Selanne Sits Out Practice

Even after three days off, the Ducks remain uncertain whether they will have right wing Teemu Selanne in the lineup tonight against the Dallas Stars.

Selanne, who sat out the Ducks’ last game because of a lingering groin injury, did not skate during a team practice Tuesday at Dallas and is listed as questionable for the game.

The Ducks will be without center Steve Rucchin because of dizziness and center Paul Kariya because of a broken foot. Rucchin, who skated with the team Tuesday, also will not play Thursday at Nashville. The Ducks recalled center Andy McDonald from Cincinnati.

General Manager Pierre Gauthier has tried to put a positive spin on the situation, noting that the only time the production of Selanne, Rucchin and Kariya has been lower was the year Kariya held out.

It is true that the trio of Marty McInnis, Matt Cullen and Mike Leclerc has been the Ducks’ most effective scoring line this season. Yet even Gauthier would have to acknowledge that the Ducks would be better off with the Selanne-Rucchin-Kariya line on the ice, instead of in the training room.

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For the Ducks, the shuttle between Anaheim and Cincinnati seems to nearly necessitate daily flights this season. Injuries have meant the Ducks have had to tap their minor league affiliate for talent, whether the players have been ready or not.

Two who have been up to the challenge are right wing Petr Tenkrat and center Marc Chouinard.

Tenkrat, a 23-year-old Czech native, has provided energy whenever he has been on the ice. Since being recalled, he has two goals and five points in six games, including one score that tied Friday’s game against Detroit and salvaged a point from the 2-1 overtime loss.

Chouinard, also 23, has been a bruising center on the Ducks’ tough-guy line, playing between Jim Cummins and Dan Bylsma. Chouinard has been effective on faceoffs as well, winning 62%. At 6 feet 5, 206 pounds, he resembles a quicker version of former Duck enforcer Stu Grimson, especially since Chouinard wears Grimson’s No. 32.

Coach Guy Charron credits Cincinnati Coach Mike Babcock for running a system that is similar to the one used by the Ducks, which helped prepare Tenkrat and Chouinard for their NHL debuts.

“It helps because you don’t have to sit down with the player and go through all our different systems,” Charron said. “They are already pretty familiar with what we are doing. Therefore, they can just step on the ice and do the best they can.

“I’ll have a conversation with Mike, and he’ll tell me that Chouinard can take faceoffs and kill penalties. That gives me confidence in the player.”

TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PST

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Reunion Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 13-17-4-4, Stars 19-10-4-1.

* Record vs. Stars--0-1.

* Update--Hebert stopped 27 of 28 shots against the Stars on Dec. 10, with the only goal being set up by a defensive mistake. But the Ducks wasted that effort with an anemic offensive showing in a 1-0 loss. That victory was the ninth time Star goalie Ed Belfour has shut out the Ducks. The Stars will be without center Jamie Langenbrunner, who is out indefinitely because of a lower abdominal strain.