Hartsburg Has to Turn to Rookie Defenseman

Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg threw rookie defenseman Antti-Jussi Niemi into the fire Wednesday, pairing him with Niclas Havelid for his NHL debut against the Kings.

Niemi, acquired with Ted Donato from the Ottawa Senators for goalie Patrick Lalime on June 18, 1999, had one goal in six games to help Cincinnati of the American Hockey League to a 5-1 record to start the season.

Pascal Trepanier, the Ducks’ only other injury-free defenseman, was scratched Wednesday. Ruslan Salei continues a slow recovery from a sore left foot, missing his second game.

Hartsburg said Salei might be fit to skate today and perhaps to play Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. Salei said a second set of X-rays taken Monday showed no broken bones but a hairline fracture could show up later. Salei’s ankle was too sore for him to skate Wednesday.

Pavel Trnka, out since Oct. 8 because of a sprained right ankle, hopes to resume skating next week.

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Center German Titov returned to the lineup after missing three games because of a bruised chest, suffered when he was hit hard Oct. 17 by New York Islander defenseman Kevin Haller.

Rather than shuffle his lines, Hartsburg scratched Ladislav Kohn and inserted Titov into Kohn’s spot on the third line. Titov, who had been centering the Ducks’ top line while Steve Rucchin was out because of a broken left hand, joined center Jonas Ronnqvist and right wing Andrei Nazarov.

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Rucchin took six first-period faceoffs, one fewer than in the entire game Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Faceoffs have given Rucchin the most pain since his return against Buffalo.