Ducks Are Back, Some Fans Are Too

There may be different people sitting in the owner’s box or behind the bench, but the sight of hockey Wednesday night was a comforting feeling for Mighty Duck fans returning to Arrowhead Pond for the first time since the NHL lockout.

The Ducks’ 2-1 exhibition loss to San Jose in a shootout was the first home game since April 4, 2004 against the Calgary Flames. In that time, the organization has undergone an extensive makeover from the top on down.

But the sight of Teemu Selanne back in a Duck sweater, albeit in something other than his familiar No. 8, made some of the team’s longtime season-ticket holders feel right at home.

“A lot of it just feels familiar,” said Diane Roe of Long Beach. “It almost feels the same since before the lockout. It’s just good to be back here.”

There have been many changes in the last 17 months. Disney sold the team to Irvine-based software magnate Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan.

Brian Burke took over as the general manager after a six-year stint in the same capacity with the Vancouver Canucks.

Burke hired Randy Carlyle as coach after watching Mike Babcock take a better offer to coach the Detroit Red Wings and pulled off impact moves by signing defenseman Scott Niedermayer and reacquiring fan favorite Selanne.

The changes have been greeted by optimisim by most fans.

“It does feel a lot different but I think it’s going to come together,” said Laura Dayton of Placentia. “I think we can have an exciting team.”

Roe disliked the trading of former captain Steve Rucchin to the New York Rangers but “we still have guys like Rusty [defenseman Ruslan Salei]. And it’s nice to see Teemu back.”

Dayton, who has had season tickets to the Ducks and the Kings for years, said she was one of many who moved on to other things during the long lockout.

Dayton has no hard feelings.

“Things had gotten out of control in terms of the salaries,” she said. “Something had to happen. After a while, it wasn’t really players versus owners. It became agents versus agents. I’m just glad it’s back.”

The Ducks received a warm welcome from the announced crowd of 9,262. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere looked in midseason form, stopping 33 of 34 shots in regulation and overtime.

Selanne said it felt good to be back at the Pond in a Duck uniform.

“I’ve always had a pretty special relationship with the fans,” said Selanne, who now wears No. 13. “I think I always try to treat people well and I expect them to treat me well. So I think there’s some kind of connection.”

Several rule changes are designed to enhance scoring, and a shootout will be used to break ties during the regular season.

To get fans and teams used to it, shootouts are taking place after every exhibition game. Marco Sturm won the game for San Jose on the Sharks’ third try while the Ducks missed all three of their breakaway shots against goalie Vesa Toskala.

Some things with the Ducks didn’t change. Despite the promise of a wide-open offensive attack. their only goal came from forward Todd Fedoruk midway through the second period.

Nevertheless, the shootout appeared to be a winner, with the fans on their feet in drawing the loudest noise of the game.

“Obviously the players missed the game and certainly the fans do as well,” Duck defenseman Keith Carney said.