Ward Debuts on the Wing

Right wing Lance Ward, the other guy the Mighty Ducks acquired in Thursday’s trade with Florida, was thrown into the lineup Tuesday against Calgary.

Ward, a defenseman who was playing on the wing for the Panthers this season, was acquired in the deal that brought defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh to the Ducks. He lacks the marquee name that Ozolinsh brings, but, at 6 feet 3 and 210 pounds, Ward has a presence the Ducks hope will make an impact.

“He is very physical,” Ozolinsh said. “He was playing on the checking unit in Florida. When the other teams scored a goal, they were the guys who got sent out to change the momentum. He got some really good belts in and came out the winner in pretty much all of them.”

That toughness is something that Bryan Murray has sought since becoming general manager. Murray, as Florida’s general manager, took Ward in the third round of the 1998 draft.

Ward has been a defenseman most of his career, but the Ducks will use him on the wing to get him playing time. Coach Mike Babcock said that Ward would eventually return to defense.

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Ozolinsh will wear jersey No. 8 as a Duck. Teemu Selanne was the last Duck player to wear that number.

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TONIGHT

at Edmonton, 6 PST

Site -- SkyReach Centre.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 23-18-7-4; Oilers 24-16-6-6.

Record vs. Oilers -- 0-2-0-0.

Update -- The Oilers are healthy again, as Georges Laraque (knee surgery), Ryan Smyth (sprained left shoulder) and Ales Hemsky (abdominal strain) are all expected to play tonight.