Rychel Injured but Plans to Play

Warren Rychel, who suffered a groin injury in the second period of the Ducks’ 6-2 loss Wednesday to Toronto, hopes to play tonight against Phoenix.

“You’ve got to be able to skate at 100% to forecheck effectively,” said Rychel, whose strength is forechecking. “Hopefully, the next 24 hours will be good for me and I’ll be ready to go. We’ve got a big game [tonight].”

Rychel injured himself while making a quick start as he was being checked by a Toronto player in the second period.

He’s had a rough season against the Maple Leafs. He was hit in the mouth by a puck and needed three hours of oral surgery after a game Dec. 2 at Toronto.

*

Coach Pierre Page, on the Ducks’ sputtering power play, which has converted on only 18 of 150 opportunities: “It needs an oil change.”

TONIGHT vs. Phoenix

* 7:30

* Fox Sports

West 2

Site--the Pond.

Radio--KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350), KPLS (830).

Records--Ducks 12-16-6, Coyotes 13-15-6.

Record vs. Coyotes--1-0.

Update--In the last five games, the Ducks are 1-4 and have been outscored, 22-10. But they look like Stanley Cup contenders compared to the Coyotes, who are winless in eight consecutive and 10 of 11. “This is the NHL, and that’s not an NHL team you saw out there,” Coyote Keith Tkachuk said after a 5-1 loss Wednesday to Vancouver. Phoenix defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, an unsigned restricted free agent, is expected to make an announcement on his future Monday.