News Is Not All Bad

The ups and downs the Mighty Ducks experienced after practice Saturday closely resembled their season. A negative, followed by a slight upturn.

Down: Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh was placed on injured reserve because of an injured left shoulder, suffered late in the second period of Friday’s 1-0 victory over Colorado.

He had played 13 minutes 11 seconds in his first game back since leaving the lineup because of an injured hip that had caused him to sit out four games. He is listed as week-to-week, not day-to-day.

Up: It could have been worse for the Ducks’ highest-scoring defenseman. He was examined by team doctor Craig Milhouse Saturday and the MRI test revealed only strained muscles. The team said Ozolinsh will be reexamined today, which should lead to a more specific timetable regarding his return.

Down: Defenseman Keith Carney, shot-blocker extraordinaire, did not practice. Like Ozolinsh, he had been out of the lineup and returned Friday. Late in the first period, he blocked a shot, limped off the ice and went to the dressing room, though he returned.

Up: An X-ray during the game showed his ankle was fine, and another one later backed up the first diagnosis.

This isn’t to say Carney was feeling great a day later. “It’s a little sore,” he said. “Just reassured there are no broken bones.”

The physical game against the Avalanche took a toll. Center Steve Rucchin didn’t practice Saturday because of a sore ankle, but it is not expected to keep him out of tonight’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

*

A third injured Duck returned to the lineup Friday and, unlike the other two, managed to get through the game unscathed.

Right wing Dan Bylsma came back from off-season knee surgery and passed his first test of game action. He played 5 minutes 28 seconds and had one shot on goal.

He survived another test Saturday.

“I was nervous about waking up this morning, and it felt better than I expected,” Bylsma said. “I kind of banged it into the wall last night, so I was kind of seeing how it would react.

“That’s the kind of game you need to play, to beat teams like that, and the kind of game we’re trying to focus on and play every night.”

*

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose, 5, Channel 9

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 11-12-4-5; Sharks -10-9-10-3.

Record vs. Sharks -- 2-1.

Update -- This will be the third meeting between the teams in 11 days, and they will play again Monday night at San Jose. The Sharks have one victory in their last five games -- it was against the Ducks -- and are led by Patrick Marleau, who has 12 goals and 20 points in 32 games.