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BOX SCORE
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Teemu Selanne didn't really have to play
in a meaningless game that ended the regular season for the
playoff-bound San Jose Sharks.
And he wouldn't have, if it had been scheduled anywhere but the
Pond.
Selanne's teammates made certain his return to Anaheim on Sunday
was a triumphant one. Alexander Korolyuk scored twice in the third
period and Bill Lindsay had three assists in a 4-1 victory over the
Mighty Ducks.
"It was pretty exciting for me. But there was nothing on the
line in this game, so I just wanted to get it over with," said
Selanne, who played 17 shifts totaling more than 16½ minutes and
had only one shot. "If this game was somewhere else, I probably
would stay out. It was like an All-Star game. You just wanted to
make sure you stayed healthy."
The Sharks, who already clinched fifth place in the Western
Conference standings with the point they gleaned from Saturday's
overtime loss against Dallas, were thinking about resting Selanne
for their first-round playoff rematch with the St. Louis Blues –
whom they upset last year in a seven-game series.
But common sense prevailed, and the seven-time All-Star suited
up after an advance sale at the box office produced only the third
sellout of the season at the Pond.
Several hundred seats remained empty on "Fan Appreciation
Day," as the Ducks management saluted Selanne with a 60-second
video tribute before the National Anthem.
In some respects, it was a bit belated. In the Ducks' first home
game after the trade, highlights of Selanne's goal and two assists
against Los Angeles were edited out of the highlight package that
was shown on the main scoreboard.
"Some of my buddies on the team told me about it, and I
laughed," recalled Selanne, who was traded for Jeff Friesen,
goalie Steve Shields and a draft pick on March 5. "So today was
really a surprise."
Selanne, who had 225 goals and 257 assists in 394 games with the
Ducks, responded to the applause from the crowd by raising his
stick and forcing a smile. He then earned an assist on Stephane
Matteau's goal – just 35 seconds after lining up at right wing next
to Friesen for the opening faceoff.
Bryan Marchment also scored for the Sharks, who finished the
regular season with a winning record for the first time in their
10-year history. They were fifth in the Western Conference
standings with a 40-30-12 mark, including three overtime losses.
Goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, making his first NHL start, stopped
Anaheim's first 22 shots before Oleg Tverdovsky scored with 1:52
remaining.
Center Vincent Damphousse, who was leading the Sharks with 46
points when he dislocated his left shoulder on Jan. 15 against
Detroit, returned to the lineup after missing 37 games.
"I got the jitters out after the second or third shift,"
Damphousse said. "It was my first experience coming back from a
long injury, but I've been in the league long enough."
The Ducks, getting a chance to avoid finishing last in the
Western Conference by virtue of Minnesota's home loss to Colorado,
squandered it and ended their season 25-46-11 – including five
overtime defeats and a club-record eight shutout losses. The 25
victories were one fewer than the previous club low, set in
1997-98.
"This team is very able to compete for a playoff spot next
year, no doubt about it," Tverdovsky said. "I guaranteed you that
next year is going to be a totally different season. The biggest
area we have to improve in is playing team hockey. We have to learn
how to pull together in good times and bad times."
Game notes
Selanne and former Anaheim linemate Paul Kariya, who formed
the NHL's highest-scoring tandem last season, both finished with 33
goals. Kariya played seven fewer games than Selanne, who had eight
goals in his final eight games. ... The three sellouts at the Pond
this season – including two against Los Angeles – marked the fewest
in the Ducks' eight-year history. ... The Sharks were 13-18-6 in
Damphousse's absence, including all three of their overtime
defeats. Damphousse still led the team with 37 assists. ... The
Sharks were 22-0-1 when they led after two periods.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
San Jose Clubhouse
Anaheim Clubhouse
RECAPS
Pittsburgh 6
Carolina 4
Colorado 4
Minnesota 2
Philadelphia 2
Buffalo 1
Columbus 4
Chicago 3
Washington 2
Tampa Bay 1
San Jose 4
Anaheim 1
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