Ducks 7, Oilers 2.

Ryan Carter scored twice, five other players scored one goal – including the 606th of Teemu Selanne’s career – turning Fan Appreciation Night into a one-sided rout in the Ducks’ final game of the season.

Selanne stayed on the ice when the final horn sounded, then led a lap around the ice as the Ducks saluted the fans. Afterwards, he was asked on the ice about his future plans.

“I was always hoping that I wasn’t playing so well, and the decision (to retire) would be easier,” said Selanne, who scored on a second-period power play goal. “I just feel great still. There’s a lot of time to rest now. We have a great team here. Let’s see what happens.”

Selanne, 39, finished his 17th season with 27 goals in 54 games – a ratio of 0.5 goals per game that ranks eighth in the NHL. His 14 power-play goals tied for third in the league. In 1,186 career
games,
Selanne ranks 17th in all-time goals (606), 56th in all-time assists (654)
and
35th in all-time points (1,260).

Continue reading “Ducks 7, Oilers 2.” »

Selanne, Getzlaf ‘questionable’ for Wednesday.

The good news for the Ducks is that the injuries to Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne aren’t as serious as they could have been, considering neither was able to finish Sunday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

The bad news is, with the team’s playoff hopes leaving them in the position of having to win nearly every game remaining, both forwards are questionable for Wednesday’s game against Chicago.

An MRI exam Monday revealed a slight sprain in Selanne’s left shoulder. He will be evaluated again tomorrow morning and is currently listed as day-to-day. Getzlaf also had an MRI on his sprained left ankle, which revaled inflammation in the area but no further damage. He is also day-to-day.

Meanwhile enforcer George Parros, who was struck by a puck in Sunday’s morning skate, sustained a “contusion/laceration” on the side of his head and is likely to practice tomorrow and be available Wednesday.

The Ducks have recalled forward Kyle Calder from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Calder collected no goals and two assists in 14 games with Anaheim earlier this season. With the Marlies, he had 11 goals and 24 points in 31 games.

Parros update.

George Parros was hit in the head by a
deflected puck during today’s morning skate and taken to UCI Medical
Center for precautionary reasons. A team spokesperson reports that tests taken at the hospital were all
normal and Parros was released this afternoon.

He has a
contusion/laceration on the right side of his head, did not play Sunday against San Jose, and is listed as
day-to-day.

Ducks 7, Oilers 3.

The Ducks bounced back nicely against a team that gave them trouble in Anaheim on Wednesday, and Ryan Getzlaf made a statement in his return from an ankle injury.

Getzlaf, whose status for Team Canada in the Olympics was in jeopardy after hurting his ankle against the Kings on Monday, scored two goals and assisted on two others for the Ducks.

Saku Koivu, Scott Niedermayer, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and George Parros also scored goals for the Ducks. Teemu Selanne had a pair of assists and Jonas Hiller made 23 saves in goal. He had a much easier night than counterpart Jeff Deslauriers, who faced 46 shots and could easily have given up more than seven goals.

The Ducks head to the Olympic break with a 30-25-7 record with 19 games left in the regular season. They’re two points back of Calgary for eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

Sharks 5, Ducks 2.

The gap between first and last in the Pacific Division isn’t getting any smaller, literally or figuratively.


The Ducks are now a full 16 points behind the first-place San Jose Sharks after losing 5-2 on Saturday, their second loss in San Jose in the last nine days. Unlike in their 4-1 loss at HP Pavilion on Dec. 17, in which they kept it close early then fell behind late, the Ducks were outworked early and often, falling behind 5-0 with six minutes still to play in the middle period.

Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere stuck this one out after getting hit hard, allowing goals to Patrick Marleau (twice), Dany Heatley, Ryane Clowe and Jamie McGinn. Kyle Chipchura and Bobby Ryan scored in the second and third periods, respectively, to turn a blowout into a mere downer.

Chipchura scored his second goal of the season, and second as a Duck, by checking former Duck Kent Huskins to the ice, stealing the puck, and skating in unobstructed with 1:04 left in the second period.

Ryan had to work a little harder for his 17th goal of the season, crashing the net for the rebound of a Corey Perry shot, then whacking it in between the legs of Evgeni Nabokov (32 saves) at 4:39 of the third period.

Ryan Getzlaf left the game in the second period after sustaining a cut on his leg in traffic, but color analyst Brian Hayward said after the game that the injury isn’t serious.

Duck killer Joe Thornton had three assists and Sharks captain Rob Blake added two. George Parros, Chipchura, and Matt Beleskey all dropped the gloves for the Ducks, fighting Frazer McLaren, Scott Nichol and Jed Ortmeyer, respectively.

The Ducks (15-16-7) return home to face the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night at Honda Center.

Getzlaf chosen for players’ committee.

Ryan Getzlaf was the youngest of five players chosen Wednesday to sit on an NHLPA search committee to find a new Executive Director. Getzlaf, 24, joins Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Rafalski, Mathieu Schneider and Brian Rolston on the committee. George Parros is the Ducks’ player representative to the players’ associtation.

Here’s the full release by the NHLPA:

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Executive Board announced today that it has appointed Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks), Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), Brian Rolston (New Jersey Devils) and Mathieu Schneider (Vancouver Canucks) to constitute a committee tasked with conducting a search for the new NHLPA Executive Director.

This committee will develop appropriate criteria for the candidate search and, after consultation with the members of the Executive Board, initiate the search process to identify potential candidates for the position of NHLPA Executive Director.


Statement from Search Committee Members: “We look forward to beginning the process to select a new Executive Director to lead the NHLPA. We appreciate the significance of the responsibility that the Executive Board has entrusted us with. We are determined to recommend a person as the next NHLPA Executive Director who understands the challenges the union will face; is committed to building the unity that the task requires; understands that the job is to represent all players throughout the membership; and who can secure and maintain the trust and confidence of the entire membership.”


The Executive Board previously voted, without objection, to authorize the Search Committee to work with Donald Fehr, the former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Mr. Fehr recently stepped down as MLBPA Executive Director, a position he held since December 1983.


“These players recognize that this is a critical process, the outcome of which will affect all current and future NHLPA members,” said Fehr. “I am confident that they will discharge this responsibility in the thoughtful, careful and deliberate manner that the circumstances require. I very much look forward to working with the members of the committee.”


The Search Committee will begin its work promptly. The committee will not be making further comment on the search at this time.

Parros’ annual haircut is today.

Today’s the day.

George Parros will cut his hair to support the fight against cancer at the third annual George Parros Cut for the Kids at 4:30 p.m. at The Rinks Huntington Beach Inline.

Professional hairstylists from SportClips are volunteering to to shear the enforcer’s mighty locks. Parros will be available following his haircut until 7:30 p.m. for pictures and autographs for a $10 suggested donation to the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Childhood Leukemia Foundation.

Black Friday, black moustache.

‘Tis the season to shop for facial hair.

‘Stache Gear, a new apparel line created by Ducks right wingGeorge Parros, debuted Friday exclusively at the Anaheim Ducks Team Store at Honda Center.

At the conclusion of today’s game against the Blackhawks, Parros was set to join Ducks fans at the store (located on the East side of the building) in celebration of his original line of hats and t-shirts for both men and women. All proceeds from the ‘Stache Gear line will benefit two charities close to Parros’ heart: the Childhood Leukemia Foundation and Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids.

More details at AnaheimDucks.com.

The latest on the Ducks’ injuries, and how they’re affecting the lineup.

Petteri Nokelainen probably summed it up best.


“I play with whoever they put me out to play with,” he said, “Right now it looks like we’re playing with everybody right now, especially when we’re two guys short in the middle.”

Those two guys — centers Saku Koivu and Ryan Carter — didn’t take part in a full practice Tuesday with their teammates. Koivu at least attempted to start, after skating for a half-hour on his own, but lasted about 15 minutes before walking off the ice. Carter, who bruised his foot in Columbus when it absorbed a teammate’s shot in practice, didn’t skate at all.

Continue reading “The latest on the Ducks’ injuries, and how they’re affecting the lineup.” »