Rucchin Eager to Come Back

Center Steve Rucchin liked what he saw from the Ducks in their slump-busting 3-1 victory Friday against the St. Louis Blues at the Arrowhead Pond.

He only wished the staph infection in his left ankle was gone and he could have joined his teammates for Saturday’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Ducks could have used him, but Rucchin was sidelined for an eighth consecutive game.

There is no timetable for his return to the lineup, but Rucchin has been skating lightly and riding a stationary bicycle. The next step will be participating in a team practice.

“The team doctors are pleased by the way it’s progressed,” said Rucchin, who suffered pain and swelling in his ankle and leg during the Ducks’ 4-1 loss Dec. 27 against the Edmonton Oilers.

X-rays indicated nothing was broken, but an MRI exam revealed a staph infection.

“It’s pretty hard to accept,” Rucchin said of his ailment. “It feels great when I walk on it, so I think I should be out there playing.”

His ankle remains tender and Rucchin has had trouble skating for any length of time or with intensity.

“The pressure is a little too much,” he said. “Skates are pretty stiff and there isn’t much give.”

Of sitting out of Friday’s victory, which ended the Ducks’ 0-6-1 streak, he said, “It was a great win for the guys. Hopefully, we’ll keep winning so I don’t feel as frustrated sitting out.”

With Rucchin out, Coach Craig Hartsburg continued to play Ted Donato between Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne. But Hartsburg also rotated Tony Hrkac between the all-star wingers.

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Goaltender Guy Hebert recorded his 10,000th save as a Duck, when he stopped a Pavol Demitra slap shot at 5:30 of the second period in Friday’s 3-1 victory over St. Louis.