Selanne’s Scoring Touch Is a Gift

Teemu Selanne doesn’t actually score all the Mighty Ducks’ goals, it only seems that way at the moment. He’s on such a tear teammates are now giving him goals.

Selanne’s goal-scoring streak reached a franchise-record six games with two more in the Ducks’ 3-0 victory Thursday over the Boston Bruins at FleetCenter.

That’s nine goals in six games, enabling Selanne to tie Philadelphia’s John LeClair for the league lead with 10.

One of the two against the Bruins came gift-wrapped. Scott Young originally was credited with the Ducks’ first goal on what appeared to be a deflection past Bruin goaltender Byron Dafoe on Selanne’s slap shot from the left faceoff circle.

But Young told anyone willing to listen that he never touched the puck, and by game’s end the goal was awarded to Selanne.

“I told Teemu, ‘I don’t think I touched it,’ ” Young said.

Selanne could only smile and shrug at his continued good fortune after the Ducks remained unbeaten through the first four games (2-0-2) of their five-game trip.

“When you’re hot, you’re hot,” said Selanne, who scored the game-tying goal Tuesday against Toronto when a shot ricocheted off his head.

There was no such dumb luck involved on his second goal Thursday--merely speed and skill.

Taking a pass from Joe Sacco at the blue line, Selanne raced around Boston defenseman Dean Malkoc and lifted a wrist shot over Dafoe to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead at the 12:33 mark of the third period.

Sean Pronger converted a rebound at the 2:22 mark of the second period for the Ducks’ other goal.

Selanne’s second goal proved to be a backbreaker for the defense-oriented Bruins. That it came against designated shadow Malkoc also seemed to suit Selanne fine.

“There is not so much room out there without Paul [Kariya, an unsigned free agent],” Selanne said. “They can play physical against me and that’s fine. I have to get used to it.”

Malkoc made a pest of himself early in the game, dumping Selanne along the boards and igniting first-period fights with Warren Rychel and Mark Janssens.

The fights also led to an angry exchange between the coaching staffs, but tempers quickly cooled. By the third period, Malkoc couldn’t keep pace and Selanne broke in alone against Dafoe.

“He’s really showing everyone what he’s all about,” center Steve Rucchin said. “Especially with Paul not here, he’s the only real sniper we’ve got. With guys marking him [physically] like that, he’s doing an unbelievable job.”

Perhaps the only player to measure up to Selanne’s performance was goalie Guy Hebert, who recorded his 14th career shutout by stopping all 25 shots he faced.

Hebert got a bit of help on the Bruins’ best scoring chance when Boston’s Ted Donato put a backhander off the left post on a breakaway off the opening faceoff of the third period.

“We couldn’t buy a goal,” Boston Coach Pat Burns said. “Their goals were timely and we couldn’t get one past Hebert.”

The victory, which moved the Ducks past the .500 mark (5-4-4) for the first time this season, lacked the late-game tension of Saturday’s victory over the Islanders or ties against the Rangers and Toronto on Sunday and Tuesday.

But it might have been their best hockey of the trip.

“We were real stingy,” Rychel said. “We know we’re missing some firepower [because of Kariya’s absence] and we stepped it up defensively. No matter what happens now, it’s been a good trip. If we win Sunday, it will be a great trip.”

The Ducks get their second crack at the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on Sunday at Joe Louis Arena. The first game went decisively to the Red Wings, 4-1, last week in Anaheim.

“Sunday will be totally different from this game,” Selanne said. “Detroit has such a great team. We have to play so well to beat them. We have to play smart and believe in ourselves.

“We know were not as good a hockey team when Paul is not here. Every player has to step up and do their job.”