Ferreira, Team Are Both Down

General Manager Jack Ferreira, so pleased by the Ducks’ 8-5-4 start, has been discouraged by their 0-4-1 mark in the five games before Wednesday.

“I’m not [encouraged] lately,” Ferreira said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve got to get back on track again. We’re just breaking down defensively, and teams are playing tougher against us. We just got hit by injuries too.”

Defensemen Bobby Dollas and Dmitri Mironov have been the most noteworthy players sidelined by injuries. Dollas is expected to miss several more weeks because of a cut tendon in his left forearm.

Mironov returned to the lineup Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks after missing three games because of a strained chest muscle.

Ruslan Salei, a second-year player, and rookie Pavel Trnka have filled in better than Ferreira had hoped. Trnka had two assists in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss against the San Jose Sharks for his first NHL points.

“I like the way ‘Rusty’ is playing,” Ferreira said of Salei. “Trnka is only going to get better and better. Not that it’s a surprise, but it’s nice to see the development of ‘Rusty’ and Trnka.

“But other guys are struggling.”

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Center Steve Rucchin, battling a nagging groin injury since training camp, is scheduled to receive treatments this week from soft-tissue specialist Dr. Michael Leahy of Colorado Springs, Colo.

“He’s felt a lot better after treatments in Vancouver and Calgary,” Coach Pierre Page said of Rucchin. “A few more treatments and he should be back to 100%. Leahy worked to get Gary Roberts back on his feet and playing again [after a serious neck injury].”

Rucchin’s goal Tuesday was only his second in 14 games this season. He has 10 assists. In the past four games, he has a goal and three assists.

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Slumping center Sean Pronger was a healthy scratch, missing his first game of the season. Pronger, who started the season centering the top line, had one goal and five points in his first eight games.

But he has one goal and two points in the past 14 games and has been playing more often with the third and fourth lines.