Selanne Shooting for a Milestone

With a goal or an assist tonight against the Calgary Flames, Teemu Selanne will reach 700 career points. If he gets it, he will become the third-fastest European-born player to reach the milestone.

Peter Stastny, a Slovakian, scored his 700th point in his 456th game. Jari Kurri, a Finn, had his 700th point in his 483rd game. Tonight is Selanne’s 541st game since joining the NHL from his native Finland in 1992.

What’s more, Selanne has an 11-game point streak, his longest since a club-record 17-game streak last season. He has seven goals and 12 assists during his current streak.

Selanne, no doubt, would rather talk about statistics than discuss two weeks worth of rumors that speculate he will be traded to the New Jersey Devils. Selanne groaned when asked about the rumors, which were denied Sunday by Pierre Gauthier, the Ducks’ president and general manager.

“Somebody told me about them,” Selanne said. “I don’t want to pay attention to them. It’s one thing I can’t control. I’ve been very happy here.”

*

A 4-3 victory Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks ended the Ducks’ stretch of seven of eight games on the road. They begin a five-game homestand tonight against the Flames--not that the Arrowhead Pond has been particularly good to the Ducks this season.

The Ducks are 12-12-4 at home, including 0-2-1 in their last three. They are 12-14-4 on the road, including 4-1-2 in their last seven.

“We’ve got to play our best hockey right now at home,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “Our focus has to be there. Hopefully, we’ll get some help from the fans. When our building is full, it’s loud and rocking and it helps us out.”

Trouble is, the Ducks have had only three sellouts in the 17,174-seat Pond this season.

TONIGHT

vs. Calgary

7:30, Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 24-26-8-1, Flames 23-28-6-4.

* Record vs. Flames--1-1.

* Update--Calgary is 0-8-1 in its last nine, including six losses by one goal. Veteran defenseman Phil Housley is undergoing a career revival with the Flames, scoring 10 goals and 39 points. A three-point game Monday (one goal, two assists) helped Duck winger Ted Donato reach the 300-point milestone for his career.

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.