Leclerc Could Return Next Game

Mighty Duck left wing Mike Leclerc sat out Sunday’s game because of a sore right knee, but team officials were hopeful that he would be ready to play Wednesday against Florida.

A MRI taken Saturday revealed no damage, according to team officials. Leclerc was injured Thursday against Nashville and left the game with 10 minutes left.

“I felt it the start of the second period and the third period it got worse and worse,” Leclerc said. “It kind of locked up a couple times on one shift. I would extend my leg, it would lock up. I would bring it back and it would unlock.”

Leclerc will be reexamined by team doctors today.

“The MRI didn’t show any cartilage tears and it feels a lot better today,” Leclerc said.

The Ducks, already playing without Paul Kariya and Steve Rucchin, can not afford to lose Leclerc. He has 12 goals and 30 points.

*

A little extra practice by Duck forwards paid off Sunday. The centers and wingers worked on faceoffs during Saturday’s practice and the Ducks held their own against the Wild, winning 49%. The Wild did win 20 of 34 faceoffs in the third period.

The Ducks rank 28th out of 30 teams at 47%.

“It’s all about confidence a lot of times,” center Tony Hrkac said. “Once you start winning a couple, you get in a groove and build momentum. You lose a few in a row, that confidence goes real fast.”

The Ducks’ confidence must be low at this point. The won only 29% against Dallas on Wednesday and 37% against Nashville on Thursday.

“I guess we’re more concerned about losing them clean,” Coach Guy Charron said. “Sometimes a winger may lose a battle for a puck. But when you lose the draw clean, it makes the coverage more difficult. The thing about losing a faceoff is you lose possession and have to chase.”

*

Marc Chouinard’s assist on Hrkac’s goal Sunday was his first NHL point.

Chouinard came a long way to score it. The Ducks demoted him to Cincinnati, their minor league affiliate, Thursday. He flew to Cincinnati on Friday, then was recalled that night. He flew to St. Paul on Saturday.

“The good thing is I’m getting lots of frequent-flier miles,” Chouinard said.

*

The Ducks had three players scratched because of injuries, Kariya, Rucchin and Leclerc. Defenseman Mike Crowley was a healthy scratch. . . . The Ducks killed four penalties Sunday and have killed seven in a row in the last three games.