Anaheim Ducks

Burning questions What will Teemu Selanne do in his last (maybe) act? If not 80 points at age 40, well, why not 90 points at a sprightly 41? Selanne, who had off-season knee surgery, ended the summer of suspense by agreeing to a one-year deal practically on the eve of camp. At 40 years old, Selanne was responsible for many of the Ducks' defining moments during their late surge to a playoff spot last season, sprinkling in timely goals throughout the final month. His relaxed presence will be a comforting asset in the dressing room.

Hockey amnesia, indeed, can be a good thing. For the Anaheim Ducks. "I think we're thinking about forgetting everything," Ducks forward Bobby Ryan said Saturday after practice. "Pre —" He thought for a second. "Pre-Jan. 1, I guess," Ryan said. "That's where things kind of turned for us and we found our stride. So I think every other game, previously, we'll just take as a write-off right now. " The Ducks were finally home after a 15-day trip in which they were 5-1-2, punctuated by a shootout win against Carolina on Thursday.

When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket, FS West; Radio: 830, 1150. Records: Ducks 7-14-5, Kings 13-9-4. Update: The Kings took the first two games of this season series, beating the Ducks in a shootout on Nov. 16, and 5-3 the next night. Kings center Mike Richards, who is out with a suspected concussion, rode the stationary bike Monday and the team probably will have an update about his condition later this week. For the Ducks, George Parros (eye surgery)

When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket, FS West; Radio: 830, 1150. Records: Ducks 7-14-5, Kings 13-9-4. Update: The Kings took the first two games of this season series, beating the Ducks in a shootout on Nov. 16, and 5-3 the next night. Kings center Mike Richards, who is out with a suspected concussion, rode the stationary bike Monday and the team probably will have an update about his condition later this week. For the Ducks, George Parros (eye surgery)

Ales Kotalik's power-play goal snapped a third-period tie, and backup Steve Valiquette made 18 saves in the New York Rangers' fourth straight victory, 3-0, against the Ducks on Sunday. New York, 4-0 since a season-opening loss to the Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins, earned this victory in Sean Avery's season debut following his knee injury during training camp. Avery played his annoying style and goaded Ducks defenseman Ryan Whitney into a roughing penalty 1:34 into the third, setting up Kotalik's winning score.

So the Anaheim Ducks received inspiration from their dads' presence in their come-from-behind win over the Phoenix Coyotes. So that's why they've been playing so poorly lately. They needed their daddies present to motivate them. One might think possibly winning the Stanley Cup would be motivation enough for these guys. I guess not. RON REEVE Glendora

Ducks owner Henry Samueli, spared a criminal record when a judge this week set aside his guilty plea in a stock backdating probe, got a near-apology Friday from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who had suspended Samueli from June 2008 until last month. "In retrospect, it is regrettable and unfortunate that the circumstances at that time caused the Samuelis and the Anaheim Ducks to endure any suspension," Bettman said in a statement. "We were pleased to welcome the Samuelis back to the NHL when the suspension was lifted this past Nov. 12."

I have just spent a frustrating Sunday watching the Dodgers get swept by the Angels, while the Anaheim Ducks beat the Detroit Red Wings to get to within one game of the Stanley Cup finals (the woeful Kings having long ago wrapped up their dismal 2006-07 campaign). Much as I hate to admit it, it is clear that when it comes to professional sports, Anaheim owns Los Angeles. The mighty, venerable City of Angels is getting its clock cleaned by what is essentially one of its suburbs. I don't want to think of Orange County as a pro sports mecca, but compared to the dreck that Los Angeles is serving up, I can't think any other way. With grudging props to Anaheim, I say it is time to stand up, Angelenos, and say we can't take this anymore.

Mighty no more. In a move that loosens the team's identity with Disney, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim will become the Anaheim Ducks next season, owner Henry Samueli said Thursday. The team considered other names, including the Anaheim Condors and the Anaheim Bears. The team is expected to adopt a new logo, colors and uniform, but Samueli said no decision is expected until the end of the season.

An old familiar playoff foe will greet the Ducks in the Western Conference finals. The top-seeded Detroit Red Wings advanced to the third round for the first time in four seasons by defeating the host San Jose Sharks, 2-0, in Game 6 on Monday night. It will be the fourth time that the Ducks and Red Wings have played each other in the postseason. The previous meetings ended in four-game sweeps, with Detroit winning in 1997 and 1999 and the Ducks winning a first-round series in 2003.

Ducks veteran forward Jason Blake, who suffered a severe cut above his left wrist in Friday night's game against the San Jose Sharks, will have surgery Monday to repair damage to a tendon. The team announced Saturday that Blake will be out of action for about three months but is expected to make a full recovery. He was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange immediately after the game and received sutures to close the wound. His surgery, to be performed by Dr. David Hay, will be at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic.

It's a measure of progress that the Kings no longer have to scramble to assemble two formidable scoring lines, thanks to the acquisitions of veterans Mike Richards and Simon Gagne . But Coach Terry Murray will take a critical look at the third line and will give the fourth line a new appearance Sunday in an exhibition game against the Ducks at Staples Center. Gagne, Richards and right wing Dustin Brown are scheduled to play together, as are Dustin Penner , Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams . On the third line, Jarret Stoll will center for Kyle Clifford and Scott Parse , and skillful Andrei Loktionov will be between scrappy Brad Richardson and enforcer Kevin Westgarth on the fourth line.

Burning questions What will Teemu Selanne do in his last (maybe) act? If not 80 points at age 40, well, why not 90 points at a sprightly 41? Selanne, who had off-season knee surgery, ended the summer of suspense by agreeing to a one-year deal practically on the eve of camp. At 40 years old, Selanne was responsible for many of the Ducks' defining moments during their late surge to a playoff spot last season, sprinkling in timely goals throughout the final month. His relaxed presence will be a comforting asset in the dressing room.

AT CHICAGO When: 5:30 PDT. Where: United Center. On the air: TV: FS West; radio: 830. Records: Ducks 41-28-5, Blackhawks 40-25-8. Record vs. Blackhawks: 1-1-1. Update: The Ducks are tenuously holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Dallas and one point behind the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who are in seventh. While the Ducks need to find consistency at goaltender after bringing back All-Star Jonas Hiller to disappointing effect Thursday against Nashville, their offense has been spectacular.

The cinder-block locker room is little bigger than a gas-station restroom. Squeeze in 15 high school hockey players and their sweat-soaked equipment, and it smells about the same too. Yet Megan Browning, the team's freshman goalie, can't think of any place she'd rather be. "Just because you play hockey doesn't mean you have to act like a boy," Browning explains as she checks her makeup and adjusts the twin braids in her hair. "I wear pink. I'm still girly. But when I come to the rink, I get intense.

There might be blood. At the very least, there will be violence ? George Parros can picture it in his mind. The veteran hockey player goes looking for trouble, chasing down an opponent, then letting his gloves fall to the ice. It is an invitation to fight. From there, the strategy is simple: Grab hold of the guy's jersey with one hand and throw punches with the other, rapid-fire, aiming for the head. "Everyone has a plan until they get hit," he says. "So you don't want to go in thinking too much.

Because this is a year when the National Hockey League didn't call off its entire season, the playoffs have rolled around. To my way of thinking, it's the most exciting time in any league -- when four teams remain and are trying to make the finals. Hey, Orange County, guess what? The team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, which played in the arena formerly known as the Pond, is one of the four. For $10, can you name at least two of the other three? I didn't think so.

Hockey amnesia, indeed, can be a good thing. For the Anaheim Ducks. "I think we're thinking about forgetting everything," Ducks forward Bobby Ryan said Saturday after practice. "Pre —" He thought for a second. "Pre-Jan. 1, I guess," Ryan said. "That's where things kind of turned for us and we found our stride. So I think every other game, previously, we'll just take as a write-off right now. " The Ducks were finally home after a 15-day trip in which they were 5-1-2, punctuated by a shootout win against Carolina on Thursday.

TIME EVENT ON THE AIR AUTO RACING 2 p.m. Budweiser Shootout practice TV: Speed 3:30 p.m. Budweiser Shootout practice TV: Speed 6 p.m. Budweiser Shootout selection show TV: Speed COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m. Purdue at Indiana TV: ESPN 4 p.m. Georgia Tech at Duke TV: ESPN2 ...

Kings vs. Ducks tonight When : 7:30. Where: Staples Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150, 830. Records: Kings 34-19-3, Ducks 27-23-7. Season series: Kings 2-0-0. Update: The Kings have won seven consecutive games, one short of the club record set in 1972-73 and equaled in 1991-92. They have reached 34 wins faster than any previous Kings team. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has won these seven in a row, tying a club record for a goalie set in 1991-92 by Kelly Hrudey and matched a season later by Robb Stauber.