Vitaly Vishnevski

vs. Dallas, 5 Channel 9 Site--Arrowhead Pond. Radio--XTRA (690). Records--28-40-8-3, Stars 35-26-11-5. Record vs. Stars--2-1-1-0. Update--The Ducks have given playoff-contenders a hard time, beating Dallas, Phoenix and Edmonton in the last two weeks. Defense is a concern for the Ducks, as three of their best defensemen are injured. Keith Carney (hip flexor, elbow cut) and Vitaly Vishnevski (hip injury) are expected to play. Oleg Tverdovsky (strained groin) is out.

The fax went out within minutes of the NHL arbitration announcement. The basics: Vitaly Vishnevski is available. Thursday, the Ducks found a taker for Vishnevski, who was awarded a one-year, $1.55-million contract by an arbitrator July 30, a ruling the Ducks considered excessive for a defensive role player.

Midway through the first period against Washington on Wednesday night, Mighty Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski was robbed of his first goal of the season by Capital goaltender Sebastien Charpentier, who made a diving save on Vishnevski's shot from outside the left post. For Vishnevski, missing out on a goal is nothing new, considering he has scored only twice in 211 NHL games.

There were stoic faces and short answers. Mighty Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski, whose turnover led to Jarret Stoll's goal 36 seconds into overtime that gave Edmonton a 2-1 victory Monday, didn't bat an eye when asked if it was a tough night. "Yeah," Vishnevski said. Duck Coach Mike Babcock wasted only a few syllables more in agreeing. "I'd say," Babcock said. The Ducks have come to this in what they expected to be a banner season -- possibly a championship banner one.

Vitaly Vishnevski has been a presence in the lineup nearly his entire career with the Mighty Ducks. Only four times in his three full seasons has he sat out a game because of a coach's decision. This season, though, he has been a healthy scratch five times. It has been a learning experience, and Vishnevski has learned he doesn't like it. "Everyone who is not playing wants to be out there," said Vishnevski, who was the team's first-round pick in 1998.

The Mighty Ducks signed Russian defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski, their first-round pick in the 1998 draft, to a three-year deal Tuesday believed to be worth $975,000 a year. Vishnevski will compete for a job in training camp, but, at 19, he will likely spend time in the minor leagues. "Whether he makes the team is a decision that will be made on the ice," Duck General Manager Pierre Gauthier said. "He is one of the better defensemen outside the NHL, but he is still young.

The Mighty Ducks signed Russian defense Vitaly Vishnevski, their first-round pick in the 1998 draft, to a three-year deal believed to be worth $975,000 a year. Vishnevski will compete for a job in training camp, but, at 19, he will probably spend time in the minor leagues. Still, he is advanced for his age, having played with the Russian national team at the World Championships. "He's one of the better defensemen outside the NHL," Duck General Manager Pierre Gauthier said, "but he's still young.

Andy McDonald's first NHL goal featured perhaps the least graceful celebration in league history. McDonald picked up a free puck in front of King goalie Jamie Storr, skated to the left goal post and whistled it into the back of the net. Arms raised and heart no doubt racing as the Arrowhead Pond roared, McDonald lost his balance and crash-landed into the end boards. "What a great feeling," McDonald said of scoring his first goal and first point in his eighth NHL game.

Just when it looked as if it couldn't possibly get any worse for the Ducks, it did. Hard-hitting defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski was put on injured reserve Monday because of a muscle strain near his right hip. He's expected to be sidelined seven to 10 days, according to a team spokesman. Vishnevski was injured while attempting to throw a check during the Ducks' 2-1 loss Saturday to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The lunch-pail crowd in this hardscrabble town like their checking rough and tough. A crowd of 19,477 at the First Union Center got its first glimpse of Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski and the fans didn't like him one bit, mainly because he plastered several of their heroes against the glass Saturday. Philadelphia fans like their hits, but they like their Flyers even more and they didn't particularly enjoy watching Vishnevski do his best against their boys.

Vitaly Vishnevski has been a presence in the lineup nearly his entire career with the Mighty Ducks. Only four times in his three full seasons has he sat out a game because of a coach's decision. This season, though, he has been a healthy scratch five times. It has been a learning experience, and Vishnevski has learned he doesn't like it. "Everyone who is not playing wants to be out there," said Vishnevski, who was the team's first-round pick in 1998.

It has come to this for the Mighty Ducks: Vitaly Vishnevski, offensive force. That is the perfect visual aide in an inverted season, where the Ducks are printing playoff tickets and the San Jose Sharks are booking vacations. Vishnevski, a defenseman who had shown little inclination to get involved in the offense before this season, propelled the Ducks to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Sharks Thursday in front of an announced 12,931 at the Arrowhead Pond.

Midway through the first period against Washington on Wednesday night, Mighty Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski was robbed of his first goal of the season by Capital goaltender Sebastien Charpentier, who made a diving save on Vishnevski's shot from outside the left post. For Vishnevski, missing out on a goal is nothing new, considering he has scored only twice in 211 NHL games.

vs. Dallas, 5 Channel 9 Site--Arrowhead Pond. Radio--XTRA (690). Records--28-40-8-3, Stars 35-26-11-5. Record vs. Stars--2-1-1-0. Update--The Ducks have given playoff-contenders a hard time, beating Dallas, Phoenix and Edmonton in the last two weeks. Defense is a concern for the Ducks, as three of their best defensemen are injured. Keith Carney (hip flexor, elbow cut) and Vitaly Vishnevski (hip injury) are expected to play. Oleg Tverdovsky (strained groin) is out.

Teemu Selanne, classy to the last, scrawled a few parting words for the Mighty Ducks on a chalkboard in the Arrowhead Pond dressing room. "Thanks for everything guys! "Best of luck! "Your friend, Teemu. "P.S. 'Vish' [defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski] don't hit me please." In their first game since Monday's blockbuster trade that sent Selanne to the San Jose Sharks, the Ducks displayed some flash with the puck in a 4-2 victory Wednesday over the Montreal Canadiens that would have made their friend proud.

Just when it looked as if it couldn't possibly get any worse for the Ducks, it did. Hard-hitting defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski was put on injured reserve Monday because of a muscle strain near his right hip. He's expected to be sidelined seven to 10 days, according to a team spokesman. Vishnevski was injured while attempting to throw a check during the Ducks' 2-1 loss Saturday to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Mighty Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski has spent the last two months introducing himself around the NHL. Hello, Joe Sakic . . . bam. Being a 19-year-old kid straight out of Russia, naturally there's a language barrier. Vishnevski, though, seems to be able to make himself understood. Nice to meet you, Glen Murray . . . crash. Vishnevski does make a first impression . . . and leaves behind forget-me-nots. Bruises. Bumps. A few bad feelings. Pardon me, Owen Nolan . . . crunch.

The fax went out within minutes of the NHL arbitration announcement. The basics: Vitaly Vishnevski is available. Thursday, the Ducks found a taker for Vishnevski, who was awarded a one-year, $1.55-million contract by an arbitrator July 30, a ruling the Ducks considered excessive for a defensive role player.

Andy McDonald's first NHL goal featured perhaps the least graceful celebration in league history. McDonald picked up a free puck in front of King goalie Jamie Storr, skated to the left goal post and whistled it into the back of the net. Arms raised and heart no doubt racing as the Arrowhead Pond roared, McDonald lost his balance and crash-landed into the end boards. "What a great feeling," McDonald said of scoring his first goal and first point in his eighth NHL game.