Havelid Makes Most of Rare Playing Time

Mighty Duck defenseman Niclas Havelid was dusted off and taken down from the shelf Friday night.

With Vitaly Vishnevski serving a two-game suspension for elbowing, Havelid was forced into the lineup for only the second time in 19 games. His play, though, looked anything but rusty.

Havelid was teamed with veteran Keith Carney and played 22 minutes 23 seconds in a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Blackhawks. Only Oleg Tverdovsky played more among Duck defensemen.

“I thought he was really good,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “Keith Carney has made a lot of people look pretty good. But Nick had good legs and passed the puck well. His physical involvement was big time.”

Havelid has struggled since suffering a knee injury a year ago. A finesse defenseman, the injury robbed him of his strengths, and only recently has he felt 100%, he said.

“My knees almost look the same size now,” Havelid said. “That’s a good thing.”

The injury, plus the acquisitions of Carney and Jason York, pushed Havelid down the depth chart. He has spent most of the season as the seventh defenseman, the odd-man out.

“Early in the year, we didn’t like everything we saw because his mobility wasn’t what it had been,” Murray said. “It was nice to see him in that kind of game shape and get in and play [Friday]. Sometimes it takes this kind of a break, a guy gets suspended or injured, to get your turn.”

Havelid, who has one goal and three points in 38 games, was preparing himself for the opportunity.

“It is tough when you haven’t played for a while,” Havelid said. “We have seven defensemen and only six play. All you can do is work. You work, you get your chances.”

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TODAY

vs. St. Louis, 5, Channel 9

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 24-34-7-3, Blues 32-23-8-3.

Record vs. Blues--1-1.

Update--Left wing Keith Tkachuk, who has missed eight games with a deep thigh bruise, is expected to return to the Blues’ lineup tonight. Center Doug Weight, who has missed six games with a sprained knee, is out. The Blues are 4-10-2 in their last 16 games. The Ducks are 10-5-1 in their last 16.

Tickets--(877) 945-3946.

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Chris Foster