Kariya Tests Injured Foot in Practice

Paul Kariya practiced with the team Tuesday for the first time since breaking a bone in his right foot Dec. 17. Kariya had skated for 1 1/2 hours Monday, trying to bring his body up to speed before returning to the lineup.

He is figuring on that either Friday in Detroit or Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. But Kariya did not entirely rule out playing against Minnesota tonight.

“It doesn’t look like I’ll play right now,” Kariya said. “I can’t say for sure until tomorrow. It’s all how it feels the next day, not right after practice.

“The main concern is ankle muscles that support the foot. It gets better every day.”

Other news wasn’t so good.

Defensemen Oleg Tverdovsky and Ruslan Salei did not practice Tuesday. Whether they play will be decided today. Tverdovsky has back spasms and Salei has been suffering from migraine headaches since taking blows to the head last week.

Salei underwent tests Monday that ruled out a concussion, Coach Guy Charron said.

Tverdovsky has the league’s second longest consecutive-games streak at 258, trailing only Chicago’s Tony Amonte, who is at 293.

“Both Oleg and Rusty have had some improvement,” Charron said. “But with Rusty, it’s hard to say. Depending how he feels, he may try to skate tomorrow morning or may just ride the bike and see.

“When you get hit on the head, it doesn’t automatically cause a concussion. It may just rattle a few things in there to cause you to be dizzy.”

Charron ruled out the availability of left wing Marty McInnis, who has a strained groin, for tonight and said McInnis was doubtful for this weekend. Bob Wren, recalled Monday, will take McInnis’ spot on the Ducks’ top line with Tony Hrkac and Teemu Selanne.

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Another wounded Duck, center Steve Rucchin, has undergone acupuncture treatments the last three weeks in an effort to return from his concussion. He began skating on his own again Friday.

“I feeling better, but I still don’t feel normal,” said Rucchin, who has missed 35 of 51 games this season. “Light and sound don’t bother me, but my eyes still get sluggish and my face gets numb.”

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 15-25-6-4; Wild 16-22-8-2.

* Record vs. Wild--2-1.

* Update--Jean-Sebastien Giguere will start in goal for the Ducks. The Wild is 8-5-3 since Dec. 17, even though it has the league’s worst power play at 8.3%.

* Tickets--(714) 703-2545.