Ducks’ Rucchin Continues Tradition of Playing in Pain

It’s a Stanley Cup playoff tradition that players hide injuries from opponents and the media, and Mighty Duck center Steve Rucchin certainly did his part over the last two weeks.

Rucchin played the final five playoff games with a separated left shoulder, suffered after a hard check against the boards midway through Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals April 27 against Phoenix.

Asked repeatedly if he was fit, Rucchin’s standard answer was: “I’m not 100%, but I’m fine. I can play.” He and the Duck medical staff said it was merely a bruise.

“It was so bad he took three shots,” Coach Ron Wilson said after Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of their semifinal series eliminated the Ducks from the playoffs.

“It was so frustrating,” Rucchin said. “My shoulder was so weak. I was trying so hard. It would have almost been better to have lost in regulation because we worked so hard out there. To lose another overtime game, what can you say? It stinks.”

Rucchin had a goal and two assists in the playoffs--all after he was injured at Phoenix. He also missed the first three games of the conference quarterfinals because of back spasms.

In the third period of Game 4 against Detroit, Wilson moved Richard Park into Rucchin’s spot on the top line with Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne.

“He came in and did a heck of a job considering he hasn’t played that much in the playoffs,” Rucchin said of Park. “We could have done better, but it will prepare us a lot better for next year. Now, we know what it takes to win big games.”

Wilson hopes Rucchin, the Ducks’ third-leading scorer with 19 goals and 67 points, learned valuable playoff lessons.

“With Steve there’s got to be a change in his mentality,” Wilson said. “He’s got to decide, ‘I’m not just the valet for Paul and Teemu. I’m a pretty doggone good player myself.’

“He’s got to say, ‘Yeah, I’m going to score 85 points, I’m going to be an all-star, I’m going to get votes for the Selke Trophy [best defensive forward] next year.’

“That should be realistic for him.”