Marshall Is Facing Latest Setback

Mighty Duck defenseman Jason Marshall has run into some bad luck after returning to the team he was with for six seasons -- and his face is proof.

Marshall was at practice Tuesday after undergoing surgery Saturday to repair a broken nose.

The injury occurred Friday night when a first-period shot from Columbus Blue Jacket forward Jaroslav Balastik deflected off Marshall’s stick and hit him in the face.

Of the injury, Marshall compares it to feeling as if a big rock is attached to his face.

“I feel all right,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep it protected. It could have been worse.”

Marshall also was on the wrong end of a one-sided fight with enforcer Ken Belanger of the Kings in the first exhibition. After that incident, in which he suffered an eye injury, he wore a visor for much of the remainder of training camp. Now he’ll have to get reacquainted with it.

“Well, I’ve got to wear something for at least a couple of months,” said Marshall, who signed as a free agent Aug. 8. “I’ve got to wear a full shield for a few weeks and then maybe wear a half shield.”

Coach Randy Carlyle said Marshall won’t play tonight against the St. Louis Blues but could be available Friday in Detroit.

“I just think it’s totally unfair to bring a guy in who hasn’t skated since the injury on Friday,” Carlyle said. “It’d be difficult to have him come in and practice Tuesday when he hasn’t skated Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

“I don’t think that’s wise on our part.”

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Center Sergei Fedorov, as expected, will not play for the third consecutive game as he continues to deal with his strained left groin. Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, who has a strained chest muscle, is expected to be a game-time decision.

Andy McDonald said their presence has been missed especially on the ailing power play, where the Ducks have scored only three times in 34 opportunities.

“You can’t say enough things about either one of them,” the center said.

“They’re great hockey players. When they went down, it hurt the power play.

“Obviously, injuries happen and you can’t dwell on it. You have to make the best with what you have.”

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TONIGHT

at St. Louis, 5 PDT, FSNW2

Site -- Savvis Center.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 2-2-0-1; Blues 1-4-0-0.

Record vs. Blues (2003-04) -- 1-1-1-1.

Update -- The Ducks claimed Chris Kunitz off waivers from Atlanta and assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate at Portland, Maine. Kunitz, who was in training camp with the Ducks, was claimed by the Thrashers on Oct. 4 and played in two games after the Ducks originally tried to send him to Portland. St. Louis has predictably struggled out of the gate after trading defenseman Chris Pronger and losing forward Pavol Demitra to free agency. Veteran forward Keith Tkachuk is still trying to work his way into shape. Blues goalie Patrick Lalime has a 4.22 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage in five starts.