Sykora Playing Relaxed and Paying Dividends

Petr Sykora was a key acquisition for the Mighty Ducks last summer. A sniper, who would lend some punch to a woeful power play.

After a slow start, Sykora is beginning to fulfill those expectations.

Sykora came from New Jersey in a deal that sent Jeff Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky to the Devils. Sykora leads the Ducks with 10 power-play goals and has been at his sniping best in recent weeks. He has six goals in the last 13 games and 17 this season.

“I got more comfortable here over time,” Sykora said. “At first, I tried to do too much and when you try to do too much, the bounces don’t go your way and you start making mistakes. I started to relax about a month ago. I decided to have fun and not try to prove anything.”

Sykora had seven goals in the Ducks’ first 27 games and 10 in the last 21 before Friday.

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Center Andy McDonald, who has missed seven games because of a concussion, was cleared after undergoing an MRI Thursday but still sat out Friday’s game. The Ducks do not play again until Wednesday and McDonald will have three more practices to get up to speed.

“You want to get back into the lineup as fast as you can,” McDonald said. “But this is better for the team. My timing is still off and, to be fair, I really haven’t been hit yet.”

Kevin Sawyer skated Friday morning for the first time since suffering a concussion on Dec. 19.