Selanne Credits Therapy

Teemu Selanne scored a first-period goal with the Ducks on the power play Friday against the New York Islanders. It extended his goal-scoring streak to three games and his point streak to five games.

Not surprisingly, Selanne’s hot streak has coincided with his return to fitness after limping through almost a month because of a strained right thigh.

Fed up with a string of poor showings because his injured thigh wouldn’t let him reach top speed, Selanne sought help two weeks ago.

Friday, he give all the credit for his return to form to Joseph Donohue, a Newport Beach physical therapist who worked with Selanne six hours a day Dec. 5 and 6.

Selanne also planned to spend Dec. 7 with Donohue, but after skating briefly on his own, the all-star right wing decided to join his teammates for practice that day. He has been flying ever since.

“Right now, I don’t even remember the injury,” Selanne said. “[Friday] is the first time [since the Nov. 11 injury] I don’t have to spend time in the training room. I don’t have to ice down 10 times a day.”

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Matt Cullen probably could have played Friday, but it was decided it would be better to rest his sprained right ankle. He is expected to play Monday against the Colorado Avalanche.

“At this point, there’s still a chance he could re-injure it,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “He could turn it so easily. Or could hurt himself in a scrum along the boards.”

Said Cullen: “I really can’t push off [while skating] or turn real sharp. I can’t really do much.”

Asked when he hurt himself during a 6-1 victory Wednesday over the Nashville Predators, Cullen laughed and said, “The first shift after my big brawl.”

Cullen’s “brawl” was actually a first-period wrestling match with Nashville’s Bob Boughner. The players each received roughing penalties.

It was the first game Cullen missed since spending a three-game stint last month with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. He has one goal and three assists in his last seven games.