Hebert’s Respite Doesn’t Last Long

Duck goalie Guy Hebert did not start for the second time in three games as Coach Craig Hartsburg made good on his promise to give backup Dominic Roussel more action.

That was fine by Hebert.

“Dom’s played well,” Hebert said of Roussel, who also was in goal for the Ducks’ 2-2 tie against the New York Islanders last Saturday. “He’s giving me a breather.”

It turned out to be a short rest Wednesday against the Dallas Stars.

Hebert was forced to come off the bench when Roussel suffered back spasms after making what appeared to be a routine glove save on Dallas’ Benoit Hogue at 13:39 of the first period.

“I caught the puck and went down on one knee and felt it go into spasm,” said Roussel, who added that he had been battling a sore back in recent days. “I never had something like that before. I couldn’t even get up.”

Roussel will be examined today by team doctor Craig Milhouse.

“I couldn’t believe I had to come off the ice,” Roussel said. “Sometimes you can play through stuff. I felt good out there [before the injury]. I had a lot of energy, even more than against New York.”

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Center Steve Rucchin has whipped himself into terrific shape, performing stretching exercises and riding a stationary bicycle for hours each day during the Ducks’ five-game trip.

But he’s apparently not yet fit enough to play hockey.

Rucchin was sidelined for the fourth consecutive game because of a groin strain. He expects to be examined by Milhouse today, but his return to the lineup remains uncertain.

“His conditioning will be fine when he comes back,” Hartsburg said of Rucchin, who was injured in a March 20 practice at Anaheim. “Newell [Brown, an assistant coach who has been working out with Rucchin] is in such good condition that maybe we’ll play him.”

Hartsburg was joking, of course.