First shot is nothing but net

It might have been hockey’s closest equivalent to hitting a home run on the first pitch in the major leagues.

With his parents in the Honda Center for his first NHL game last Saturday, Ducks rookie Curtis Glencross gave them a moment to remember as he scored on his first shot against the Colorado Avalanche.

There’s no official statistics kept on players scoring goals on their first shot in the league, but it’s a rare feat.

Glencross was quick to credit Ryan Getzlaf with the centering pass that led to the goal.

“The guys were saying that there’s not many guys that have ever scored in the NHL on their first shot,” he said. “I just got a good shot off.”

Glencross had been called up 24 hours before the game from the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate in Portland, Maine. A former college standout at Alaska Anchorage, the 24-year-old undrafted free agent had five goals and 15 points in 30 games with the Pirates.

From the moment since his call-up, Glencross’ cellphone has been busy.

“Everybody was calling me the night before,” he said. “I was real nervous.”

*

The Ducks sent winger Bjorn Melin back to Portland. Melin scored a goal in his NHL debut last week against Detroit but didn’t record a point in two other games.

Melin was a healthy scratch the last two games after having two front teeth knocked out on a hit by Dallas defenseman Philippe Boucher.

*

The two principal players sent to Edmonton in the trade for Chris Pronger have struggled somewhat with the Oilers.

Right wing Joffrey Lupul, who had 41 goals in two seasons with the Ducks, has 13 goals but is also a team-worst minus-16 in 46 games.

Rookie defenseman Ladislav Smid, the Ducks’ top pick in 2004, has five assists while averaging nearly 18 minutes a game.

Pronger, who was booed heavily in his return to Edmonton on Nov. 28, won’t be around this time.

He is out because of a broken left foot.

TONIGHT

at Edmonton, 6, Ch. 56

Site -- Rexall Place.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 30-10-8; Oilers 22-20-4.

Record vs. Oilers -- 2-0-0.

Update -- Results on defenseman Francois Beauchemin’s tests to examine his spleen won’t be available until today. Beauchemin has been out since Dec. 26 when he collided with San Jose captain Patrick Marleau.

eric.stephens@latimes.com