McDonald Draws Attention

Center Andy McDonald is having a career season, and with it comes added attention.

Not all of it is positive. McDonald has taken the brunt of increased physical play in recent games as opposing teams are putting a greater emphasis on him in their defensive game plans.

McDonald, who has 29 goals and 68 points, said he and linemates Teemu Selanne and Chris Kunitz are feeling it especially as the Ducks jockey for position in the playoffs.

“Most nights, we’re going against a team’s better defensive players,” he said. “It’s something you have to deal with. There’s no reason why we can’t continue to improve and get better. The games are only going to get more difficult as we progress here.”

In the last two games, the Dallas Stars have put McDonald and Selanne on the ice. The two got a measure of revenge Friday night as Selanne set McDonald up for a tying goal in the Ducks’ 5-4 shootout victory.

“You’ve got to get back up. Period,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “That’s the unique thing about pro sports. You strive to proceed, and there’s hurdles and mountains to climb along the way.”

Duck enforcer Todd Fedoruk, who has occasionally skated with McDonald and Selanne, said physical play is fine as long as no one takes extended liberties with their top skill players.

“Guys are going to get hit,” Fedoruk said. “Every time someone gets hit, it doesn’t mean you go out there and fight. Especially at this time of the season. This is playoff hockey, so it’s twice as physical and fighting will be down twice as much.

“The timing is not there right now to fight. But if it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.”

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The Ducks signed goaltender David McKee to a two-year entry-level contract. Born and raised in Irving, Texas, McKee had a stellar three-year collegiate career at Cornell, where he compiled a 1.71 goals-against average in 111 games.

McKee, 22, was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation’s top player, in going 22-9-4 and leading the Big Red to an NCAA regional final this season. Carlyle said the Ducks will carry McKee as a third goalie for insurance in case Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov are injured.

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TODAY

vs. Vancouver, 1 p.m., Channel 9

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 38-23-2, Canucks 40-28-7.

Record vs. Canucks -- 1-1-0.

Update -- Duck defenseman Francois Beauchemin had two assists Friday to set a rookie record with 23. Paul Kariya, Matt Cullen, Andy McDonald and Joffrey Lupul held the previous mark with 21. Vancouver defenseman Keith Carney has an assist and is a minus-2 in 10 games with the Canucks since being traded by the Ducks on March 9.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.