Selanne Is Being a Patient Patient

The Mighty Ducks were hoping injured forward Teemu Selanne would return to the lineup tonight against the New York Rangers. But Selanne, who has a strained right thigh, did not skate in Tuesday’s practice and said he will not play tonight.

“It hurts when I get treatment, so I haven’t even thought about skating,” Selanne said. “I don’t want to take any chances and risk being out longer. I want to be 100% when I come back.”

That the Ducks have won two of the three games he has missed, scoring eight goals in the process, has made it easy for Selanne to make certain his leg is completely healed.

“If we had lost all three, I would think differently and not be as smart,” he said. “I would try to rush it.”

Coach Craig Hartsburg says he is not overly concerned about having one of his top scorers on the shelf. Selanne has seven goals and eight assists.

“He’s getting better, but he is not ready to play,” Hartsburg said. “ “He should be ready by the end of the week.”

TONIGHT

N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Sports West 2

Site--The Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 6-6-4, Rangers 4-7-5.

Record vs. Rangers (1997-98)--1-0-1.

Update--This may be the last swing west for 37-year-old Wayne Gretzky. The Rangers play the Ducks tonight, the Kings Thursday and don’t return this season. But people will believe that when it actually happens. “I just know I’m going to be retired and Wayne is still going to be playing somewhere,” Duck goalie Guy Hebert said. Gretzky has two goals and 13 assists this season.