First, the Ducks’ good news: Both Joffrey Lupul and Petteri Nokelainen returned to practice on Wednesday.

The bad news? Nokelainen, who strained his groin on Sunday, had to leave midway through practice and was to be evaluated by team trainers.

Meanwhile Lupul, who’s had a recurrence of back spasms, made it through practice. But head coach Randy Carlyle said there’s always a level of caution with back injuries.

“I think anytime you have a muscle that goes into – I don’t know if you’d call a cramp – or whatever you want to call it, in the back area, there’s always concern,” Carlyle said. “Usually though if you get a couple good days, then you strtengthen other areas around it – that’s what therapy does – it corrects itself and you can move on.”

The status of both players for Saturday’s regular-season opener against San Jose is yet to be determined.