Valicevic Enjoys the Time He Gets

Rob Valicevic has spent the better part of the last two seasons in the minor leagues. So naturally he is pleased to be back in the NHL.

The reason?

“I find that it’s a lot easier than the minor leagues,” said Valicevic, who turned 31 Monday. “I mean, guys are faster and stronger here. But you know your role. In the minors, it’s a little more scrambled. Here you’re a piece of the puzzle. I can just focus on my job.”

Valicevic was signed as a free agent last summer, part of General Manager Bryan Murray’s effort to make the organization deeper. Valicevic played 17 games with the Kings last season and spent the three previous seasons with Nashville. He was recalled when injuries to Mike Leclerc, Mike Brown and Marc Chouinard left the Ducks short-handed. There was little to focus on Sunday. Valicevic and rookie Alexei Smirnov, the Ducks’ other emergency call-up, played little against Dallas. Smirnov played 5 minutes 14 seconds and Valicevic 4:48 in the 1-1 tie.

“I’m just very pleased to be here,” Valicevic said. “I’m just here to help the team, no matter how small the role is.”

Valicevic nearly came up big for the Ducks Sunday, when he redirected a pass by Paul Kariya on net that Star goalie Marty Turco managed to deflect.

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The Ducks’ power play, improved dramatically from last season, has hit a wall the last two weeks. They have gone 20 power plays without a goal. “We’re not putting the puck on net enough,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “Our defense has to get the puck in there.”

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Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has missed the last two games because of a sore neck, has recovered to the point that the Ducks sent Ilja Bryzgalov back to Cincinnati Monday. Giguere worked out during the Ducks’ optional practice. Babcock said that Martin Gerber, who has stopped 50 of 52 shots the last two games, would probably start Wednesday against Edmonton. Left wing Brown, who is on injured reserve because of a strained back, practiced for the first time since last Thursday. He is eligible to be activated Thursday, when the Ducks play at Colorado.