Hartsburg Says Give It a Rest

Coach Craig Hartsburg didn’t want to spend time dwelling on the Ducks’ 6-2 loss Wednesday to the Edmonton Oilers. The post-mortem was short and to the point.

“Give them some credit,” Hartsburg said of the Oilers, who defeated the Ducks for the third time in four games. “They are a good team when they play like that and we’re not as bad as we showed.”

The Ducks did not practice Thursday, which Hartsburg believes will help them regain their legs for the start of a three-game trip to Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton.

“We don’t need another practice,” he said.

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Meanwhile, back in Phoenix, the Coyotes’ yapping continues in the wake of the Ducks’ 5-1 victory there Sunday.

“Maybe we’re not finished getting even and it’ll cost us another game,” Phoenix Coach Jim Schoenfeld said of the Coyotes’ chippy play against the Ducks and defenseman Ruslan Salei in particular.

“Unlike them, we’re in a position where we can waste a few points.”

Let’s see, fourth place meets fifth in the Western Conference playoffs and the Coyotes are fourth at the moment and the Ducks are fifth.

TONIGHT at Calgary, 6 PST

* Site--Canadian Airlines Saddledome.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 23-24-9, Flames 19-28-8.

* Record vs. Flames--1-1.

* Update--Calgary hasn’t played since defeating the Boston Bruins last Friday. The Flames are 3-1-3 in their last seven games. Winger Theoren Fleury complained of fatigue after the Boston game. Two days of testing revealed nothing, however, and Fleury practiced Wednesday and is expected to be in the lineup tonight.