Hard Work Pays Off for Selanne

Forward Teemu Selanne, who is enjoying a career rebirth this season in his return to the Mighty Ducks, is the team’s nomination for the NHL’s Masterton Trophy, which is given to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to hockey.

The award is named for former Minnesota North Star player Bill Masterton, who died of injuries sustained during a game in 1968. Past winners include Steve Yzerman, Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely and Mario Lemieux.

One of the league’s more popular players, Selanne leads the Ducks with 39 goals and 50 assists after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery during the lockout season. The veteran’s play has been a major factor in the Ducks’ run to a Western Conference playoff berth.

“You look at his statistics and the number of games he’s played,” Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said. “The situation specifically about getting his knee redone and rebuilding his body. Committing to the conditioning side of it.

“He’s probably worked harder in that year off at that specific point than at any time he’s ever worked in his life. That’s a statement.”

Hampered by a sore left knee, Selanne had his worst season in 2003-04 when he had career lows of 16 goals and 32 points with Colorado. After playing for Finland in the 2004 World Cup, he contemplated retirement before deciding on major surgery.

Left wing Todd Fedoruk said Selanne’s infectious attitude makes an impression on the club’s younger players.

“He’s a great guy,” Fedoruk said. “Always positive, upbeat. You kind of want to be a guy like that and be part of what he does.”

The winner is selected in a poll of all chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Assn. at the end of the regular season.

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The Ducks will unveil new uniforms during a June 21 news conference that will accompany the change to their simplified nickname that does away with the current Mighty Ducks moniker.

Tim Ryan, the team’s chief operating officer, would not divulge details of a new color scheme or logo but said “we are very close to being done with it.”

With exceptions for various alternate third uniforms over the years, the Ducks have used their current logo and purple, jade and silver color scheme since their inception.

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Success on the power play is often fickle and the Ducks are experiencing how it comes and goes. After going scoreless in four man-advantage situations in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Edmonton, they are one for 13 in the last three games.

The Ducks converted 17 of 46 attempts during a 10-game stretch before the dry spell.

“We’ve got guys in front of the net, but we seem to be struggling with controlling the puck,” forward Joffrey Lupul said. “We’ll just have to adjust and it should be no problem. Our power play’s been part of the reason that we’ve been on such a big run.”

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TODAY

at San Jose, 1:30, Channel 56

Site -- HP Pavilion.

Radio -- 1540.

Records -- Ducks 42-26-12; Sharks 43-26-11.

Record vs. Sharks -- 4-2-1.

Update -- Both teams have been hot since December and are battling to secure the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference playoffs. Shark center Joe Thornton, who is tied with Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers for the NHL lead in scoring with 122 points, is a leading contender for league MVP honors. A big beneficiary is winger Jonathan Cheechoo, second in the league with 53 goals.