Ducks’ Matt Beleskey ready for preseason debut

Ducks forward Matt Beleskey has skated the last two days and said Friday he’s capable of making his preseason debut Saturday night at San Jose.

Known for imposing his physicality, Beleskey, 26, has required extensive off-season time to recover from a lower-body injury suffered in Game 3 of the Ducks’ Western Conference quarterfinal playoff series against the Kings on May 8.

“A lot of stuff … it was a groin [injury] with some abdomen tears, so a lot of core exercises, yoga, trying to get more flexible and lengthen myself out,” Beleskey said. “It’s going to be an ongoing process.”

Beleskey is coming off a nine-goal, 24-point season while racking up 64 penalty minutes in 55 games. He scored a goal in Game 1 of the Kings series.

He skated Friday morning at a split team practice with first-liners Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

“Feel pretty good, escalating every day … you never know until you play in a game,” Beleskey
said. “Luckily, it’s an exhibition game. I’m excited, you hate watching.

“I don’t plan on changing at all. You want to build on last year. I played through the whole lineup, had some inconsistency, which everyone does, but I’m starting to get better at being the same player every night, and contributing.”