After Short Trip to Minors, Cullen Returns Tonight

The Ducks sent center Matt Cullen to the minors last week to get his confidence back. Three games in four nights for Cincinnati of the American Hockey League did the trick.

Cullen rejoined the Ducks in time for Monday’s practice at a suburban Pittsburgh rink. He will play tonight against the Penguins on a line with Teemu Selanne and Travis Green.

Paul Kariya, Steve Rucchin and Marty McInnis will play on the Ducks’ top line tonight.

“It was good for me,” Cullen said of his quick trip to the minors. “I wasn’t really happy when I went down. But it was only three games. I was a little surprised [to be recalled Monday]. I didn’t expect it to be that short.”

Cullen did pick up a couple of AHL souvenirs, a broken nose and a fat lip.

“Got a stick in the face,” he said with a shrug.

Coach Craig Hartsburg hopes the addition of Cullen will help the Ducks snap their three-game losing streak.

“We need to get two lines going,” Hartsburg said. “The last two games, the other team’s checking line has been on Teemu and Paul and they haven’t had a sniff. It’s time to split them up, and not just for a period.”

Tonight

at Pittsburgh

4:30 p.m., Fox Sports West 2

Site--Civic Arena.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 8-10-4, Penguins 10-6-5.

Record vs. Penguins--(1997-98) 0-2.

Update--The Ducks are 1-6-1 against the Penguins and have never won at Pittsburgh, having gone 0-3-1 since joining the NHL in 1993-94. Pittsburgh’s Jaromir Jagr, who leads the Penguins with 29 points (five goals, 24 assists), is suffering from flu but is expected to play.