McInnis Expected Back After Missing Two Games

For one day, the good news outweighed the bad for the Mighty Ducks. Of course, the fact that there was any good news was surprising.

Left wing Marty McInnis, who has missed the last two games because of an injured left groin, will likely play tonight against the Nashville Predators. He was expected to be out until after this weekend’s All-Star game.

The only bad news for the Ducks was that Teemu Selanne is ill with flu, but he is expected to play tonight.

McInnis went through a full practice with the Ducks and said he felt no pain. He participated in selected drills with the team Monday.

“We’ll see how it feels tomorrow,� said McInnis, who had groin surgery during the off-season. “I’m trying to talk the coaches into letting me play. The only reason we’re being a little more careful is because I had the surgery on that side and I don’t want to go through that again.�

McInnis would be a welcome addition for the offense-starved Ducks, who have scored 17 goals in their last 10 games. McInnis leads the team with 18 goals and is second with 35 points.

Duck Coach Guy Charron, with six players on the injured list, was cautiously optimistic.

“He’ll skate tomorrow morning and if he can guarantee us that he felt really good, he could play,� Charron said.

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Team captain Paul Kariya met with Charron for 40 minutes Tuesday.

“As much as the players, in the end, either perform and do not perform, everyone has to be on the same wave length with the coach,� Kariya said.

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Gauthier Across America, and probably Canada too, continued. Duck General Manager Pierre Gauthier attended the game between the New York Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers Monday night. Last week, he was in St. Louis, which sparked rumors that Selanne might be traded to the Blues.

So Selanne to the free-spending Rangers? Well, the Rangers’ needs are more on defense. They lost to the Thrashers, 7-2, Monday and have given up a league-high 186 goals. But the Rangers have scored only three goals in their last 80 power plays and have always had an interest in the marquee player.

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2, ESPN2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 15-28-6-4; Predators 21-24-7-2.

* Record vs. Predators--0-0-2-0.

* Update--The Ducks assigned center Marc Chouinard to their minor league affiliate in Cincinnati and recalled forwards Jonas Ronnqvist and Bob Wren. Predator goalie Mike Dunham has given up only 13 goals in his last six starts.