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Selanne Is on Course for Second 50-Goal Season

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Teemu Selanne is seven goals from reaching the 50-goal mark for the second time in his five-year NHL career.

Will he get there? Considering that he has six goals in the last four games and there are 14 games left, he probably will. (Over the past 14 games, Selanne has 12 goals.)

Selanne scored an NHL rookie-record 76 goals during the 1992-93 season, but this is the first time he has scored more than 40 since.

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He scored his 43rd Wednesday against Detroit and is on a pace to score 52. Teammate Paul Kariya scored 50 last season, but has 34 this season after missing 13 games because of injuries.

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The timing of the Ducks’ hot streak is strikingly similar to last season.

The Ducks were unbeaten in seven games from March 8-24, 1996.

This season’s streak started Feb. 22.

“I’ve got a bunch of guys who have always been their best in the second half of the season,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “Guy [Hebert] has always been a second-half goaltender. There’s Joe Sacco.

“Maybe I’m just a second-half coach?” Wilson said. “Maybe I am, I don’t know.”

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Winger Warren Rychel required stitches on his nose after being high-sticked by Bob Rouse at the end of the first period. . . . Forward J.F. Jomphe, bothered by an abdominal strain, sat out a second consecutive game. . . . Right wing Roman Oksiuta was scratched for the 11th consecutive game and the 41st game this season.

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