Bellows Blows Oksiuta Out of Lineup

Winger Roman Oksiuta said his sprained ankle has mended and he is fit enough to play tonight against the Boston Bruins. Cracking the lineup is another matter, however.

“Where are you going to play him?” General Manager Jack Ferreira asked. “There’s another guy who’s playing better and creating things [scoring chances] too.”

Ferreira was speaking of Brian Bellows, whose play at power forward would have nudged Oksiuta aside by now even if Oksiuta had not been injured. Ferreira would not say whether he was trying to trade Oksiuta, who hasn’t played since Nov. 17.

“Bellows has been outstanding, giving the second line some chemistry,” assistant coach Walt Kyle said.

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Dmitri Mironov’s two-goal game Saturday against Pittsburgh was the first by a Duck defenseman since Tom Kurvers scored twice against Edmonton in a 5-4 overtime victory on Jan. 23, 1995. . . . Teemu Selanne’s next assist will be the 200th of his career.