McInnis Finds Going Rough

The word frustrated doesn’t begin to describe Mighty Duck left wing Marty McInnis’ feelings.

He has two goals in his last 30 games. He has none in his last 13 games. With nine goals this season, he is averaging about three every 20 games.

“It’s beyond frustrating,” McInnis said. “You go through cycles where it’s unbearable.

“I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried new sticks. When things aren’t going the way you want, you go back to keeping the game simple, play the game rather than sit there analyzing. Obviously I can play.”

Duck management thought so too; it gave McInnis a three-year, $5-million contract extension a year ago. A fair price for a guy who scored at least 18 goals in four of the last five seasons--he scored 10 in the 1999-2000 season when he was slowed by a groin injury that required off-season surgery.

But McInnis’ drought has reached the point where Coach Bryan Murray would like to see him change tactics.

“When you shoot from the angles in this league and don’t get to the front of the net, it’s a hard game to score goals,” Murray said. “It seems to me that he needs to make more of an effort to get himself in scoring position. It means taking a little abuse more often, and not being satisfied to shoot from the perimeter as often.”

McInnis has always been streaky, scoring goals in bunches. But there has been only one streak this season. He had two goals in the first 22 games, then five in the next seven. Then the bottom fell out.

He has had some tough luck, hitting posts and having good opportunities turned away by goalies.

“What happens so often is guys go through cycles where nothing goes in,” Murray said. “Marty, to me, has always been a guy who should get 15-20 goals a year for you.”

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The Ducks’ practice Friday included a colorful tongue-lashing from Murray and assistant coach Guy Charron, both of whom were unhappy about the effort during drills.

“I just think that in a couple of drills we should have worked harder,” Murray said. “Half of them are going like hell, as they normally do, but we had a few guys who just didn’t work as hard as they should have. There are times when you have to send a message.”

The message being that there are 20 games left, even if the Ducks are out of the playoff race.

“I want these guys to play through until the 82nd game of the year,” Murray said.

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Right wing Jeff Friesen returned to practice Friday after missing Thursday to rest a sore left ankle.... Center Andy McDonald, who suffered a concussion against Minnesota on Wednesday, probably will not play Sunday against Chicago.... Marc Chouinard, who injured a shoulder Wednesday, will not make the trip.

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Chris Foster