Selanne Wants Teammates to Step Up

There’s nothing like a bitter rivalry to get the heart pumping and the legs moving. In other words, a game against the Phoenix Coyotes could be what the Ducks need to snap out of their four-game winless funk.

“We have to have passion,” right wing Teemu Selanne said.

It has been sadly lacking while the Ducks have gone 0-3-1. The Ducks certainly went through the motions for long stretches during a 4-1 loss Friday to the San Jose Sharks.

Instead of locking up fifth place in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup against the Coyotes, the Ducks are in a downward spiral that could take them as low as seventh in the standings.

If the Ducks finish fifth, they will play Phoenix. If they finish sixth or seventh, they’ll either play Colorado or Detroit.

“If we can’t play consistently with passion and excitement, it’s going to be hard to win,” Selanne said. “We need to get that feeling back. Everybody should know how to get ready to play. It’s everybody’s responsibility to be prepared.”

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Here’s a quote, now see if you can guess the speaker.

“I’m not often disappointed by my team, but tonight I was certainly disappointed. We had no killer instinct, very little second effort and certainly no desperation. We played in spurts, but emotion and intensity wasn’t there.”

It certainly sounds like one of Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg’s recent postgame speeches.

But it was actually from Phoenix Coach Jim Schoenfeld, who was speaking to reporters after the Coyotes squandered a 2-0 lead in a 4-3 loss Friday to the expansion Nashville Predators.

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 5

Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 34-32-12, Coyotes 38-28-12.

* Record vs. Coyotes--2-1-2.

* Update--Not only have the Ducks failed to win any of their last four games, but they haven’t held a lead since defeating the New York Rangers, 4-1, April 2. The Ducks could finish with a losing record if they lose their final four games. They need three victories to top their franchise record of 36 set in 1996-97. The Ducks’ final four games are tonight against Phoenix, Wednesday against St. Louis at the Pond, Thursday against the Kings at the Great Western Forum and Saturday at San Jose. The Ducks lead the all-time series against the Coyotes, 14-9-2, including 8-3-1 at the Pond.

Tickets--(714) 740-2000.