McDonald Recalled, Will Play Key Role

This wasn’t officially calling the season quits. But this was a moment where the Mighty Ducks started looking toward the future.

Andy McDonald was brought up from minor league Cincinnati, where he was tearing up the American Hockey League. McDonald, 24, will get a chance to center the Ducks’ top line or their second line.

“Basically, we’re going to play him some games,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “I said to [General Manager] Pierre [Gauthier], ‘If there are a couple other kids that are around, maybe we should start thinking that way too.”’

McDonald played one game for the Ducks, on Oct. 31, then was sent back to Cincinnati when the Ducks acquired Sergei Krivokrasov and Patric Kjellberg in Nov. 1 trades.

“He’s going to play some games now and he’s going to get chance to play on one of our top two lines,” Murray said.

McDonald made things happen in Cincinnati, where he had seven goals and 32 points.

Timo Parssinen was shipped out, ending his second chance with the Ducks.

Parssinen, 24, played three games for the Ducks at the start of the season, then was sent to Cincinnati. He was recalled Nov. 22 and played in three more games.

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 5 p.m.

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 7-16-3-0; Predators 9-14-3-0.

Record vs. Predators (2000-01)--1-1-2-0.

Update--The Ducks will start Steve Shields in goal. Shields got a win in his last start, a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers last Sunday.