Hebert Ready to Go After Concussion

Goalie Guy Hebert says he is healthy enough to play after a long weekend recuperating from the concussion that caused him to sit out two games last week.

“I feel much better,� Hebert said. “I thought I felt good last week, but a couple of days later you realize you didn’t feel good at all. You don’t even have the perspective to say you feel OK.�

Doctors often tell those who suffer concussions that family members are sometimes more able to assess their condition than the patients themselves, and Hebert’s wife, Sarah, said the injury was affecting him.

“The people closest to you can see the most minuscule differences,� Hebert said. “She was positive I wasn’t all right last week. She said I had a distant look in my eyes and wasn’t all there.�

With three days off, Hebert said, “I stayed right on my couch. I ventured out to try a little Christmas shopping--but that made me feel dizzier than when I got hit.�

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Right wing Valeri Karpov, who has sat out 23 games because of injury or coaches’ decisions, has been assigned to minor league affiliate Baltimore in the American Hockey League.

Karpov, 25, has one goal in nine games this season.

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After giving the players three days off to recuperate from weariness, illness and nagging injuries, Coach Ron Wilson held a two-hour practice Tuesday and said the Ducks will scrimmage the next two days to try to stay in game-condition despite a week between games.