Hartsburg Makes a Defensive Move

Most games the Ducks don’t particularly worry about matching lines against the opposition--other than making sure their top line of Paul Kariya, Matt Cullen and Teemu Selanne gets plenty of ice time.

But Wednesday against Philadelphia’s Eric Lindros and John LeClair, Coach Craig Hartsburg wanted to have his second line of Marty McInnis, Steve Rucchin and Tomas Sandstrom facing the Flyers’ big guns.

Hartsburg also hoped to play defensive-minded defensemen Kevin Haller and Jason Marshall against the LeClair-Lindros-Keith Jones line. It figured to be a formidable task, but Marshall said the Ducks were ready for the challenge.

“You can’t be in awe of them,” Marshall said.

Marshall said LeClair, who had a league-leading 33 goals going into the game, plays a great deal like Keith Tkachuk of the Phoenix Coyotes. And the Ducks are quite familiar with Tkachuk’s habit of setting up shop in the slot and directing shots at the net.

“[Tkachuk] and LeClair have a knack for getting in the right positions [in front of the net],” Marshall said. “You’ve got to [tie up] their sticks.”

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Left wing Stu Grimson did not play because he has flu. It was the first game Grimson has missed.