Ducks Have One Goal Left

Escape from the cellar. That’s about all the Mighty Ducks have left to play for as their season of discontent nears its end.

The Ducks crossed off almost everything else on their to-do list after Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in front of an announced 17,174 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

Ensure Teemu Selanne scores his franchise-record 52nd goal. Check.

Make a commitment to a youth movement. Check.

Avoid a last-place finish in the Western Conference.

Well, that’s a work in progress.

By rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Oilers, the Ducks moved into 12th place. Steve Rucchin’s fourth goal in four games, at 11:01 of the third period, completed the Ducks’ comeback.

Video replay washed out an apparent goal by Edmonton’s Roman Hamrlik with 41 seconds left in the game as the Ducks escaped with their ninth victory in 11 games against the Oilers. Edmonton’s Ryan Smyth was ruled in the crease.

Selanne sealed the victory by scoring a goal, his NHL-leading 52nd, into an empty net with seven seconds left.

“It’s been a very disappointing year, one of those years you just try to forget about right away,” said Selanne, who played despite missing two days of practice because of the stomach flu. “We have to start building for the future right away [in the off-season]. We have to fix the problems.”

General Manager Jack Ferreira has asked Selanne for his input. They don’t plan to talk about the future until the season ends, but rest assured Selanne has plenty of advice.

“There are a lot of different things we’re going to go through after the year is over,” Selanne said. “We’re going to try to have a good ending. We want to play for ourselves and finish with a good feeling.”

It wasn’t easy once the Ducks’ winless streak climbed to five (0-3-2) after Sunday’s 3-3 tie against the Calgary Flames. Wednesday’s victory was the Ducks’ first since defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2, March 25.

“It’s not going be easy to try to stay positive,” Selanne said. “[But] I don’t think it’s that bad. I think management knows we need some more players. They know what they’re going to do.”

The Ducks seemed desperate for help in the game’s first five minutes Wednesday.

Smyth and Scott Fraser scored power-play goals to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead only 5:24 into the game.

But the Ducks rallied to tie the score, 2-2, going into the pivotal third period.

Tomas Sandstrom’s goal cut the deficit to one goal at 10:18 of the first period. Josef Marha’s goal tied the score, 2-2, at 14:21 of the second period.

Marha received a huge assist from Edmonton goalie Curtis Joseph.

Joseph moved out of the crease to play the puck, but Marha knocked the puck off his stick to score.

“Marha has played two or three years in the minors,” Coach Pierre Page said. “He’s served his apprenticeship. As Pat Riley would say, ‘It’s time to shine.’ ”