Tighter Game Noticeable

The NHL appears to be serious about having its officials call a tighter game in the hopes of encouraging more offense and enhancing scoring.

A number of hooking and interference penalties were whistled Saturday night in the Kings’ 4-2 exhibition victory over the Mighty Ducks at Staples Center. Throw in a few fights between the Southland rivals and an astonishing 36 penalties were called totaling 125 minutes.

“We expected that,” Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said. “We watched all the other box scores noting that a lot of penalties were being called. The standard is a difficult one when it’s your first game.

“The mandate is they’re going uphold that standard. I think we have to be prepared for that.”

The Ducks converted only one of 11 power-play opportunities.

Forward Teemu Selanne joked that he hardly got on the ice in the second period because they were mostly killing penalties.

“It’s kind of hard when you don’t get into a rhythm out there,” Selanne said. “There’s so many broken plays and right when you get momentum, you’re going to get a penalty.”

*

It isn’t the multiyear deal he sought but defenseman Ruslan Salei said he had no problem signing the one-year, $1.824-million contract the team offered him in August as a restricted free agent.

General Manager Brian Burke has said he would like to resume negotiations on a multiyear extension after Jan. 1, when the team can sign Salei without it counting against the salary cap this season.

Salei, 30, can become an unrestricted free agent after the season but he said his first option is to remain with the Ducks.