in one game and at center in another and he hasn’t missed a beat. Coaches love those kinds of players.”

Hartsburg gave Aalto, Mike Leclerc and Frank Banham plenty of ice time Tuesday. Leclerc, Travis Green and Banham formed the Ducks’ top line. Aalto centered the checking line with Stu Grimson and Peter LeBoutillier on the wings.