Teemu Selanne caps off the Ducks' evening

The Ducks spent half of training camp trying to figure out a way to burrow far enough under the salary cap to sign 38-year-old center Teemu Selanne, and he showed why it was so important to get him back on the ice.

In his third game since re-signing with the club, Selanne scored three goals Friday night against the Phoenix Coyotes, making the difference in a 4-1 exhibition victory at the Honda Center.

"I don't believe that you can just turn the switch on when the season starts," Selanne said. "That's why it's important to do things right out there and try to win the games."

Selanne was kept in limbo for the first two weeks of training camp, as the Ducks were nearly $3 million over the salary cap. They traded Mathieu Schneider to the Atlanta Thrashers last weekend, which saved the organization about $3.8 million. On Sunday, the Ducks signed Selanne to a two-year deal that will pay him $3.5 million this season.

That put the team back over the cap, however, and to compensate, the Ducks traded another veteran defenseman, Sean O'Donnell, and demoted top prospect Bobby Ryan to the minors.

Brendan Morrison, another player who sat through the first half of training camp, had a chance to display his offensive skills, producing three assists. Morrison, one of two free-agent acquisitions in the off-season, underwent knee surgery in April and was limited the first two weeks of camp. He made his debut Wednesday night against the Kings.

"So smooth and a great playmaker too," Selanne said of Morrison. "It makes yourself more active too, when you play with guys who can see the game well. If you get open, the puck is going to come."

Morrison was just as impressed with Selanne's play. He assisted on Selanne's first two goals, then enjoyed the view on the third, a third-period breakaway.

"It was just fun to watch him," Morrison said. "Perfect view, right behind him. I looked up and he's gone."

Scott Niedermayer also had three assists for the Ducks and Jonas Hiller stopped 19 of 20 shots in goal.

Selanne gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at the 10:16 mark of the opening period, taking the puck down the right side and then centering it to Morrison in front of the crease. The puck instead clipped off Phoenix goalie Mikael Tellqvist and into the net.

The Coyotes tied the score 92 seconds later when Peter Mueller beat Hiller from the slot.

The Ducks were awarded their second power play of the game at the 6:26 mark of the second period and Selanne used Morrison as a screen to score on a slap shot from just outside the face-off circle. Morrison recorded his third assist on a power-play goal by Corey Perry at the 13:24 mark of the second period.

dan.arritt@latimes.com