Rucchin to Have Left Ankle Examined

Center Steve Rucchin returned to Southern California to have his swollen left ankle examined further today.

Rucchin was injured when he took a shot off his skate boot near the end of the first period of the Ducks’ 4-1 loss Monday against the Edmonton Oilers. He continued to play, but his left foot later swelled to the point where he could not wear a shoe. He got around with the aid of crutches Tuesday and Wednesday.

Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg juggled his lines to start Wednesday’s game against the Calgary Flames, moving Ted Donato into Rucchin’s spot between wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne.

“It’s an opportunity,” said Donato, who scored a second-period goal. “We’ve been talking about stepping up and answering the call. It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m excited.”

Donato spent most of his career with the Boston Bruins, but he was aware of Rucchin’s importance to the Ducks before Donato joined the team in a trade from the Ottawa Senators last summer.

Rucchin has seven goals and 23 points in 37 games, but he also leads the NHL with 560 faceoff victories. He has won 55% of his draws this season.

“He’s a big, strong center who’s good on faceoffs and good defensively. He’s a multitalented guy, a great two-way hockey player,” Donato said. “Hey, you don’t get bumps and bruises making fancy behind-the-back passes.”

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Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky hasn’t had a goal or an assist in more than a month, but Hartsburg is pleased with his play.

“What he does for us doesn’t necessarily result in points,” Hartsburg said. “We don’t expect him to be among the top scoring defensemen in the league. One of the things we got him for was to get the puck out of our end. I think there was a lot of pressure on him early in his career. Everybody expected him to be the next Paul Coffey.”