McInnis, Playing Center, Finds Some Good Company

Left wing Marty McInnis scanned the Ducks’ lineup Saturday, but didn’t immediately notice his number listed on a chalkboard in the dressing room.

Of course, he also didn’t expect to see himself playing center between all-star wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne.

As it turned out, McInnis had a winning debut as an NHL center, scoring one goal and assisting on another in the Ducks’ 5-1 victory Saturday over the Vancouver Canucks.

“Not since high school,” McInnis said Monday when asked about playing center. “Obviously, it’s great to play with those two guys. They’re so fast. I just tried to pass the puck out in front of them and let them go get it. Teemu said to me, ‘Keep giving me the puck out wide.’ So that’s what I did.”

Coach Craig Hartsburg said he plans to keep that line intact when the Ducks play the Edmonton Oilers in the final game of a three-game trip Wednesday. Hartsburg moved Matt Cullen from the first line to the fourth Saturday and will probably keep him there Wednesday.

“It’s still a learning process,” Hartsburg said of Cullen, playing only his second NHL season. “He’s made too many turnovers and tried to make plays out of nothing [lately]. The coaching staff has to keep recognizing when it’s time to keep [young players such as Cullen] out of situations they’re not ready for.”

Earlier this month, Hartsburg dropped Steve Rucchin from the first line to the second to gain more balanced scoring.

“We’ll be all right if we can get somebody playing well with Paul and Teemu besides Rucchin,” Hartsburg said. “He and Tomas [Sandstrom] have proved we can have two good lines.”

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Goalie Guy Hebert left the team to attend to a family matter in Troy, N.Y. Hebert is not expected to practice with the team today in Vancouver, but is scheduled to catch up with the Ducks when they arrive tonight in Edmonton.