Aalto Learns Lesson the Hard Way

Antti Aalto was stunned to learn Oct. 15 that he was being demoted to Cincinnati, the Mighty Ducks’ minor league affiliate.

Now he is back. Aalto was recalled Sunday, and the message seems to have reached him.

“It was a big surprise being sent down,” Aalto said.

“It was a pretty tough month. I was by myself a lot. I was trying to find my way back here.”

That turned out to be simple.

“I have to work hard every day,” Aalto said. “I was trying to play nice and easy before. That’s not my game. I have to put the puck in deep and go after people. I need to hit people.”

Aalto, 26, who played the last two seasons with the Ducks, took the demotion hard. The Ducks seemed willing to give up on him, as they had shopped him around the league before sending him to Cincinnati.

He changed their minds by scoring three goals in seven games. But his style change got him back to Anaheim.

“Antti is a guy who needs to be strong on the boards, play physical and finish his checks,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “That’s what this team needs from him every night. He did that Sunday, now we’ll see if he will do it again.”

Aalto played left wing Sunday, the position he played during the 1998-99 season. He moved to his natural center position last season.

He was teamed with center Andy McDonald and right wing Ladislav Kohn Sunday against Detroit.

McDonald, who was recalled with Aalto, was sent back to Cincinnati on Monday. Center German Titov, who sat out Sunday’s game because of a bruised foot, practiced Tuesday and will play tonight.

*

Left wing Marty McInnis danced in pain and squirmed off the ice Tuesday after being hit in the left eye by a puck. He suffered a scratched cornea and will be examined by a doctor today to determine if he will be able to play tonight against Colorado.

A decision will be made today whether to start defenseman Pavel Trnka, who has been out since Oct. 11 because of a sprained right ankle. He has been out 16 games.

TONIGHT

Colorado, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 6-8-3-2; Colorado 13-2-3-0.

* Record vs. Avalanche (1999-2000)--0-1.

* Update--The Avalanche has the NHL’s best record, but also has injury problems. All-star center Peter Forsberg is out indefinitely because of a pulled chest muscle. Right wing Adam Deadmarsh (concussion) and center Chris Drury (sprained left knee) are also sidelined. Left wing Chris Dingman left Monday’s game against Pittsburgh because of a sprained knee. The Avalanche recalled wingers Ville Nieminen and Brad Larsen. The Ducks have a four-game losing streak and a seven-game winless streak.

* Tickets--(714) 703-2545