Return of Oates Is Turning Up the Power Play

After a slow start and a month on the shelf because of a broken hand, Mighty Duck center Adam Oates is displaying the skills that brought him to Anaheim.

Duck General Manager Bryan Murray went looking for a power play last summer and put the 40-year-old Oates in the shopping cart first. One of the best set-up men in NHL history, Oates is back to showing that talent in recent games.

Oates, a 17-year veteran who led the NHL with 37 power-play assists in 2000-01, had two in the Ducks’ 5-4 loss to the Kings Dec. 19. He had two in the 5-2 victory over St. Louis the previous game.

“A few of those were five-on-three situations; that’s not the same as regular power plays,” Oates said. “But I’m a lot more confident out there.”

The Ducks, who had the worst power play in the NHL last season, have converted on 13 of 39 power-play chances in winning six of their last seven games.

“Our second unit has been doing a good job,” Oates said. “That makes it tougher on the other team.”

Oates, though, has done his job ... and more. He has scored one of those power-play goals and assisted on five others.

“He takes a lot of pride in producing on the power play,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “We have a lot of young guys on this team. We have 10 guys 26 or younger. Having a veteran like Adam is important.”

With Oates producing, the Ducks have climbed to fifth in NHL on the power play, converting on 20.1%.

The acquisition of Oates was one of several off-season moves the Ducks hoped would turn up their power-play production.

So far, right wing Petr Sykora, acquired in a trade with New Jersey, has eight power-play goals, tying him with Paul Kariya for the team lead. Defenseman Fredrik Olausson, who meandered through the first part of the season, has two goals and one assist on the power play in the last six games. But the centerpiece in this redevelopment project has been Oates, who signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract, plus an option year, last summer. The returns are starting to come in.

Oates started slowly, with only three assists in his first seven games, then suffered a broken bone in his left hand against Vancouver on Oct. 24. He missed 15 games. He has a goal and eight assists in the 12 games since returning.

“When I first came back, there was still a lot of pain,” Oates said. “There are still some things I can’t do. But the hand is a lot better.”

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TONIGHT

at San Jose, 7:30, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- HP Pavilion.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 15-10-6-3; Sharks 13-15-3-3.

Record vs. Sharks -- 0-1-0-0.

Update -- How important is this game to the Ducks? Well, their playoff dreams are likely to come true only if they finish ahead of the Sharks, who are 4-3-1-1 since Ron Wilson took over as coach.