Peca Hit Rankles Selanne

Duck winger Teemu Selanne and Buffalo Sabre center Michael Peca have had their share of run-ins during their careers.

The latest happened Tuesday at Marine Midland Arena, and Selanne seethed about it at game’s end. With the score tied, 2-2, in the opening minutes of overtime, Peca took Selanne off his skates with a low check.

Selanne, furious at Peca, chased the Buffalo captain to his bench and began jawing with him and several Sabres, picking up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The Ducks survived the short-handed situation and happily settled for the tie. But Selanne was miffed at Peca, who laid him out several years ago when Selanne played for Winnipeg and Peca was with Vancouver.

“He went right at my knees,” Selanne said of Tuesday’s hit. “It could have been a really serious injury. It’s a joke. It’s the same thing with the hits from behind. If you don’t call them, the guys are just going to keep doing them.”

When he didn’t get any satisfaction from referees Don Van Massenhoven and Tim Peel, Selanne began screaming at Peca.

Asked if he believed Selanne’s anger stemmed from the hit years ago, Peca said, “Oh, yeah.”

Asked if Selanne complained about the earlier check, Peca added, “No. I think we’re working on some new stuff.”

*

Right wing Jeff Nielsen did not play because of a knee injury suffered in Monday’s 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. His status is day to day.