Salei, Sidelined Since Jan. 17, Expected to Return Tonight

Duck defenseman Ruslan Salei is expected to play tonight for the first time in two months, a team spokesman said Thursday. Salei suffered a concussion Jan. 17, when he fell and hit his head on the ice in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Left wing Mike Leclerc is expected to be sidelined for a fourth game because of an abdominal strain. Leclerc has career highs of 15 goals and 35 points in 54 games.

TONIGHT

at Ottawa, 4 PST

* Site--Corel Centre.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 23-36-8-5, Senators 40-19-8-3.

* Record vs. Senators (1999-2000)--0-2.

* Update--The Ducks’ five-game winning streak ended when they squandered a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 loss Wednesday to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Right wing Paul Kariya has four two-goal games in his last six games. He also has 12 goals and 17 points in his last 12 games. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is expected to make his 16th consecutive start. He has four shutouts in his last 11 games. Ottawa routed the Thrashers, 8-1, Wednesday, giving Jacques Martin his 200th victory as the Senators’ coach. Eleven of the Senators’ 12 forwards recorded at least one point in the victory. This is the only meeting between the Ducks and Senators this season. The Ducks’ last victory at Ottawa was March 22, 1998, when right wing Teemu Selanne recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 rout.