Carney Feels Closer to Return

Keith Carney huffed and puffed around the rink during the morning skate Tuesday, his first day on the ice since breaking a bone in his right foot on Oct. 2.

“For a first skate, it felt pretty good,” Carney said. “The biggest thing now is to see how it reacts.”

Carney did not rule out playing tonight against the Washington Capitals. A more likely scenario, though, would have him return this weekend.

“It wouldn’t hurt to get my wind back,” Carney said. “I could get in a couple good skates. My biggest concern is how it will react to skating [Tuesday], whether it swells up or there is more pain. It feels fine right now, just the normal pain. When you skate, it puts stress on the bone.”

The Ducks also miss Carney, one of the team’s assistant captains, in the dressing room. But they miss him more on the ice.

In Carney’s absence, the Duck defense has been generous, to say the least. A rash of turnovers has led to easy goals.

“He looked pretty good to me today,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “I said, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ... When he’s ready, I’m sure we’ll have a spot for him, whether it’s six shifts or 60.”

TONIGHT

at Washington, 4 PST

Site -- MCI Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690), XTRA (1150).

Records -- Ducks 3-5-1-1; Capitals 1-6-1-0.

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

Update -- The Ducks stumble across Team Dysfunctional tonight. The Capitals have lost five consecutive games and are winless in seven since an opening-night victory. Star forward Jaromir Jagr and Coach Bruce Cassidy are feuding. Team captain Steve Konowalchuk was traded to Colorado last week and a permanent replacement as captain has yet to be named.