Trnka Returns to Lineup After Taking ‘Mental Rest’

Defenseman Pavel Trnka returned to the Duck lineup Wednesday against the Calgary Flames after sitting out two games. Trnka was not injured, but he hadn’t been playing up to Coach Craig Hartsburg’s expectations.

“Guys sit out because they haven’t played very well,” Hartsburg said when asked about scratching Trnka against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. “I don’t want to get into specifics. We expect him to go back in and play well. Maybe it was a good mental rest for him. He’s a young player. Younger players seem to go through bigger dips. Even though he’s been in the league three years, he’s still a young player.”

Trnka, 23, was paired with usual partner Oleg Tverdovsky.

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Rookie defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski continues to impress Hartsburg, who has recently played him on the penalty-killing unit. Hartsburg also has paired Vishnevski with Ruslan Salei to give the Ducks a physical tandem.

“His poise and composure have been outstanding,” Hartsburg said of Vishnevski, the Ducks’ first-round pick in the 1998 draft. “He’s only 19 years old. He’s going to be a good defensemen. We’re only seeing the start of his career.

Asked about Vishnevski’s hard-hitting style of play, Hartsburg said, “He doesn’t pick names or numbers. Whoever is in the other jersey is going to get run into.”

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Winger Marty McInnis was sidelined Wednesday for the ninth consecutive game because of a groin injury. But he’s started skating with the team in the hope he will be fit to play Friday against the San Jose Sharks or Monday against St. Louis.

“We want to make sure he gets through a couple of practices pain free,” Hartsburg said of McInnis, who has eight goals and 26 points in 50 games.

The medical news isn’t as encouraging for enforcer Stu Grimson and defenseman Niclas Havelid. Grimson, sidelined since breaking his left hand Jan. 17, and Havelid, who broke his right middle finger Jan. 15, are expected to be out a good deal longer.