Green Is the Newest Man in the Middle

Without a world-class center to play between standout wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, the Ducks continue to make do with what’s available. Travis Green has filled the bill recently.

Steve Rucchin, Matt Cullen and Marty McInnis also have centered the Ducks’ top line.

Rucchin is perhaps the most-accomplished of the bunch, but Coach Craig Hartsburg continues to team him with McInnis and Tomas Sandstrom on a potent second line.

“Travis is getting an opportunity to play up there,” Hartsburg said. “As long as he works hard, is gritty, is good defensively and wins faceoffs then he’ll stay there.

“Other than Rucchin, we haven’t found the perfect guy to play with those guys [Kariya and Selanne]. Travis doesn’t have the speed, but when he does what he’s been doing then he deserves to stay there.”

Green had two goals and two assists in his last five games before Wednesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. He also was winning 57.9% of his faceoffs over the last nine games.

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Depth, a problem for the Ducks in the past, has suddenly become a strength. Kariya, Selanne and Rucchin each have scored 20 or more goals and McInnis had 18 going into Wednesday’s game.

The Ducks have never had four 20-goal scorers in one season.