Ducks’ Teemu Selanne knows where his office space belongs

If Wayne Gretzky once had his “office,� then so does the Ducks’ Teemu Selanne.

Gretzky, in his day, often set up shop behind the net to create offense. Selanne’s power-play “office� frequently has been the left-wing circle. Again, he delivered from there for the game-winning goal early in the third period in the Ducks’ 3-1 win over the Red Wings in Game 1.

“Usually, I have a little bit better angle,� said Selanne on Wednesday in Anaheim after an optional practice. “It was at the end of the power play, so I just decided I’m going to shoot there and hope for the best. That came in my mind right away, even before I got the pass. I don’t know how much time there was left.

“To hold it and try to create something new, I knew there was not much time so that’s why I decided to shoot.�

How many goals has he scored from that area?

“A couple hundred, probably,� he said. “I don’t know. That has been my favorite spot. Lately, I have been more in the middle in the power play. It doesn’t really matter. We know that the power play and the penalty killing is going to be a huge part of our success at any level.�

You had to like the numerology going on Tuesday night at Honda Center. For the 42-year-old Selanne, it was his 42nd playoff goal.

Said the Red Wings’ Henrik Zetterberg: “We know he loves the game a lot. As long as his body is healthy, he will continue to play. He’s still a factor out there. There’s a pretty good chance I’ll see him again next year.�

That’s always the tap dance with Selanne about his future. On Wednesday, the banter with reporters was more about plans for the Olympics next year in Sochi, not his NHL future.

“I said [no] after Salt Lake City, too. So I don’t believe myself any more,� said Selanne, who added that the Vancouver Olympics were his favorite.

Etc.

Quote of the day went to former Ducks coach and current Detroit Coach Mike Babcock. He indicated he was not planning on making changes for Game 2 and then addressed a point about the rookies on his team getting a feel for the tightness of playoff hockey.

“We talked about it before the series started,� Babcock said. “I don’t think you’ve got to get hit by a car to understand it hurts.�

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