Changes Are Very Likely in Line Combinations

As expected, the Ducks had a different look when they took the ice for Monday’s practice.

They may have another new look at practice today. And who knows what their line combinations will be like for Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Arrowhead Pond?

“We haven’t got everyone going yet,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said on the day after the Ducks’ dreary 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. “It’s not a matter of chemistry. We can’t wait. We’ve got to get people going.”

Monday, the top line comprised Ladislav Kohn, Antti Aalto and Teemu Selanne. Paul Kariya, Steve Rucchin and Marty McInnis skated on the second line. Jeff Nielsen, Matt Cullen and Ted Donato played on the third line, and Stu Grimson, Ted Drury and Jim McKenzie made up the fourth.

Hartsburg said he will reunite the Kohn-Aalto-Mike Leclerc line if Leclerc’s infected left elbow allows him to play Wednesday. Leclerc was sidelined for Sunday’s loss and did not practice Monday.

In many ways, that line has been the Ducks’ best.

“They work really hard,” Hartsburg said. “They work hard together and that’s why they’ve had success. That line plays like a power line--not that they don’t have skill. When they come up with loose pucks, they can score because they are skilled.”

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Backup goalie Dominic Roussel will get his second start of the season Wednesday, Hartsburg said. Roussel, in net for the Ducks’ 3-2 victory Oct. 15 over the Tampa Bay Lightning, is expected to play more than last season.

Roussel was 4-5-4 with a 2.51 goals-against average in only 18 appearances last season. Hartsburg hopes to play Roussel in closer to 25 games this season.

“If Dom plays well, he might be back in there again [Friday against the Washington Capitals],” Hartsburg said. “I don’t know if there’s a set schedule, but this gives Guy [Hebert] a couple of good days of practice this week.”