Mild Groin Injury Forces Selanne to Take a Break

The Mighty Ducks lost more than another game Sunday. They lost right wing Teemu Selanne, their leading goal scorer, at least for a short time.

After suffering a mild groin pull in the Ducks’ 1-0 loss to the Dallas Stars Sunday, Selanne said he would not skate “for a couple days.”

Selanne’s status is day to day, according to Coach Craig Hartsburg. The team’s next game is Wednesday against Columbus.

“This is a nightmare,” said Selanne, who was injured in the third period. “With the way things have been going for us, this is bad joke. I didn’t even do anything. I started to skate and I felt it pop in my right groin.

“I have had this four times before so I know how to treat it. This one didn’t feel as bad as the other ones.”

Selanne has 11 goals but has not scored in nine games. He is tied with Paul Kariya for the team lead with 27 points.

If Selanne’s injury prevents him from playing Wednesday, the Ducks have a player available. Rookie Jonas Ronnqvist, who was demoted to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League on Nov. 12, was in the Duck dressing room after the game. Team officials have not announced a roster move.

*

The Ducks squandered another great performance goalie Guy Hebert, who stopped 27 of 28 shots. For the second time in less than a week, all he received was another loss.

“Guy once again gave us every opportunity to win,” Hartsburg said. Hebert held St. Louis to one goal Tuesday, but the Ducks were shut out. He has stopped 117 of 122 shots in the last five games.

“It’s huge when he plays like this,” Selanne said. “You can see he is more aggressive when he’s playing well. When he’s not, he seems to sit back in the net and wait. He’s dynamite out there. It’s a good sign.”

Except the Ducks are 2-3 in those five games.