Honda Center

Fittingly, "The Lord of the Rings in Concert: The Fellowship of the Ring" is an epic undertaking. "It's such a huge score," said composer Howard Shore, who won an Oscar for his work on Peter Jackson's 2001 first installment in his ambitious "Lord of the Rings" trilogy based on the J.R.R. Tolkien beloved fantasy novel. "It's nearly three hours. It is really difficult to do. It requires 225 people on stage to play the music, a symphony orchestra and chorus. " For the performance, which comes to the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, Ludwig Wicki conducts the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Chorale, Phoenix Boys Choir and soloist soprano Kaitlyn Lusk.

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.

The Anaheim City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved $75 million in privately backed bonds to "set the table" for the NBA's Sacramento Kings to make Honda Center their new home next season. The bonds will be backed by three companies of Henry Samueli, the Anaheim Ducks' owner and Honda Center operator, and are designated to pay for relocation fees the Kings will need to pay the NBA, along with improvements to Honda Center. Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait called the meeting "historic" at its opening, and said after the vote he was "stoked" by the council's action.

With the Ducks on the verge of mathematical elimination from the playoff picture, two key questions remain about their lineup: Will they play their regulars the rest of the way, or will they try to look at some of their minor-leaguers and perhaps have an impact on the West playoff race? And will Teemu Selanne return next season at age 42? Coach Bruce Boudreau said Wednesday he will play his regulars in the remaining six games, though he might not start goaltender Jonas Hiller in all six. Hiller is scheduled to set a club record Wednesday with his 70th appearance but he can rest when the Ducks face Edmonton twice in the next week without affecting the playoff scramble because the Oilers have been eliminated.

When: 5. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 4-2-0; Phoenix 2-3-1. Update: The league let the Ducks know on Saturday morning that there would be no hearing regarding the hit by forward George Parros on Krys Barch. The Stars' Barch was momentarily dazed by the second-period hit to the head in the 3-1 win by Dallas on Friday night. It was determined the hit was not a targeted one, the Ducks said. The Ducks' still-looking-for-first-goal-of-the-season club has many members, including forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Saku Koivu, Andrew Gordon, Devante Smith-Pelly and defensemen Lubomir Visnovsky and Cam Fowler.

Ducks on the Pond? No more. The Ducks now play at the Honda Center, not the Arrowhead Pond. Honda agreed to pay $60 million over 15 years for the right to slap its name on the Anaheim arena, a source familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday. The annual value of the deal, which includes advertising within the arena and on Ducks broadcasts, starts at $3.25 million and rises thereafter. If an NBA team moves into the arena, Honda would pay more.

Ducks tonight VS. NEW JERSEY When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 4-5-1, Devils 2-7-1. Record vs. Devils [2009-10]: 0-1-0. Update: Ducks forward Matt Beleskey will miss at least the next two games after being put on injured reserve because of a concussion sustained Tuesday at Dallas. Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas received an automatic one-game suspension for the play after earning a second game misconduct for boarding within 41 games.

Ducks today vs. Chicago When: 5 p.m. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Channel 56; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 20-17-4, Blackhawks 20-16-3. Record vs. Blackhawks: 0-1-1. Update: Like the Ducks, the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are playing without their captain. Jonathan Toews ? second on the Blackhawks with 33 points ? has been out because of a shoulder injury since Tuesday. Toews has resumed practicing but isn't expected to play Sunday.

VS. ARIZONA When: 8. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 7-7, 0-2 in Pac-12; Arizona, 10-4, 1-0. Update: This is the fourth time Arizona has played in the Wooden Classic game and the Wildcats are 3-0 so far. Four Arizona players average in double figures in scoring, led by Solomon Hill (12.1). Arizona has held five opponents to less than 40% shooting this season. UCLA has shot less than 45% its last three games.

Calculating the number of points between the Ducks and playoff elimination has been overheating the NHL's computers, which must account for dozens of possible scenarios that can be spawned by three-point games. But it's clear the end is near for the Ducks, a fate hastened by their 3-2 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins at Honda Center. Their performance on Sunday was much like their season: moments of brilliance mixed with costly errors they couldn't overcome.

Surely, there has to be a snappy nickname when you see Jason Blake, Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne playing on the same line for the Ducks. Wait a minute. That means Koivu, at 37, happens to be the youngster on the line. Their line, formed again for the first time since last season, features a combined 116 years of age and experience. Coming through Wednesday was Blake, 38, who scored the winning goal with 5:54 remaining in the Ducks' 4-3 victory against the league-leading St. Louis Blues at Honda Center The special qualities of the three men have been well chronicled and go well beyond the confines of the rink.

DUCKS TONIGHT VS. ST. LOUIS When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 31-32-11, Blues 46-19-8. Record vs. Blues: 1-2. Update: It was a crowded scene for the league-leading Blues when they practiced Tuesday afternoon at Honda Center. They had 26 players on the ice, most notably Alex Steen, who has been out because of a concussion. Steen, not yet ready for contact, has been in California and receiving therapy in a hyperbaric chamber, according to reports.

Nashville, of course, was where it all ended for the Ducks last season. Ah, remember the playoffs? On Sunday, the Predators provided a stark reminder about what might have been last season and what could happen this postseason. They beat the Ducks, 3-1, at Honda Center, sweeping all four games of their season series with Anaheim. Nothing has been decided officially, but the Predators certainly will be playing beyond April 7 and the Ducks will be left to contemplate the wonders of the draft lottery.