McDonald Will Get Good Look at Wing

Andy McDonald will get a real chance to show what he can do this time, Mighty Duck Coach Bryan Murray said.

“Guys get called up, play 21/2 weeks on the fourth line, then get sent down and people say, ‘He didn’t play well.”’ Murray said. “Andy is not a checking or muscle guy. He’s an offensive-type guy. We got to play him in situations that benefit him.”

McDonald was recalled Monday from minor league Cincinnati. He played right wing on a line with center Steve Rucchin and left wing Jeff Friesen against San Jose on Wednesday. He didn’t take every shift, as Paul Kariya was mixed and matched throughout the game.

Kariya started the game with Rucchin and Friesen. McDonald also played on the first power-play unit.

This is McDonald’s second go-round with the Ducks. He played 16 games and scored one goal for the Ducks last season. He had one goal and eight points with Cincinnati.

McDonald’s size has been a drawback and he spent the summer adding 10 pounds of muscle. He is listed at 5 feet 10 and 186 pounds.

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Neil Smith, a consultant with the Ducks, is a candidate for the Florida Panther general manager spot, according to a CBS Sportsline report.

Smith, formerly the New York Ranger general manager, attended Panther games and had an extended meeting with Panther President Bill Torrey.

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Duck goalie Steve Shields wasn’t worked up any more than usual as he prepared to face his former team. The Ducks acquired Shields in March in the Teemu Selanne deal.

“This is just two points in the standings,” said Shields, who had shoulder surgery and didn’t play for the Ducks after the trade. “We play them four or five more times this season. When it’s the first round of the playoffs, then it will be a big game.”