Teemu Selanne

Teemu, the facilitator? Teemu Selanne, with so many skills at his disposal, turned playmaker Friday night with a deft and dazzling performance at Honda Center. Selanne's three assists sparked the Ducks to a 3-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild. The newly formed combination — which had Bobby Ryan centering Kyle Palmieri and Selanne — was responsible for eight points. Ryan Getzlaf had the other, an assist on Ryan's power-play goal late in the third period. It was Selanne's first three-assist game in nearly two years.

Teemu, the facilitator? Teemu Selanne, with so many skills at his disposal, turned playmaker Friday night with a deft and dazzling performance at Honda Center. Selanne's three assists sparked the Ducks to a 3-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild. The newly formed combination — which had Bobby Ryan centering Kyle Palmieri and Selanne — was responsible for eight points. Ryan Getzlaf had the other, an assist on Ryan's power-play goal late in the third period. It was Selanne's first three-assist game in nearly two years.

The almost annual Teemu Selanne retirement watch will exist again after this season, the Ducks' right wing now 42 and confessing he'll be making concessions to a tightened schedule that includes 17 games in March. Selanne opened the season impressively, scoring two goals with two assists in Vancouver on Jan. 19. He started Saturday night's home game against Nashville at Honda Center one power-play goal shy of 250 in his career, and now sits in 18th place on the NHL's all-time scoring list.

After Daniel Winnik was cast off by the San Jose Sharks, the Ducks signed the center to a two-year, $3.6-million contract, primarily to assist in their penalty-killing efforts. Winnik, the Ducks' third-line center, scored a club-record four goals in the first two games of the season, which is more than the Stanley Cup-champion Kings scored in their two games. "What's Gretzky's record again?" Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau cracked after practice Thursday with the team finalizing preparations for Friday's home opener against the Vancouver Canucks.

Ducks tonight at Calgary When: 6 PST. Where: Saddledome. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Record vs. Flames (2011-12): 1-2-1. Update: The Ducks follow their impressive opener at Vancouver, in which 42-year-old Teemu Selanne became the first NHL player of his age since Gordie Howe in 1971 to produce four points, with two goals and two assists. Calgary made its season debut Sunday against San Jose, and 2011-12 leading scorer Jarome Iginla (groin) is expected to play.

Teemu Selanne's scoring exploits simply defy description. The Ducks right wing opened his 21 st NHL season Saturday by contributing two goals and two assists in the team's 7-3 rout of the Canucks at Vancouver, another stellar performance in a seemingly never-ending career. On Saturday, at age 42 years and 200 days, Selanne became the oldest NHL player to record four points in a single game since Gordie Howe had a one-goal, three-assist performance for Detroit against Buffalo on Feb. 20, 1971.

The lockout giveth, and the lockout (almost) taketh. April 7, 2012. In Calgary. An otherwise meaningless game between the Flames and Ducks, two teams with nothing on the line. That could have been it, the career finale for one of the league's incandescent stars, future Hall of Fame member Teemu Selanne. Cooler heads and one dogged federal mediator pulled the NHL season back from the brink Sunday, meaning Selanne will have the chance for a happier ending to his career. "It came into my mind it could be my last," Selanne said Monday about that April game.

Forgiveness and reconciliation aren't expected to occur overnight after the NHL's 113-day lockout. The band's simply getting back together might be enough in some markets. The Stanley Cup championship banner being raised at Staples Center, possibly on Jan. 19 in an afternoon game, could suffice in Los Angeles. Likewise, 42-year-old Teemu Selanne's first shift in Anaheim in what could be his final NHL season might ease the bitterness. "I think everybody is very excited and very happy it's over," Selanne said.

Teemu Selanne's most-excellent, age-defying adventure was officially renewed for another installment. By Selanne. The forward who led the Ducks in scoring last season with 66 points, the man who turned 42 on July 3, let Anaheim know Thursday that he had decided to come back. Selanne, who is poised for his 20th NHL season, will make $4.5 million with the one-year extension, slipping neatly into the pay structure for the 40-something crowd. Selanne said there was some unfinished business from last season.

The Ducks got the news they've been waiting for since the regular season ended in April. Teemu Selanne is coming back. It was expected but certainly not a lock. How can it be at this stage of his career? He turned 42 on July 3 and this will be his 20 th NHL season. "I still feel I can play at a high level," Selanne said. "As I always say, this is my happy place and I can't wait to get back on the ice in front of our great fans. " His one-year deal is worth $4.5 million.