Ducks get three in a flurry to beat Oilers, 4-2

Good morning, Helsinki.

Considering it was the wee morning hours in Finland, it was doubtful that one NHL legend was kicking back watching the likes of Edmonton-Anaheim streaming live, or specifically, one sprightly 41-year-old.

It’s been so many times that Teemu Selanne has been in the same conversation with his idol and countryman Jari Kurri. Now they share company in an entry in the NHL record books.

Selanne’s assist in the third period on Bobby Ryan’s breakaway goal in the Ducks’ 4-2 win against the Oilers on Monday night was his 1,398th career point, tying him with Kurri in 19th place on the NHL’s career scoring list.

The Ducks scored three third-period goals to seal the victory, putting them five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference race. San Jose is in eighth place with 73 points and the Ducks have 68.

Corey Perry scored twice in the third, hitting the 200-goal career plateau with the first and scoring No. 201 with 1:14 remaining to make it 4-2.

Goalie Jonas Hiller faced 36 shots in making his 26th consecutive start, extending a club record.

But on Monday at Honda Center, the individual accolades belonged to Selanne.

“Jari was my idol when I was growing up,” Selanne said. “His picture was on my wall and everything. I learned a lot of different things from that and off the ice from him. Later, we became very good friends. It’s very special. Obviously I would never imagine I would have as many points as Jari Kurri.

“... I’m not really a numbers guy, but obviously any time I’m going to be tied or be at the same company as my childhood idol, it’s a big thing.”

This stood above the other milestones Selanne has hit in his career.

“Obviously every milestone is huge, but Jari is Jari and it’s more special than any other,” he said.

Said Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau: “We were just talking about how amazing — when you think how old the NHL is — and he is 19th highest scoring in the history of the league. That pretty well says it all. He’s a pretty special player and first ballot Hall of Famer.”

Selanne’s assisted goal came at an especially pivotal moment in the game. Edmonton outshot the Ducks, 22-8, in the second period and the Ducks were lucky to be tied, 1-1, after 40 minutes.

Ryan’s goal made it 2-1, at 8:09 as Selanne hit him perfectly for the breakaway and Ryan went to his backhand and beat Oilers’ goalie Nikolai Khabibulin as he was falling to the ice.

“I came in behind the play because it was a weird change” by the Oilers, Ryan said. “They were selling the farm there a little bit with four guys on the rush all night.

“I wasn’t sure if Teemu was going to see me, but he put it in the perfect place to skate right into it and not lose any speed. And the rest was just trying to make a move I’m comfortable making.”

After the Ducks’ shoddy play in the second period, the players were expecting Boudreau to unload on them with some tough words in the dressing room.

Not so.

“I was expecting it,” Ryan said, smiling. “But he came in … he’s been pretty cordial. He knows how to rein guys in and calm guys down.

“There was the sense of panic, a little bit, between periods. Our leaders stepped up and said the right thing. And I think he got a big response in the third period from everybody.”

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

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