Coach Asks Two Rookies for More

They represent the future of the Mighty Ducks, but Coach Randy Carlyle made it clear that the team needs more now from rookie forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

The two have had their moments since their recall from the minor leagues in January, but none on this trip. Getzlaf and Perry each took just one shot in games against Detroit and Chicago and they were on the ice for the Blackhawks’ lone goal Friday.

“They know where they’re at,” Carlyle said Saturday. “It’s been verbalized very strongly.... They’ve got to be better.”

Carlyle said he didn’t mind their offensive production but thought they weren’t playing enough “safe minutes” in the defensive end.

“We’ve all been through it and you’ve seen it millions of times,” Carlyle said. “You get into a comfort zone quicker than you really should.

“It’s a challenge to make the NHL but it’s even more of a challenge to stay there. And it’s the greatest challenge to become an elite-level player and do it day in, day out.”

*

General Manager Brian Burke has said he thought 95 or 96 points may be enough to qualify for the playoffs. To do that, the Ducks will need to finish either 8-6-3 or 9-7-1 in their final 17 games.

Defenseman Scott Niedermayer suspects the point total may need to be higher. “The number to get in the playoffs is going to be pretty high,” he said. “Really high. There’s a lot of quality teams.”

Ruslan Salei, the club’s longest-tenured player, doesn’t try to figure out point scenarios: “I just focus on each game. I don’t really focus on how many points we need. We just need to win games and if we do that, you can move yourself up.”

*

Every member of the Ducks will either use a pink stick during the warm-up or play with one in the game to raise awareness for breast cancer. The sticks, which will feature the pink ribbon logo, will be autographed and auctioned to raise money for breast cancer research. More than 400 players across the league are expected to take part.

TODAY

at Columbus, 2 p.m. PST

Site -- Nationwide Arena.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 32-21-12; Blue Jackets 26-38-3.

Record vs. Blue Jackets -- 1-1-1.

Update -- The Ducks have won only twice in nine games at Columbus since the Blue Jackets entered the league in 2000. In December, Marc Denis made 40 saves in a 1-0 shutout. “For some reason, we have a hard time [here],” Salei said. “It seems like when we always play here their goalie is unbelievable.” Columbus’ Sergei Fedorov is questionable because of back spasms.