Second Line Steps Forward

One-line wonders? Yeah, you could say that about the Mighty Ducks.

But be sure to mention that the line in question is made up of left wing Marty McInnis, center Steve Rucchin and right wing Tomas Sandstrom.

No one has forgotten about left wing Paul Kariya, center Matt Cullen and right wing Teemu Selanne--normally the only Duck line anyone can name. After all, all-stars Kariya and Selanne are among the NHL’s top five in scoring with 68 and 66 points, respectively.

It’s simply that the second line has suddenly seized the spotlight from their more skillful, more heralded teammates, propelling the Ducks to six victories in the seven games they have played together.

McInnis, Rucchin and Sandstrom did it again Monday during the Ducks’ 3-1 victory over the Kings at the Great Western Forum.

Sandstrom scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season Monday, racing around the ice while his teammates showed signs of fatigue one day after a physical, 5-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Neither McInnis nor Rucchin had a goal or an assist, but that didn’t mean they weren’t factors in the Ducks’ third victory this season against the Kings.

McInnis played steadily and Rucchin set up Sandstrom for a third-period breakaway with an excellent lead pass through the neutral zone. Sandstrom was hauled down from behind by King defenseman Steve Duchesne, then converted on an ensuing penalty shot awarded by referee Richard Trottier.

“Our second line was our best line [Sunday] and tonight,” Selanne said. “We need all four lines rolling and playing solid. Our line, we want to do our best, but there’s going to be some nights where the other team checks us. It’s a big relief for us to get goals from our second line.

“We still want to do our job, but the game is so much easier and the team is so much stronger when we get help from the second line.”

Since Coach Craig Hartsburg flip-flopped his top two centers before a 3-0 victory Feb. 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks, the second line has scored eight goals and recorded 14 assists.

Meanwhile, the first line hasn’t missed a beat, scoring 11 goals and recording 12 assists.

That’s the sort of one-two punch the Ducks have lacked since they joined the NHL in 1993-94.

Is it any wonder the Ducks’ only loss since Hartsburg shuffled his lines seven games ago was a 3-2 defeat Friday against the league-leading Dallas Stars?

“It’s a different look than we’ve had all year,” Hartsburg said. “We thought moving ‘Rooch’ would help solidify that line. We thought they could be a good checking line that could score.”

Rucchin, who had his third two-goal game of the season Sunday against the Coyotes, seems unfazed by the move.

“I think I realized maybe it was a move for the better,” Rucchin said when asked about moving to the second line. “It’s a bit more my style. I’m not as skilled or flashy as Paul or Teemu.”

Asked his opinion of the moves, Sandstrom said, “It’s been good for ‘Rooch’ to come down and play with the slow guys. We have to try to work as hard as we can and we are three hard-working guys.”