Rucchin Recovering Just in Time

If there was still a question about Steve Rucchin’s injured groin, it was answered early in the second period Wednesday.

Rucchin brought the puck up the ice, zigging his way past Detroit Red Wings. Even more impressive was that the Duck center kept pace with a streaking Paul Kariya.

Rucchin fed a perfect pass to Kariya, who blasted a shot past Red Wing goalie Chris Osgood to pull the Ducks to within a goal, 3-2.

The Ducks’ top line was close to operating at top form, even if Rucchin felt like a plow horse out there.

“I was pulling a sled out there at times tonight,” Rucchin said. “I was definitely rusty. There were some things I could have done out there, but I just wasn’t able to.”

Rucchin tried to shoulder some blame for the Ducks’ 5-3 loss in their first-round game against Detroit. Truth is, he was one of the reasons the Ducks nearly fought back.

He assisted on all three goals, won more than half of his faceoffs and got the puck to his linemates.

Basically, it seemed like old times for one of the top scoring lines in the NHL. Kariya and Teemu Selanne each scored a goal. Rucchin tied his career high in assists.

“I knew I was close to being healthy because they had me skating with Paul and Teemu [Tuesday],” Rucchin said. “Those two are pretty hard to keep up with or without a groin injury.”

Rucchin injured his groin during a March 20 practice and missed 10 of the next 11 games. He played in the final two games, but hadn’t been the middle man on a line with Kariya and Selanne since March 18.

This was not unfamiliar territory, which frustrated Rucchin even more. In 1997, he missed the first three playoff games against Phoenix because of back spasms.

“That was on the front of my mind the last couple weeks,” Rucchin said. “I was worried it was going to happen again.

“Fortunately, I got to play in those last two games. If I hadn’t, I would have been pretty scared about going out there [tonight].”

With Rucchin skating well again, the Ducks’ top line went from dangerous to lethal.

“Steve is our best center,” Kariya said. “With him out there, we can play off the puck, instead of trying to play with the puck. [Against Detroit], you have to move like that.”

Rucchin had them moving. He won 16 faceoffs. The rest of the Ducks won 17.

He also created scoring chances. Rucchin helped dig the puck from under a pile in front of the net, which led to a Marty McInnis power-play goal six minutes into the game.

The lead was short lived. The Red Wings reminded the Ducks just who the two-time Stanley Cup champions were, doing so with a personal touch, a shoulder here, an elbow there, a stick in just the right spot.

The Ducks fell behind, 3-1, 30 seconds into the third period. But their top line got them close.

Rucchin led the rush for the second-period goal. In the third period, he knocked the puck loose behind the net. Kariya picked it up and fed Selanne, who scored to make it 4-3.

“[Kariya and Selanne] had more than a goal per game this season,” Detroit Coach Scotty Bowman said. “I don’t think we can go on expecting to score five goals every night. It will be a good reminder of what they can do.”