Selanne Reviews Simple Plan

Right wing Teemu Selanne has a plan for the Ducks’ final 20 games.

“We have to find a killer instinct,” he said. “We have to find a way to bury teams. We have to lower our goals against. We have to have a solid 60 minutes. We have to be desperate. Everybody has to play up to the level they’re supposed to. We need everybody.”

Sounds simple. Getting it done and rallying for the third playoff berth in the franchise’s seven-season history is another matter, however.

The 10th-place Ducks awoke Friday to find themselves four points behind the eighth-place San Jose Sharks in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff spot. It’s not an insurmountable deficit. After all, the Ducks and Sharks meet twice more this season.

“We’ve got to stick with our game plan for 60 minutes,” Selanne said. “We’re not a good enough team to sit back and try to hold the lead. We have to keep pushing.”

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Coach Craig Hartsburg has no concerns about Selanne’s play while Paul Kariya is sidelined because of a bruised right foot. Hartsburg was impressed by Selanne’s one-goal, two-assist performance in a 4-4 tie Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

“He really stepped up his play in his last game,” Hartsburg said. “His whole game is using his speed. When he’s using his speed, he’s a dominating player. He doesn’t have to change his game while Paul is out. He just has to use his speed.”

Selanne has nine goals and 16 points in his last 15 games. His next point will be his 400th as a Duck.

Kariya, who has a team-leading 35 goals and 69 points, is expected to be sidelined for the third consecutive game when the Ducks play host to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday at the Arrowhead Pond.