Vishnevski Rolls With the Punches

Having survived the Phoenix Coyotes’ goon squad tactics Friday, Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski could smile and laugh Saturday about all the cheap shots he took from Brad May, Todd Simpson and Landon Wilson.

“I don’t know why they were so [mad] at me,” said Vishnevski, who will be in the lineup for tonight’s season finale against the San Jose Sharks. In fact, he angered the Coyotes with several tough but legal hits early in the Ducks’ 5-2 loss to Phoenix.

Vishnevski, as is his custom, did not drop his gloves to fight. He could be seen laughing at Wilson several times. Finally, after Travis Green elbowed him in the head, Vishnevski sent the former Duck center to the ice with one gloved fist to the face with 5:56 remaining. Vishnevski earned two roughing minors and a 10-minute misconduct for clobbering Green.

“They’ve got a lot of tough guys over there,” Pierre Gauthier, Duck president and general manager, groused after the game. “They didn’t make the playoffs, so they took their frustrations out on a 20-year-old kid.”

vs. San Jose, 5 PDT

Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 25-40-11-5, Sharks 39-27-12-3.

* Record vs. Sharks--1-2-0-1.

* Update--The Ducks plan to pay tribute before the game to Teemu Selanne, who was traded March 5 from Anaheim to San Jose for Jeff Friesen, Steve Shields and a conditional draft pick. San Jose clinched fifth place in the Western Conference standings with an overtime loss Saturday to the Dallas Stars. San Jose center Vincent Damphousse will play his first game since suffering a dislocated left shoulder in January. The Sharks were 13-15-6-3 without Damphousse in the lineup.

* Tickets--Sold out.