Ducks beat Jets in shootout on special night for the Finns

Teemu Selanne’s storybook career as an Anaheim Duck was honored Sunday in a memorable number-retirement ceremony, the evening closing with a fitting ending authored by Selanne’s countryman and former teammate.

The Ducks’ Finnish defenseman Sami Vatanen, in his first NHL shootout attempt, rifled the game-winning shot past Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec, and Anaheim pulled out a 5-4 come-from-behind victory in front of a sold-out Honda Center crowd.

“I have to say I was honored to have the chance to do that thing,� Vatanen said of his sixth-round shootout winner that gave the Ducks a 3-2 margin in the bonus action. “I can say to my grandsons someday that I had the winning goal on Teemu’s night.�

Vatanen, who played alongside Olympic tournament MVP Selanne in last year’s Games in Sochi, Russia, said he was scoreless in seven shootout tries last season with minor-league Norfolk and was told he was next in line by Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau throughout this season, until the promise became reality Sunday.

“I wanted to pick him for a long time and I never did, but I thought Sami as a right-handed guy would be coming in across and … I thought we could beat Pavelec on that side,� Boudreau said, denying he went the sentimental route based on heritage. “That was the only reason.�

Said Vatanen: “And now I got to score in this kind of game? It felt unbelievable. A little bit, maybe, I was nervous before I went. Luckily, I got this one in.�

Selanne’s ceremony, marking the first jersey (No. 8) retired in Ducks history, was also something to cherish.

The tribute included NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, team owners Henry and Susan Samueli, a collection of former teammates, including Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Saku Koivu and Chris Pronger, and team executives.

“This whole journey has been unbelievable,� Selanne told the sellout crowd after taking his spot on stage by walking down an aisle, slapping hands with fans. “I’m so lucky and thankful to have experienced all this.�

Standing atop a black rug on Honda Center ice, a watery-eyed Selanne, his wife, three sons and daughter watched the banner with jersey No. 8 rise slowly to the rafters after a 1,457-point career that included a 2007 Stanley Cup, 457 goals and 531 assists in Anaheim.

The Ducks and Jets then skated out for pregame warmups in all the various versions of No. 8 and 13 jerseys that Selanne wore in Anaheim and Winnipeg, where he was the NHL’s rookie of the year after producing a still-record 76-goal debut season.

Ducks players sat on an area by their bench throughout the nearly two-hour ceremony, and the Jets looked fresher early, jumping to a 3-1 first period lead, with each of the goals set up by rebounds off Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen.

Ducks center Rickard Rakell kept Anaheim in the game with a first-period, power-play goal, and then had assists on a second-period goal by Tim Jackman and a third-period backhanded shot by Kyle Palmieri that gave the Ducks further life after they survived an extended two-man disadvantage.

Rakell was needed again, scoring with 2:03 left in the third, to tie a franchise record for most points by a rookie in a game (four), which was accomplished by Ryan Getzlaf in 2006 and Stanislav Chistov in 2002.

“Feels great, especially when we got the win,� Rakell said after also scoring in the shootout. “Everything was going in today. We really wanted to win this game.�

The Ducks (27-10-6) also set an NHL record for most consecutive home wins by a one-goal margin (discounting losses or ties), with 11 in a row.

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