Bobby Ryan

Six months ago winger Bobby Ryan was close to being a former Duck. On Wednesday he was named one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year for his rookie-leading 31 goals and 57 points in 64 games after being recalled from the American Hockey League. "I think in the long run a lot of good things came from it.

When Bobby Ryan was named a finalist for the Calder trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, he owned up to having wondered how much fatter his stats would have been if he hadn't started the season in the minor leagues. With wisdom beyond his 22 years, Ryan quickly let go of the past, choosing instead to focus on the wonderful possibilities that make his prospects so bright.

With a minute left and Anaheim's first victory seemingly secure, Teemu Selanne turned to coach Randy Carlyle and asked: "Why is Corey Perry out there killing penalties?" By the time Selanne looked back at the ice, Perry had scored. "That's why he's out there killing penalties," Carlyle said after Perry's short-handed goal with 53 seconds remaining clinched the Ducks' 6-1 victory against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. Selanne scored two goals 82 seconds apart in the second period to give the Ducks the lead, and Perry had two goals and an assist to help the Ducks pull away.

VS. COLUMBUS When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Ch. 56; Radio: 1090. Records: Ducks 3-4-1, Blue Jackets 5-3-0. Record vs. Blue Jackets (2008-09): 3-1-0. Update: The Ducks are trying to avoid losing three in a row for the first time this season, as are the Blue Jackets. A foot injury after being hit by a puck put fourth-line center Ryan Carter on injured reserve to make room for minor league forward Matt Beleskey, particularly with Evgeny Artyukhin suspended by the NHL for three games for a "slew foot" trip of Dallas defenseman Matt Niskanen in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

There are times when he threads a perfect pass up ice or bulldozes a defender in the offensive zone. And there are times when he looks out of place or can't keep up with the speedsters who zoom by him. It's all part of the education of the Ducks' Bobby Ryan.

Bobby Ryan thought he was being punished. Ryan was banished to the fourth line during practice with the Portland Pirates on Friday, the Ducks' American Hockey League team in Maine. Pirates Coach Kevin Dineen even had the 20-year-old winger stay on the ice for more work afterward. "After the bag skate, I kind of wondered what was going on," Ryan said. "Coach gave me the good news shortly after." All Dineen did was yank the youngster's chain.

Bobby Ryan was angry. After being held scoreless and getting little ice time in the Ducks' first two playoff losses to Dallas he was told he wouldn't be in the lineup for Game 3. He had been assigned to their American Hockey League farm team in Portland, Maine, a fine place but not where he wanted to be. "I just felt I belonged here for the playoffs," said Ryan, who started the season with the Ducks but was sent down twice and recalled twice.

The ripple effect from the summer of 2007 continues to wash ashore in Anaheim. Bobby Ryan, a top prospect for the Ducks, was sent to the minors Friday, a painful solution to the team's lingering salary-cap woes. "He was clearly in the hunt to make our team," said Ducks General Manager Brian Burke said. "It's definitely cap-related."