McInnis Gives Line a Spark

Since being made a healthy scratch by Coach Bryan Murray on Jan. 21, right wing Marty McInnis has provided plenty of grit for the Mighty Ducks, playing on a line with center Matt Cullen and left wing German Titov.

Although McInnis hasn’t scored a goal since returning to the lineup, Murray has been pleased with his effort.

“That line has been a decent line for us,” Murray said. “Marty has played well since he’s come back. We’ve put him back running the point on the power play and he is a real good veteran for us.”

McInnis may not be scoring but he’s been able to cut his plus-minus rating by four, going from minus-17 to minus-13 heading into Friday night’s game with Carolina at the Arrowhead Pond.

“I would like to score more goals of course, but it’s a lot easier to live with when you’re winning,” McInnis said. “Not scoring is tough to deal with when you’re losing every night by a goal like we were before.

“But I know I can play better and so can our line.”

With the Ducks starting to get consistent traffic in front of opposing goaltenders every night, McInnis realizes that it’s only a matter of time before he starts recording more points as a power-play quarterback.

“I’m not the best skater going backwards,” McInnis said. “But playing on the power play is good because I get to have the puck a lot and I get a chance to make plays.”

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Goaltender Ilja Bryzgalov has been added to the Russian Olympic team to fill a spot left open for San Jose’s Evgeni Nabokov, who was ruled ineligible for the Salt Lake City Games on Jan. 31.

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Lonnie White