Oates’ Absence Is Already Being Felt

EDMONTON, Canada â€”  Center Adam Oates had screws removed from his broken left hand Saturday. He will be out at least a month.

Oates, who was injured against Vancouver on Thursday, was noticeably absent in a 4-3 loss to Edmonton on Saturday.

Rookie Stanislav Chistov filled in well on the power play, taking Oates’ spot along the boards. Chistov assisted when the Ducks scored on their first power play.

But they missed Oates in the face-off circle, one of his specialties. The Ducks won only 41% of their faceoffs. The Oilers won eight of 11 faceoffs in the third period, when they scored three goals.

With Oates, the Ducks had won at least 55% of their faceoffs in their first seven games.

The Ducks will likely recall center Jason Krog from minor league Cincinnati to fill Oates’ roster spot.

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Jean-Sebastien Giguere was back in goal Saturday night. It wasn’t a pleasant return.

Rookie Martin Gerber was brilliant in goal, going 1-0-1 in the Ducks previous two games. Giguere, meanwhile, has not played at last year’s level.

“I got to learn from the negative things and focus on the positive,� said Giguere, who made 23 saves and gave up four goals.

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Petr Sykora had two goals Saturday, one of which was a brilliant effort while the Ducks were short-handed. Sykora carried Mike York on his back and still managed to flip a shot over goalie Tommy Salo’s shoulder.

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-- Chris Foster