Carney Progresses With Full Practice

Although defenseman Keith Carney remained noncommittal about his return to the lineup, the Mighty Ducks could get him back today, when they play the New York Islanders.

Carney, out since Oct. 2 with a broken bone in his right foot, went through a full practice with the team for the first time Friday. He said the pain was minimal.

“When I’m on the ice, it is out of my mind,” Carney said. “Each day it feels better and better. If I feel I can play and help out, then I’ll make the decision.”

Carney will decide this morning after seeing how his foot was after a full practice. He said if there were no change, he would play.

How effective he will be in his first game is to be seen. Carney is the Ducks’ best stay-at-home defenseman, as well as an assistant captain. He averaged 22 minutes of ice time a game last season, second only to defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh.

“I have been out four weeks now, and when I got hurt it was at a time where you are still getting ready for the season,” said Carney, who was injured in the Ducks’ next-to-last exhibition game. “These are the best players in the world. It will take some time to get up to speed.”

Time or not, the Ducks are eager to get Carney back.

“He’s our best defenseman,” captain Steve Rucchin said. You can never have enough of those guys.”

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Goaltender Martin Gerber will start his fourth consecutive game tonight, the longest streak of his short career. Gerber, a first-year player last season, played three consecutive games while Jean-Sebastien Giguere was injured last January.

Coach Mike Babcock said he had not decided who will start for the Ducks against Chicago on Sunday, but at some point Giguere, the playoff MVP last season, will return to his role as No. 1 goalie. He has not played since the Ducks’ 5-2 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 24.

“[Martin] has been playing great,” Giguere said. “All I can do is work hard every day. I’ll get my chance back. It’s not a big deal. It’s not the end of the world.”

TODAY

at New York Islanders, 10 a.m. PST, Channel 9

Site -- Nassau Coliseum.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 4-5-1-1, Islanders 4-3-2-0.

Record vs. Islanders (2002-03) -- 0-0-1.

Update -- The Ducks suddenly have a power play. After scoring only two power-play goals in the first six games, they have six in their last five games. The Islanders’ Mariusz Czerkawski has eight goals in nine games.