Slow Comeback for Niedermayer

Center Rob Niedermayer skated during a team practice Friday for the first time since he was sidelined with a concussion Jan. 1.

Niedermayer, who began skating on his own Tuesday, said he would talk to a doctor about when he would be able to play in a game. “I feel back to normal,” he said. “I’ve had no symptoms this week.”

Coach Randy Carlyle indicated he was leaning against putting Niedermayer back in the lineup right away. “We want him to have a practice or two.... You want to make sure he’s ready,” he said, adding that Niedermayer’s availability would be a game-time decision.

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Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win at Ottawa marked an encouraging turnaround for the Ducks, who have won two of six shootouts but are 0-5 in regular overtime. “It’s hard to be confident when you’re not getting results,” defenseman Keith Carney said. “Now we can build on [Thursday] night.

“In overtime, you’re trying to get those two points. At this point in the season, we need all the points we can get.”

Overtime games, Carlyle conceded, can “get in coaches’ heads.” Other than using just four defensemen, Carlyle said he does not change things for overtime, but joked, “Maybe I should.”

“I have my pairings planned out,” he said. On Thursday, he used checking forwards Samuel Pahlsson and Jonathan Hedstrom against the Senators’ top offensive line. And it worked, as the Ducks held the first-place Senators scoreless in the extra period.

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TONIGHT

vs. Florida, 7:30, FSN West2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 20-16-9, Panthers, 18-23-7.

Record vs. Panthers -- 0-0-0.

Update --Duck winger Chris Kunitz’s shootout goal to beat the Ottawa Senators on Thursday was only his third shootout attempt. The Panthers’ 6-3 loss to Phoenix on Thursday was only their fifth loss in regulation in the last 17 games.