Ducks name Getzlaf captain.

That 25-year-old center Ryan Getzlaf officially became the eighth captain in Ducks history Sunday wasn’t out of the blue. He was one of two alternate captains last season, along with Saku Koivu, and both were seen as logical successors when captain Scott Niedermayer retired in June.

The more interesting wrinkle was how Getzlaf earned the “C” that was stitched onto his jersey prior to Sunday’s preseason tilt with the Los Angeles Kings.

“The players made that decision,” head coach Randy Carlyle said.
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Ducks 3, Kings 2.

Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf scored goals in regulation, and Teemu Selanne’s 4-on-3 overtime goal lifted the Ducks to a 3-2 win in their preseason finale.

Perry scored a 5-on-3 goal in the first period, and Getzlaf finished a breakaway of his own creation to put the Ducks up 2-0 early in the third period.

Jonas Hiller single-handedly lost the shutout with 4:10 left in the third period. With the Ducks skating 5-on-4, he left the crease to play a puck headed behind his net. Justin Williams followed the puck down the ice, stole it off Hiller’s stick, and tucked it inside the goal post before Hiller could cover it up.

Jack Johnson sent the game into overtime, sending a wrist shot into the back of the net from 55 feet out with 2:43 left.

Updated webcast info.

The webcast of tonight’s Kings-Ducks game has been cancelled by Prime Ticket, which was scheduled to stream the game on foxsportswest.com. The game can still be heard on the Ducks (830-AM) and Kings (1150-AM in most areas) radio affiliates.

The explanation from Prime Ticket, as relayed by a Ducks spokesperson: “We’ve decided to hold off and re-evaluate the process. We want to make sure we’re providing the best experience for the fans.”

We’re all in preseason form. …

 

Lydman skates, Carlyle cautious.

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.”