DUCKS-KINGS REPORT

The Ducks don’t seem desperate to trade before the March 23 deadline, and that may not be necessary for them to make the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Captain Paul Kariya shrugged when asked about it Tuesday.

“Pierre [Gauthier] is doing the right thing,” Kariya said of the team president-general manager. “He’s left it up to us to work it out. We’re not a perfect team right now, but we’re on the right track. I think we can play better with the group we have. We can improve.”

Given the Ducks’ 10-3 record in February, that seems like a scary notion for opponents.

But Kariya isn’t satisfied and he’s not about to let anyone else feel smug.

“We’ve got a long ways to go,” Kariya said. “It’s important when things are going well to bring guys down [to reality] a little bit. We’re starting to get on a roll. I’m not complaining about it.”

The Ducks have won four in a row, outscoring the opposition, 14-4. But their victories have been over Vancouver, Edmonton and San Jose (twice)--teams with sub-.500 records. They haven’t played a team with a .500 record since defeating Phoenix, 5-1, Feb. 14.

The Ducks’ string of sub-.500 opponents continues tonight with the Kings and Friday with the expansion Nashville Predators.

“It’s been a gradual process,” Kariya said of the Ducks’ steady improvement. “You don’t just wave a magic wand and say, ‘Everything’s going to be all right.’ ”

*

Center Steve Rucchin, suffering from a broken nose and a case of flu, did not practice Tuesday. His availability for tonight’s game will be determined at the morning skate.

Tonight

Kings at Ducks

7:30, Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690), KRLA (1110).

* Records--Ducks 27-25-9, Kings 23-33-5.

* Series record--Ducks lead, 3-0.

* Update--The Ducks, winners of four in a row, haven’t won five in a row since a franchise-record six-game winning streak in March 1996. They also haven’t been three games over .500 since Nov. 11, 1997.

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.