Onus Again on Titov to Produce

Once again the puck is on German Titov’s stick.

Mighty Duck Coach Bryan Murray tried spreading out his better players, trying to create three lines that were threats to score.

After Paul Kariya was effectively muzzled skating with second-year center Samuel Pahlsson and rookie Timo Parssinen, Murray loaded up his top two lines with his best scorers--Kariya, Steve Rucchin, Mike Leclerc, Marty McInnis, Matt Cullen and Jeff Friesen.

The third line is in the hands of the veteran Titov, who was a bust a year ago as a second-line center. He skated with tough-guy Kevin Sawyer and second-year right wing Petr Tenkrat.

“He’s a guy who can be a play maker,” Murray said. “He has great history in the NHL. I think that’s a good line and, with Titov, they can create some offense as well as be tough.”

That didn’t happen on any line with Titov last season. He was given a three-year, $4.6-million contract and produced nine goals and 20 points.

Certainly personal problems, the deaths of his father and only brother, affected his play. Duck officials say they now are willing to accept a little less bang for their bucks.

“He may not be the 50-point scorer he once was, but we think he can be a productive player,” General Manager Pierre Gauthier said during the exhibition season. “You’re going to need 14-15 forwards over the course of a season.”

Titov’s linemates have had varying results this season. Sawyer has been an effective grind-line player, as well as an enforcer. But Tenkrat has struggled since a flurry of goals during a nine-game span in the middle of last season.

Tenkrat, 24, showed some skill with four goals and nine points in that stretch, but he had only one goal and five points in his other 37 games. He did not have a point in four games before Friday.

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Defenseman Niclas Havelid will play Sunday, his first game since Jan. 15. He underwent extensive knee surgery and has been rehabilitating.

“I’m not anxious about the knee, but I am anxious about playing because it has been so long,” Havelid said. “Everything with the knee looks solid. I’ve been out a long time. This has been a step-by-step thing. I’m ready to play.”

Havelid was examined by a team doctor Thursday and was given final clearance to play.

He was an effective defenseman who handled the puck well before the injury. He said he was confident he could return to that level.

“The knee feels fine,” said Havelid, who had four goals and 14 points in 47 games last season. “It’s just going to take me a few games to see how it is.”