Rucchin Fighting Through Pain to Be in the Game

Center Steve Rucchin’s return to the Mighty Duck lineup Saturday after being sidelined for 11 games because of a staph infection in his left ankle wasn’t all he hoped it would be.

“It’s pretty frustrating the way it still feels,” he said after recording an assist in more than 20 minutes of ice time. “It’s tough trying to play and having to concentrate so much on my foot. I’m not looking forward to it hurting every day. I hope it doesn’t stay like this.”

The Ducks were thrilled to have Rucchin back.

“He’s a huge part of our team,” said Marty McInnis, one of several players who centered the Ducks’ top line in Rucchin’s absence. “It was great to see him out there.”

McInnis stayed put on the top line in Saturday’s 4-3 loss against the San Jose Sharks. Rucchin played between Tony Hrkac and Maxim Balmochnykh.

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Left wing Paul Kariya led the NHL with 429 shots last season, the second-most in league history behind Phil Esposito’s 1970-71 total of 550.

After falling off that pace by this season’s midway point, Kariya has moved into the league lead again with 211 shots.

Fact is, Kariya has been firing the puck on goal at a startling rate in the last few games.

Saturday, he had eight shots in the Ducks’ loss at San Jose. Friday, he had 11 shots in a 3-3 tie against Colorado. Wednesday, he had eight shots in a 3-1 victory over Dallas.

Kariya and the Ducks were blanked by Buffalo in a 5-0 defeat Jan. 17. But he had 11 shots in a 4-2 loss Jan. 15 to Phoenix.

It is no surprise that Kariya’s goal-scoring has increased during the same five-game span. He had two goals against San Jose, one against Colorado, two against Dallas and one against Phoenix.

Kariya has a team-leading 25 goals and 49 points.

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The Ducks have revised the time defenseman Niclas Havelid will need to recover from a broken right middle finger. They say it will be closer to six weeks, rather than a month. Havelid was injured in the Jan. 15 game against Phoenix. A pin was placed in his hand.