Check on Rucchin Rankles Teammates

Duck players were sharply critical of the third-period blindside hit by King defenseman Sean O’Donnell that knocked Steve Rucchin out of the game.

“A couple of those hits, those guys don’t deserve to play in this league. That’s so dangerous it’s unbelievable,” Teemu Selanne said.

O’Donnell earned a five-minute major for charging after driving Rucchin into the boards as Rucchin cross-checked Yanic Perreault. The play will be subject to automatic NHL review.

Rucchin was dazed, but doctors didn’t term the injury a concussion. Rucchin is expected to be able to play in the Ducks’ next game, Monday at St. Louis.

Defenseman Bobby Dollas said O’Donnell was coming to the aid of a teammate, but “you don’t have to go out and decapitate a guy.”

Goalie Guy Hebert called it “a deliberate attempt to injure.”

King Coach Larry Robinson didn’t dispute the penalty.

“He ran him,” Robinson said.

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Selanne extended his point streak to 11 games with an assist. . . . Ken Baumgartner moved from defense to his old forward position because of the rash of injuries.