Russia Tabs Tverdovsky as One of Eight Olympians

Duck defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky was one of eight players selected Thursday to play for Russia in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Tverdovsky was a frequent participant in international competitions for Russia as a junior-level player, but this will be his first Olympics.

“He brings an element of the game that will be important to their team,” Duck Coach Guy Charron said of Tverdovsky, Anaheim’s second-leading scorer with 46 points. “He brings a special element. He has played well for us. I’m sure he would be an attractive selection for any team.”

Tverdovsky, who has the NHL’s second-longest current ironman streak at 283 consecutive games, was not available for comment. He suffered a concussion in the first period of the Ducks’ 8-0 loss Wednesday to the Dallas Stars. His status for Saturday’s game against the Kings at Staples Center is “probably doubtful unless there’s some major improvement,” Charron said.

Dallas winger Brenden Morrow blindsided Tverdovsky, knocking him headfirst into the glass well after the defenseman had passed a puck out of his own zone. Morrow was not penalized.

Charron showed a videotape of the hit to a couple of reporters, neither of whom had seen the play.

“Oleg made the pass and he’s not facing the other player,” Charron said. “The elbow comes up, although [the referees] said it was his shoulder. It’s a hit after the play.”

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Defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski, who did not play Wednesday because of a shoulder injury, skated on his own Thursday and could replace Tverdovsky in the lineup Saturday. “He’s a possibility,” Charron said of Vishnevski. “After [today’s] workout, we’ll reassess the situation.” . . . Charron said left wing Mike Leclerc’s season might be over because of an abdominal strain. Leclerc, the Ducks’ sixth-leading scorer with 35 points, has been sidelined for six games and hasn’t shown signs of improvement.