Selanne Wants Fair Deal on Calls

Teemu Selanne smiled when a reporter mentioned Brett Hull’s name Tuesday. He was aware of all Hull had to say last week about non-penalized hooking, holding and tripping against skilled players.

“I think he’s right,” Selanne said of Hull, an outspoken right wing for the St. Louis Blues.

“He’s got a point. I think he wants to speak out because there are a lot of guys who won’t speak out. He loves the game and wants to make it better. I think that’s what he’s trying to do. If you just say it quietly, you don’t get heard. When you say it loudly, and it comes from a star player, people listen more closely.”

As does Hull, Selanne believes the league should soon address the increase in restraining fouls that go unpunished.

“I think they should form a team of refs, players and GMs to work with the rules to decide what can and can’t be done,” Selanne said. “It needs to be a small unit to work out something. It’s not going to work to just send out a memo or something to the refs [instructing them to call more obstruction penalties].”

Selanne said he doesn’t mind facing physical opponents, but added, “If they play hard or tough against you that’s fine. You can accept that. When they play dirty, that’s something different.”

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The Ducks are 3-2-1 since the All-Star break and coming off an emotional, 4-3, overtime victory Sunday over the Chicago Blackhawks, but Coach Pierre Page believes they can do better.

“We’ve played too many games without emotion to know we’ve got to prepare ourselves better emotionally for each game,” Page said.

TONIGHT

Anaheim vs. N.Y. Rangers

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

Radio--KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350), KPLS (830).

Records--Ducks 18-27-9, Rangers 17-22-15.

Record vs. Rangers--0-0-1.

Update--Wayne Gretzky has eight assists during a seven-game scoring streak and has 41 assists this season to lead the Rangers. Gretzky and Pat LaFontaine are tied for the team lead with 54 points. Tim Sweeney, the Ducks’ fourth-leading scorer in their inaugural season in 1993-94, has 10 goals and 22 points for New York.