Ducks Defeat Coyotes

Teemu Selanne was a target, a decoy, a goal-scorer, an assist-maker, a checker and the inspirational leader the Mighty Ducks sorely needed Tuesday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Ducks’ 4-3 victory in front of 13,779 featured some of their best all-around hockey this season. To be sure, Selanne had a hand in all of it.

He had a momentum-building goal in the first period and assisted on Sean Pronger’s game-winner in the third. But some of his best work was out of sight--along the boards and in the corners.

“I thought he played a great team game,” Coach Pierre Page said. “He did all the little things to help the team win.”

On the game-winning goal, the Coyotes moved quickly to cover Selanne along the boards, but it proved to be a terrible mistake. Pronger was left alone in the slot and he didn’t miss, giving the Ducks a 4-3 lead at the 2:02 mark of the third period with his first goal of the season.

Selanne’s first-period goal ended a five-game stretch without a goal, tying his longest drought as a Duck. It was three short of the longest slump of his career. If the strain of it was getting to Selanne, it wasn’t showing.

“You’d have to ask him, but I think all the skilled players were putting pressure on themselves,” Page said. “They’ve got to do all the things the others do and still put a finishing touch on scoring chances.”

Said Selanne of his goal: “Oh, for sure it’s a big relief. I’ve had a lot of great scoring chances, but this was one we really needed.”

At first glance, Selanne’s goal seemed as if it would be just another missed opportunity. Pronger slipped a cross-ice pass to Selanne at the right post, but it appeared the play wouldn’t click.

Selanne was a step past the net and was forced to bank his shot off the skate of Phoenix goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin--starting his 50th consecutive game, dating to last season--and into the net at the 17:49 mark.

“I didn’t have an angle there, so I hit the goalie with the shot,” Selanne said. “It was lucky, sure.”

One goal from Selanne, acting as captain while Paul Kariya awaits a new contract from management, appeared to be just what the goal-starved Ducks needed to keep counterpunching with the Coyotes.

“It was great to see him get that one,” Pronger said. “He’s had so many chances, but he just hasn’t been getting the bounces. The rest of his game hasn’t suffered even though the pucks weren’t going in for him.”

Selanne’s willingness to muck and grind in the corners against more physical opposition appeared to help the Ducks bounce back from Sunday’s miserable, 5-2, loss to the New York Islanders.

Two collisions with Phoenix defenseman John Slaney, a former King, gave the Ducks an emotional lift that led to the game-tying goal in the second period. Selanne and Slaney crashed into each other while chasing a loose puck in the left-wing corner. Slaney then belted Selanne upside the head with both fists, drawing an elbowing penalty.

Ted Drury’s first goal of the season didn’t come on the ensuing power play, but his backhander through traffic less than two minutes later tied the score, 3-3, at 14:32 of the second period.

Kevin Todd scored his first of the season to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead 7:06 into the game. Phoenix rookie Brad Isbister’s first NHL goal tied the score at 13:07.

Deron Quint gave the Coyotes a 2-1 lead less than 90 seconds later on a shot from the high slot that deflected off Duck defenseman David Karpa and past goalie Mikhail Shtalenkov.

Selanne’s first goal since opening night tied the score at 2-2. Keith Tkachuk scored for the Coyotes early in the second.

Kings: 3

Islanders: 2

Coach Larry Robinson tries a fresh approach and the result is a victory. C5