Salei Finds a Zone

Ruslan Salei has struggled more than any Mighty Duck player in dealing with the rule changes in the NHL this season, yet the veteran defenseman has played his best hockey in these playoffs.

Salei has largely avoided the penalties that plagued him early in the season while chipping in two goals after scoring one in the 82-game regular season. In 10 playoff games, he is third among all players with a plus-eight rating, which also leads the Ducks.

“Part of what’s happening is he’s found a comfort zone playing with Sean O’Donnell,” Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said.

O’Donnell was acquired at the March 9 trade deadline. Salei had played much of the season with Keith Carney, who was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks.

“We’ve got some chemistry going on with each other,” Salei said of O’Donnell. “We support each other pretty well. The more you play together, the better you get, I think.”

O’Donnell, an 11-year veteran, has encouraged Salei to become more of an offensive threat when he senses opportunity.

“Obviously when the playoffs start, you’ve got to be really careful about giving up an odd-man chance,” O’Donnell said. “But he’s been really smart in the times he’s jumped in.

“I’ve said to him, ‘Any time you have the puck at the blue line and you take a step in, don’t look to pass it to me because I’m going to start backing up just in case.’

“He’s been a help for me and hopefully it’s been a fairly easy adjustment for him.”

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Forward Teemu Selanne accepted the criticism leveled by Carlyle after Game 3 where he and linemates Andy McDonald and Chris Kunitz struggled.

Carlyle said he was expecting more from the line, which combined for 216 points during the regular season.

“He was a little frustrated about a couple of turnovers we made,” Selanne said. “I think we had a lot of good chances. But we can get better. ... He’s the boss.”

McDonald said the offensive contributions from other lines have taken some pressure off.

“It’s too easy for teams to match up with you if you just have one line,” he said. “We’re getting guys to contribute that maybe didn’t have that role during the season. It makes a big difference in what other teams can do against you.”

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Colorado forward Alex Tanguay has only one assist in the first three games and the veteran shouldered part of the blame for his team’s offensive failings.

“I feel like I’ve let the team down by the way I’ve played,” Tanguay said. “I can’t get frustrated about it. Tomorrow’s another chance to step up.”

Tanguay isn’t the only one -- Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk scored their first points of the series Tuesday.

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The Western Hockey League, one of Canada’s three major junior leagues and a prime feeder to the NHL, will conduct its first special evaluation camp in Southern California at Anaheim Ice, the Ducks’ practice facility, from Friday through Sunday.

The prospects camp will feature the top 65 prospects from Southern California who were born in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. The three local teams that recently won national championships -- the L.A. Selects, L.A. Hockey Club and the California Wave -- will be represented. Brian Burke, general manager of the Ducks, is co-owner of a WHL expansion franchise that will begin operations next season, in Chillliwack, Canada.