Suddenly, Playoffs Seem a Possibility

One good week, and you can almost envision the Mighty Ducks making the playoffs.

Two wins and a tie, and the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot doesn’t look so far away. Nine points out of a playoff berth a week ago, the Ducks are five out today but, more important, have rejoined the pack a few points back.

“We made up some pretty significant ground in a few games, getting five points out of a possible six,” goalie Guy Hebert said. “In a matter of three games you can make up ground because everybody seems to be playing .500 hockey.”

Only 11 of the NHL’s 26 teams were over .500 in Tuesday’s standings, and only four Western Conference teams were more than one game over .500.

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Coach Ron Wilson told Roman Oksiuta to ride the stationary bike instead of practicing Tuesday after Oksiuta skipped Monday’s optional practice. Wilson said Oksiuta still has a slight ankle injury, but Oksiuta said he has recovered. . . . Defenseman Jason Marshall, who has multiple stitches in the tip of his right little finger after being slashed during Sunday’s victory over Detroit, said he is probably a day or two from being able to play. . . . Tough guy Shawn Antoski’s hip strain will be reevaluated in about a week. He has yet to practice since being acquired from Pittsburgh last week.