Defenseman Toni Lydman got back on the ice for the first time since suffering an acute episode of double vision 16 days ago.
While that’s huge news for the Ducks — whose eight goals allowed Tuesday in Los Angeles intensified the team’s urgent need for defense — it’s just one small step for Lydman.
“It’s the first step to the process of him getting back on the ice to join our group,” head coach Randy Carlyle said, “but it’s still a long ways away. I don’t think there’s a lot of things we can take out of one skate, but it goes by on a day to day basis with him. If he has no problems, ro recurring headaches, or whatever you want to describe what he’s had, then it would be a positive step, but today’s just the first one on a long road back.
“We all want him to get back as quickly as possible but he has to be the indicator,” Carlyle continued. “When he tells us he feeels back to normal and he’s had an extended period of practicing with us, thoese are all the factors that have to go back into place before we put a player in a position where we can provide him with the work, the space, the environment, the medical coverage, the help — but when he tells us he’s ready to play, he’ll play.”
“From a hockey standpoint, it’s tough to sign with a new team, then this thing happens and you can’t get to know the guys,” said Saku Koivu, a fellow Finn. “He was really happy about it. He felt great, looked good, and hopefully from here on it’s all positive.”