Ozolinsh Looks to Return Soon

Mighty Duck defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh practiced with his teammates for the first time since injuring his left knee Nov. 27 against Chicago.

In what has been an injury-plagued season, Ozolinsh had reason to be in an upbeat mood Monday. The 13-year veteran said there is minor discomfort but none of the persistent pain that has kept him out of the lineup the last eight games.

Ozolinsh stayed home when the Ducks flew to San Jose for tonight’s game, but he is hoping that he will be ready to join the team after the Christmas break. The Ducks begin a stretch of five consecutive road games Dec. 28 at Columbus.

“The main thing is to not rush it too much so I don’t set myself back for another couple of weeks or so,” he said. “Just try to keep doing more and more every day but slowly, gradually.”

Ozolinsh, who participated in non-contact drills, said the last three days have been his best. He has been limited to 13 games because of injuries.

“We’ll just wait and see how he responds from skating,” Coach Randy Carlyle said.

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The Ducks’ back-and-forth 5-4 victory over San Jose on Sunday might have been good for their psyche, but Carlyle said the Ducks can’t win a lot of games in that manner.

“Those games are hard on coaches and hard on players too,” Carlyle said. “There’s certain things you want from your players. Every coach knows that you can’t play loose defensively to have success in the long run.”

It was also the kind of victory that has been in short supply for the Ducks this season. They are 5-12 in one-goal games.

“You take the games as they come,” Carlyle said. “You hope that the result is more of what we had [Sunday] night versus finding ways to lose.”

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TONIGHT

at San Jose, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site -- HP Pavilion.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 15-13-6, Sharks 14-13-4.

Record vs. Sharks (2005-06) -- 1-0-1.

Update -- San Jose Coach Ron Wilson, who coached the Ducks from 1993 to 1997, was not happy with his team’s defensive effort Sunday. “In some key situations, we’re giving people minutes who probably don’t deserve them,” Wilson said. “Silly mistakes.”