Tverdovsky Starting to Find Former Form

Maybe Mighty Duck defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky was thinking too much.

Maybe he was still adjusting to first-year Coach Bryan Murray.

Maybe he was trying to do too much.

Maybe it was all of the above.

Whatever the reason, Tverdovsky has meandered through this season.

He was among the NHL’s top defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and 53 points last season, his second consecutive 50-point season. So the Ducks had to enjoy the sight of Tverdovsky gliding toward the net and waiting

That has been the puzzle. This season Tverdovsky has seemed in a funk. He has three goals and 12 points.

“I have noticed that when things get tough, I try to do extra things and a lot of the time I get myself in trouble,” Tverdovsky said.

Murray and Tverdovsky acknowledge that the coaching change has been difficult on the defenseman. “You have to fit your game into a coaching system,” Tverdovsky said. “Until you get it figured out, maybe you struggle a little bit.”

Said Murray: “I have tried to bring some structure and maybe he has a harder time with that than some of the guys.”

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Center German Titov missed Monday’s practice with what Murray said was a bruised right foot, suffered when he blocked a shot Sunday. Murray said X-rays were negative, and Titov will probably play Wednesday at Edmonton.