McKenzie’s View Changes

Left wing Jim McKenzie, sidelined since last Sunday because of a gash near his right eye, worked out for the first time Saturday. He hopes to be cleared by Duck medical personnel to resume skating Monday.

McKenzie was injured when he collided with teammate Matt Cullen and Edmonton’s Georges Laraque early in Sunday’s game. Cullen’s stick accidentally struck McKenzie in the face, causing several blood vessels to burst.

“I couldn’t do anything for five days because if I did anything to get my heart rate up there was a risk that the vessels could break again,” said McKenzie, who rode a stationary bike Saturday. “The first five days, basically, I wasn’t allowed to leave the house. That was hard enough on it’s own. I missed being around the guys. I missed being on the ice.”

McKenzie wants to be back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the last game on the Ducks’ seven-game home stand. But he said he refuses to wear a visor to protect his eye.

“Once it heals the chances of it happening again don’t go up,” he said. “That’s why I’ve taken so much time off--to make sure that it heals.”

*

Forward Travis Green didn’t practice either, Saturday, hoping to give his injured left shoulder a weekend rest. The Ducks don’t practice today, participating in FanFair at the Arrowhead Pond instead.

“It’s been getting worse and worse,” Green said of his shoulder.

However, he was reluctant to use it as an excuse for his recent play, which Coach Craig Hartsburg believes to be subpar.

“I definitely want to contribute more than I have,” said Green, who has nine goals and six assists. “I don’t look at myself and say I just have to put up numbers. I’ve got to be strong at both ends of the rink and contribute in all aspects.”