Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Ducks move Selanne up to first line

Teemu Selanne, Cory Perry

Anaheim Ducks’ Teemu Selanne, right, of Finland, congratulates teammate Cory Perry after a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. Perry scored his third goal in the second period to get a hat trick. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

AP

Teemu Selanne and the Anaheim Ducks hope to turn things around as they face the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. Sometimes that means trying new things, which in this case means moving the 43-year-old to the top line.

On one hand, it’s a great opportunity alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, as Lisa Hillary notes. That being said, the long-time right-winger must adjust to playing on the right side, so the OC Register notes potential mixed feelings.

“The Finnish Flash” hasn’t scored a point in his last six games and hasn’t scored a goal since he collected two tallies on Jan. 15 (not counting his fantastic Olympic performances, mind you). The Ducks have lost four in a row on their own, potentially hurting themselves seeding-wise.

In other words, Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau is justified in mixing things up, whether this change is temporary or helps Selanne hit the double digit mark in goals for the 21st season (he has seven right now).

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins