Rucchin Back for Final 21

Time is growing short for Mighty Duck center Steve Rucchin and he realizes that. He has only a few days to prepare before returning to the lineup.

He has only 21 games left to prove he can return to the form that made him the team’s No. 1 center.

Rucchin, who said he will play against Minnesota on Wednesday, has missed 44 games after suffering a stress fracture in his ankle Nov. 11, which later needed surgery. Over the last two seasons, he has played in only 33 of the Ducks’ last 143 games because of injuries.

He is also in the last year of his contract. So there is a lot to be gained in 21 games.

“Most importantly, I need to do what I can to fit in and try to help this team in any way they want me to,” Rucchin said. “Basically, I’m playing for the guys in the locker room, and for myself, to do what I can to get back to where I’m comfortable in whatever role that might be on the team.”

The way Rucchin has played in the past has been a comfort to the Ducks. He averaged 19 goals and 57 points in his first five full seasons with the Ducks, before injuries forced him to miss 66 of 82 games last season.

He had four goals and 11 points in 17 games this season before being injured blocking a shot against Dallas.

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Chris Foster