Suspensions Not Biggest Problem

There was no talk Wednesday among the Ducks about cheap shots or suspensions or paybacks after they went through a 90-minute practice. Fact is, the Ducks are 0-2, have been shut out twice and have bigger concerns than what the Dallas Stars think of them.

“We’ve got to keep working on our game,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “We haven’t gotten it together yet. It’s a process, but we’re not where we want to be.”

The Ducks haven’t forced turnovers, which led to so many good scoring chances last season. They haven’t thrown enough solid checks to suit Hartsburg. Not surprisingly, they also haven’t scored.

“Dallas is an example of a persistent team,” Hartsburg said. “They have lots of smaller guys who are very persistent. Not all of their guys are 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds. You have to have the mentality that you’re going to work and check. If you think that you can win by just using your skills you’ll have no luck in this league.”

Hartsburg indicated another lengthy practice would be on tap today. The Ducks and Stars play at 6:30 Friday night at the Arrowhead Pond.

“This is a big, exciting game,” Hartsburg said of the Ducks’ home opener. “It’s going to be fun for us. We know our fans are going to be behind us.”

Asked about the sudden perception that the Ducks are the NHL’s dirtiest team, Hartsburg said, “We want to be a team that’s hard to play against. We don’t want to be known as a dirty or cheap team.”

Someone also asked for Hartsburg’s opinion of the suspensions.

“We respect the league’s decision,” he said. “We don’t have to like it, but we respect it. We’re moving on.”

Hartsburg spoke to the team about the suspensions--10 games to Ruslan Salei, five to Pascal Trepanier and four to Jim McKenzie--before the Ducks’ 4-0 loss Tuesday against Phoenix. He’s done talking about it.