Sawyer Ready to Add Some Punch to Lineup

Being an enforcer unable to enforce has been frustrating for the Mighty Ducks’ Kevin Sawyer.

Sawyer has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in a fight with the Kings’ Brad Norton on Dec. 19. But his wait is about over. He had headaches and some dizziness for two weeks but has gotten better and hopes to be in the lineup for tonight’s game against Calgary at the Arrowhead Pond.

“This is the worst injury that I’ve ever had ... just the fact that you have to wait,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do to rehab a swollen brain, so to speak.

“But the closer I get to see a light at the end of the tunnel, it gets a little more bearable. I had a couple of rough days, which is normal, but I’m doing much better now.”

The concussion was Sawyer’s first, and he didn’t expect to be out for this long, figuring only players with histories of concussions -- Eric Lindros, Adam Deadmarsh, etc. -- were sidelined for extended periods.

“It’s taken a lot longer than I thought it would,” said Sawyer, who has been skating regularly with the team for the last week. “I just have to wait now until the doctors and coaches clear me to play.”

Without Sawyer, many of the Ducks have had to stand up for themselves. Veteran Keith Carney and rookie Kurt Sauer have done it, and even Paul Kariya was ready to drop his gloves last week.

“When you don’t have a guy that does that job for you, everybody has to stick up for each other and step up and do their own job,” defenseman Ruslan Salei said. “I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job so far.”

With fights declining in the NHL, more teams are playing without a designated enforcer. Some have turned to a group of tough guys, similar to how some European Leagues deal with violence.

“There’s not a lot of fighting over there,” Salei said. “You get big fines and big suspension when you fight. So it’s not really a positive thing.... It will cost you a lot if you fight.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Calgary, 7:30

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 25-19-7-4, Flames 18-27-8-3.

Record vs. Flames -- 1-1-0.

Update -- Calgary has the worst record in the Western Conference and is coming off a 4-2 loss at Colorado on Sunday.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.