Ducks’ defenseman Luca Sbisa to work on conditioning in minors

Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa, sidelined throughout the season with a sprained ankle, was assigned Thursday to the team’s minor-league Norfolk, Va., affiliate to increase his conditioning to game playing.

Norfolk plays three games in three days beginning Friday: at Albany, N.Y.; at Bridgeport, Conn.; and at Hershey, Pa.

The team also sent center Rickard Rakell back to Norfolk three days after he was summoned to possibly cover for injured centers Saku Koivu (concussion) and Mathieu Perreault (wrist). Rakell did not play, however, as Perreault returned to action.

The Ducks, in Boston on Thursday to play the Bruins at 4 p.m. Pacific time, have Perreault, Ryan Getzlaf, Nick Bonino and Peter Holland to man their four lines at center.

Forward Dustin Penner, who has been out for five games after getting knocked out by a hit from Dallas’ Ryan Garbutt on Oct. 20, is expected to play, a team official said.

Koivu and goalie Viktor Fasth (lower body injury), who left the team to return to Orange County for medical evaluation and physical therapy, respectively, are not expected to rejoin the Ducks until the team gets home Nov. 5 following its longest road trip of the season, the Ducks’ spokesman said.

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