Trepanier’s Season Ends

Defenseman Pascal Trepanier’s right knee injury turned out to be far worse than the Ducks originally believed. Trepanier suffered a torn ligament while playing a game of pickup basketball Tuesday in Dallas and will require surgery.

His season is finished.

“It’s not easy when they tell you your season is over,” said Trepanier, who had two goals and four assists in 45 games. “It’s part of the game. It’s part of life, but it’s tough to stay focused on the positive things.”

Asked how he hurt himself, Trepanier said: “It was a fluke. We were all running around and I made a bad move and my knee didn’t like it.”

The Ducks certainly could have used Trepanier’s speed and feisty play during their final five regular-season games and during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It’s too bad because he was really starting to help us,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “It hurts us depth-wise. It’s more unfortunate for Pascal. His confidence was starting to come around.”

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Center Steve Rucchin, sidelined Friday for the fifth consecutive game because of a groin strain, said he intends to play Wednesday against St. Louis.

Rucchin was injured midway through a March 20 practice at Anaheim. He played March 31 against the New Jersey Devils, but said he believes he injured himself further.

“There’s no question,” he said when asked if he re-aggravated the injury against the Devils. “But I had to try.”

Rucchin said he has been more cautious this time, spending hours each day performing stretching exercises and riding a stationary bicycle. He skated lightly on his own Friday morning.

“I haven’t been able to skate with the team yet,” he said. “Nine times out of 10 you’re going to sacrifice playing for feeling 100% No question, I want to be 100% for the playoffs.”