Oft-Injured Rucchin Working His Way Back

Watching his teammates play is something center Steve Rucchin has done a lot of lately and he’s tired of it.

“I don’t know what to say. I really don’t. It’s more than frustrating,” said Rucchin, who has missed the last 27 games because of a broken ankle, which required surgery Dec. 21. “The worst part is knowing that you should be back and you’re not, and you still have to go through the whole conditioning process again.”

Rucchin has been the missing man for the Ducks for most of the last two seasons. After averaging nearly 20 goals and 60 points over a four-year span from 1996-2000, Rucchin missed 66 games because of various head and hand injuries last season.

Then 17 games into this season, Rucchin went down again against Dallas on Nov. 11. The Ducks initially said Rucchin’s injury would keep him out of the lineup no more than six weeks, but that changed when his ankle didn’t heal.

“It’s been a joke,” said Rucchin, who needed surgery to insert a screw in his ankle four days before Christmas. “When I first got hurt, I figured, at worst, I’ll be out six weeks. But when I tried to come back and skate, it was way too painful. I knew something had to be wrong. It happens, not often, but sometimes fractures don’t heal.

“But it really doesn’t surprise me after what happened to me last year.”

Rucchin hopes to be skating by the end of the month and wants to return before the NHL Olympic break, which begins Feb. 15.

“That’s being pretty generous,” said Rucchin, who is still getting around with crutches. “It’s getting better as time goes on.... It’s one of those things, you have to basically wait in segments and see as it feels.”

TONIGHT

vs. St. Louis, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 13-23-5-3; Blues 21-12-6-3.

Record vs. Blues (2000-2001)--0-4.

Update--Defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski, who has been sidelined the last two weeks because of an ankle injury, is expected to play for the Ducks, who have lost their last four games. Jean-Sebastien Giguere, seventh in the league in goals-against average at 2.15, will start in goal for the Ducks, who have lost seven in a row to St. Louis.

Tickets--(877) 945-3946.