Tenkrat’s Next Lesson Is How to Get to Cincinnati

Mighty Duck Coach Bryan Murray scratched right wing Petr Tenkrat on Wednesday so he could watch and learn.

He watched the Ducks defeat Phoenix, 3-2, in overtime. Now he will learn ... in Cincinnati. He was sent to the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate Thursday. The Ducks did not recall a player and team officials said there was no trade on the table; they will carry 22 players. With right wing Jim Cummins out with a torn muscle in his rib cage, the Ducks do not have an extra forward.

Tenkrat, who had no goals and no points in nine games, was among three unproven players whom Duck officials were hoping would mature this season. Among them, only center Samuel Pahlsson has played solid defense. He also has four assists.

Tenkrat joins Timo Parssinen in Cincinnati. Parssinen was sent down on Oct. 11.

Murray was concerned about Tenkrat’s tentative play.

“You have to have the confidence and willingness to take the puck to the net and take the slash when you get to the net,” Murray said. “When you cut inside a defenseman, he’s going to try to get a piece of you. You have to take that to acquire a scoring chance.”

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Center Steve Rucchin, lost almost all of last season after being struck in the face with a puck, is back to normal, but without a visor on his helmet.

After trying a visor during training camp, he has gone without one during the season.

He has opted for a ton of comfort over an ounce of prevention.

“The visor was too uncomfortable,” he said. “There are so many nights where you play when you’re not feeling your best. So why have something that doesn’t feel right?”

Certainly his play reinforces his no-visor policy. He has two goals this season, both coming from battling in front of the net.

He suffered a broken nose and cheekbone after being struck in the face with a shot against Colorado. He missed 60 of the Ducks’ final 62 games.

“That was like lightning striking,” Rucchin said. “I can’t worry about something like that happening one time. Now, if I had been injured three or four times like that, then maybe I would wear a visor.”