Mironov Slowed by Chest Injury

Coach Pierre Page hopes defenseman Dmitri Mironov is fit to play tonight. Mironov missed his third consecutive game because of a strained chest muscle.

“It’s a lot better, but he’s not comfortable enough with it,” Page said. “Only 50% at this time of year doesn’t cut it and he knows it.”

Mironov suffered the injury when he was checked hard against the glass in a 4-3 loss to Montreal last Wednesday.

“When I lie down at night to sleep, I can feel it from my chest and neck,” said Mironov, who has four goals and 13 points. “The pain is more in my shoulder, and it hurts in there.”

TONIGHT

Anaheim vs.

Chicago

* 7:30 p.m.

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--The Pond.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350.

Records--Ducks 8-9-5, Blackhawks 7-12-2.

Record vs. Blackhawks (1996-97 season)--3-0-1.

Update--Chris Chelios, Chicago’s all-star defenseman, hasn’t scored a goal, which only partly explains the Blackhawks’ poor start. Chicago’s power play is the league’s weakest, converting only six of 100 chances. The Blackhawks have only one power-play goal in the last eight games. They are 0-2-2 in the last four. Backup Jeff Hackett, who is 0-3-2 with a 3.16 goals-against average, will start in goal tonight. Chicago leads the all-time series, 10-5-2, but hasn’t defeated the Ducks since a 4-1 victory Feb. 4, 1996 at the Pond.