Roussel Is Back to Take Place Behind Hebert

Backup goaltender Dominic Roussel returned to his customary spot on the Duck bench for Game 2, feeling free of the vertigo and flu-like symptoms that kept him from entering Game 1 in relief of Guy Hebert.

Roussel said he was watching Game 1 while in bed at the Ducks’ downtown hotel when he saw Hebert get kicked in the head by Detroit’s Brendan Shanahan. Rob Scichili, Duck media relations director, phoned Roussel a few minutes later and told him he had better get up and get to Joe Louis Arena as quickly as possible.

Tom Askey, recalled from the minors earlier in the day, gave a credible showing in relief of Hebert. Roussel figured that he if had played, “I could have gotten killed.”

“I couldn’t even stand up because of the vertigo,” Roussel said. “I got a fever and I was throwing up since Monday night.”

But the flu symptoms subsided and Roussel was given medication to halt the vertigo. “I’m all right now,” Roussel said.

Hebert started, and finished, Game 2 without incident.

Hebert suffered a groin injury in Game 2 of the Ducks’ second-round playoff series against Detroit in 1997 and was sidelined for the rest of the postseason.

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Coach Craig Hartsburg juggled his lines for the start of the playoffs, and may be forced to do it again now that the Ducks trail, 2-0. One option is playing wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne on different lines, something Hartsburg tried with only limited success earlier in the season.

“We could split those guys up or just play them 40 minutes,” Hartsburg said. “It would be tough to break up [Matt] Cullen’s line because they were our best line.”

Cullen centered an energetic line for all of Game 2 and the final portion of Game 1, while playing with grinders Ted Drury and Jeff Nielsen.

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The Red Wings’ victory in Game 2 gave them a 6-0 postseason record against the Ducks.