Selanne Likes Trend on Calls

Teemu Selanne has had no problem with the number of penalties that have been called in the Stanley Cup playoffs thus far. In fact, he is encouraged by the tightness with which referees have called games.

“They are calling everything again,” Selanne said. “They were calling it differently the last 10-15 games of the [regular] season. They were letting things go.”

There were 30 penalties called in the first two games of the series, with Calgary having 17 power plays and the Ducks 11.

Both teams scored power-play goals in the first period Tuesday.

“All you want is for the referees to be consistent,” Flame Coach Darryl Sutter said.

The regular season saw a jump in scoring by an average of one goal per game, partly attributed to the enforcement of obstruction rules. The NHL’s hierarchy made a point to stress to continue enforcement of the rules during the playoffs.

“I guess that’s good,” the Ducks’ Rob Niedermayer said. “If they’re happy with how the rules affect the game, then they shouldn’t let up on it. I agree with that.

“Hopefully they’ve learned from the past. Things have been changed before and found their way back. You got to make a concerted effort to stay with it if you want to make it happen. Obviously at this time of the year, this is where you want to make the most effort to continue with it and make the calls.”

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Mike Leclerc returned to the scene of his last playoff experience, when he was a key player in the Ducks’ run to the 2003 Stanley Cup finals. This time, though, he wore the opponent’s sweater.

Leclerc, traded to Phoenix before the season, was acquired by the Flames in February. He played in Game 2 but was scratched for Tuesday’s game.

“Sitting on the other side is going to be a different feeling,” Leclerc said.

He had two goals and 11 points during the Ducks’ run to the finals in 2003.

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It seems that everyone else is convinced that Duck center Samuel Pahlsson has a lot more offense in him than the man himself. Pahlsson scored eight of his career-high 11 goals in the regular season after winning an Olympic gold medal with Sweden.

Selanne said Pahlsson has been a different player since the Olympics and deserves to be mentioned as a candidate for the Selke Trophy given to the league’s top defensive forward.

Pahlsson said he has never thought about awards.

“I’d love to [win],” he said. “Probably need to score a lot more. I think I’ve been trying a little bit more offensively.”

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Joe DiPenta was a longshot to make the team in training camp. The 27-year-old career minor leaguer was given an opportunity because he played for Duck Coach Randy Carlyle when the two were in Manitoba last year in the American Hockey League.

DiPenta not only made the team but took advantage of Sandis Ozolinsh’s problems with injuries and substance abuse to play in 72 games and cement a regular role on the blue line alongside Vitaly Vishnevski.

“He’s basically outplayed [everyone] and earned his opportunity to stay here,” Carlyle said.

DiPenta said: “This is a reward for not only this season, but for me, all the workouts growing up. It’s definitely a reward for a lot of hard work.”