Bylsma Might Be Ready by Friday

Mighty Duck forward Dan Bylsma has been cleared to play after completing his rehabilitation from off-season surgery on his left knee.

Bylsma, who underwent surgery on his knee in June, went through a full practice on Wednesday.

And there was more good news from the training room as defensemen Keith Carney and Sandis Ozolinsh practiced for the first time in more than a week.

But for Bylsma, it was a day he had long awaited.

“I’m tired of viewing games, it’s time to play in one,” he said. “When you have surgery like this, you go through rehab and sometimes you can’t see the end of the road. This is a chance to be healthy and play.

“It’s going to be an ongoing thing, where I will continue to get the knee in better shape. But the next step is playing in a game.”

Just when that will be remains to be seen, although Coach Mike Babcock said, “If he can help the team, then he’s going to play Friday [against Colorado].”

Bylsma, who has scored 19 goals in his career, doesn’t figure to boost the Ducks much offensively -- they are averaging 2.16 goals a game -- but he does the blue-collar work that can help out. He was one of the better penalty killers last season and is a solid checker on the fourth line. His leadership could also give the sagging Ducks a lift.

“He brings energy and we need that,” Babcock said.

Bylsma played the second half of last season and the playoffs on a bad left knee. “The biggest thing we need is consistency right now,” said Bylsma, who has spent part of the time as a color commentator on Duck radio broadcasts. “We have played some great games this season. To be a playoff team or an elite team, you have to play at the same level every night. I just need to do my part and maybe bring some consistency.”

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Carney, who has missed two games with a back problem, and Ozolinsh, who has missed four games with a chest injury, are considered probable for Friday’s game. Both went through a full practice Wednesday, participating in all drills.

The Ducks then re-assigned defenseman Mark Popovic to minor league Cincinnati. Popovic will also play for Team Canada in the Spengler Cup Dec. 26-31.

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The Ducks will honor former goaltender Guy Hebert, the first player they took in the 1993 expansion draft, before a game against Columbus on Jan. 11. He will be the first member of the Mighty Ducks Wall of Fame.

Hebert spent eight seasons with the Ducks.