Ducks

VS. DALLAS Where: Honda Center. When: 7. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830 Records: Ducks 3-3-1, Stars 3-2-3. Record vs. Stars (2008-09): 3-2-1. Update: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, one half of the Ducks' goaltending duo, left practice Tuesday because of an unspecified nagging injury but described it as "nothing too bad." The team was prepared to recall another goalie to back up Jonas Hiller tonight if needed. Scoring is more of a concern.

BALTIMORE — In the midst of the greatest time of his professional life, horse trainer Doug O'Neill is being followed around by an asterisk. Reporters want to know about his Kentucky Derby-winning horse, I'll Have Another. They want to know about O'Neill himself — how he got started, who he is, what he thinks about any number of topics. They want to know about young jockey Mario Gutierrez, who should have been way too green to ride the kind of race he did at Churchill Downs. They want to know about owner J. Paul Reddam, who made his money in the loan business and who named the horse by reprising a scene at home, where he sits on the couch, eats a cookie and requests another one from his wife.

The Ducks confirmed that highly prized prospect, defenseman Justin Schultz of Wisconsin, won't be signing a contract with Anaheim by Saturday as he has told them he will complete his third year at Madison. That comes as little surprise, but now the window is that much tighter for the Ducks. They have exclusive rights until June 1 to try to sign him. After that, other teams can jump into the fray and he could become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The Ducks had not commented publicly on the matter until Thursday.

The Ducks signed Coach Bruce Boudreau to a two-year contract extension, which goes through the 2014-15 season. Boudreau was originally under contract through this upcoming season. His record after taking over from Randy Carlyle on Nov. 30 was 27-23-8. Boudreau started the season with the Capitals and he had coached in Washington since 2007. "Since joining the organization last November, Bruce has done an outstanding job with the team," Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said.

AT NASHVILLE When: 5 PST. Where: Sommet Center. On the air: TV: Channel 56; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 18-19-7, Predators 26-15-3. Record vs. Predators: 1-1-0. Update: If this trip to Nashville and Chicago seems familiar, well, it is. The Ducks played road games against the same teams last weekend, losing to the Predators, 3-1, and to the Blackhawks, 5-2. Ducks forward Teemu Selanne's return from a broken hand will be a game-day decision.

Ducks tonight AT DALLAS When: 5:30 PDT. Where: American Airlines Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 40-27-5, Stars 38-25-9. Record vs. Stars: 3-1-0. Update: This starts a three-game trip for the Ducks, who are holding on to eighth place in the Western Conference but need a win to stay ahead of the Stars in a battle for a playoff berth. Each team has 85 points, although the Ducks still hold the series edge.

Ducks tonight VS. BOSTON When: 4:30 PST. Where: TD Garden. On the air: Versus. Records: Ducks 17-15-4, Bruins 17-10-4. Record vs. Bruins (2009-10): 2-0-0. Update: The Bruins ended a three-game skid Saturday night but couldn't have done it without Tim Thomas in net. He not only blocked 25 shots by the Washington Capitals in the third period, but stopped Alexander Ovechkin at point-blank range with 11 seconds left to preserve the Bruins' 3-2 victory.

In 2004, California enacted a law I wrote that gave the foie gras industry until July 2012 to find an alternative to force-feeding ducks. That deadline is fast approaching. Foie gras, French for "fatty liver," is produced from the diseased and grossly enlarged liver of a duck or goose that has been force-fed grain. Multiple times each day for several weeks before slaughter, a pipe is shoved down the birds' throats and they're pumped full of mash, causing their livers to swell to more than 10 times normal size.

Arm-twisting or even the fine art of persuasion was not part of Bruce Boudreau's arsenal in Teemu Selanne's exit meeting Monday at Honda Center. After all, the Ducks' Selanne doesn't need to be told that his coach would like to have him come back for another season. Selanne, who will turn 42 in July, said his pending decision was not part of the conversation in their morning chat. It was suggested, jokingly, that the Ducks let Selanne skip training camp. "Maybe just home games," Selanne said, also joking.

When: 1 p.m. Where: Scotiabank Saddledome On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: None Records: Ducks 34-35-12, Flames 36-29-16. Record vs. Flames: 2-1. Update: The season ends for two teams missing the playoffs. Ducks defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who suffered an upper-body injury in Thursday's win at Edmonton, is being called day-to-day. The Ducks did not practice Friday. Goalie Henrik Karlsson will start for the Flames but forward Alex Tanguay is out because of an injury.

EDMONTON, Canada — Ryan Getzlaf scored in overtime as the Ducks gave Edmonton fans an unhappy final look at their team at home this season, defeating the Oilers, 3-2, on Thursday night. An Edmonton shot caromed off the boards and came all the way down the ice for a Getzlaf breakaway, and he beat Edmonton goaltender Devan Dubnyk through the legs 1:12 into extra time. Andrew Cogliano and Bobby Ryan also scored for the Ducks, who ended a three-game winless streak and moved up to 23rd in the NHL with one game to play this season.

The Ducks confirmed that highly prized prospect, defenseman Justin Schultz of Wisconsin, won't be signing a contract with Anaheim by Saturday as he has told them he will complete his third year at Madison. That comes as little surprise, but now the window is that much tighter for the Ducks. They have exclusive rights until June 1 to try to sign him. After that, other teams can jump into the fray and he could become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The Ducks had not commented publicly on the matter until Thursday.

This may not have been the end, the final turn on Anaheim ice for Teemu Selanne. But the Honda Center fans were unwilling Sunday night to risk letting the beloved Finn skate away without sharing some emotion. With about five minutes remaining, they gave the 41-year-old a prolonged standing ovation, unprompted by any scoreboard urgings. The applause and their message couldn't have been more clear-cut about Selanne's NHL future. One more year. "It's unbelievable. It's almost funny they are chanting that for an old guy like me," said Selanne, sitting in the dressing room, not long after the Oilers beat the Ducks, 2-1, in Anaheim's home finale.