Bench Not Where Cullen Wants to Be

Center Matt Cullen, after playing in the Mighty Ducks’ first 29 games, was a healthy scratch the last two games and seems likely to make it three in a row tonight when the Ducks face Vancouver.

A prospect that, obviously, is unappealing to him.

“Whenever you’re taken out of the lineup, you’re disappointed,” Cullen said. “I feel I’m a good enough player where I can still help the team when I’m not playing my best. It’s pretty frustrating.”

Cullen got off to a fast start with 15 points in the Ducks’ first 19 games. He also demonstrated a well-rounded game. But he has three points in the last 10 games.

Coach Bryan Murray said that Cullen has been scratched, in part, to give center Andy McDonald a “good look.” But Murray acknowledged there are other reasons as well.

“We need him playing strong and safe, rather than trying to make plays that are impossible at this level,” Murray said. “I want him to step back and watch the team play and how we have to play to be successful.... When he goes back in, hopefully he will have a little bit of mental toughness that says, ‘He’s not getting me out of the lineup again.”’

Cullen, however, would rather play than watch. He played all 82 games last season and the only two games he has missed the previous two seasons was when he was a healthy scratch for the final two games in 1999-2000.

“I can’t really say anything right now, I don’t know anything,” Cullen said. “I was off to my best start. I’m a lot better hockey player than I was last year.”

*

Defenseman Keith Carney took another step toward returning to the lineup. He practiced with the team Tuesday, going through all the drills.

“We’ll see how it responds tomorrow,” Carney said. “If I don’t have any pain, hopefully I can play in the next couple days.”

Carney has missed 16 games after breaking a bone in his right hand Nov. 7. The Ducks were 6-7-2 at the time. They are 3-10-2-1 since.

TONIGHT

Vancouver, 7:30

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 9-17-4-1, Canucks 12-17-4-0.

Record vs. Canucks--1-1

Update--Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has given up only one goal in the last two games, will start in goal for the Ducks.