Ducks welcome back RW Selanne

Jan 29, 2009 - 7:24 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The "Finnish Flash" was back in action.

After missing 17 games with a lacerated left quadriceps muscle, Teemu Selanne returned to the lineup for the Anaheim Ducks in their 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Sidelined since suffering the injury in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oilers on December 19, the 38-year-old Selanne registered one shot on goal while posting a minus-2 rating in 17 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time Wednesday.

"I think I felt better as the game went on," Selanne said. "Missing 17 games, it's not normal just to come right back. I knew that the next step was to start playing games and get into those situations. It's a really good start. I'm happy. I have no pain."

Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle knew not to expect too much from the veteran.

"It's tough to put a player in that situation, to come back after so long and have just two practices," Carlyle said. "But Teemu came to me and said that he was healthy enough to play. He's a threat whenever he's out there."

A 10-time All-Star, Selanne tied Steve Rucchin for first place on the franchise list by appearing in his 616th game with the Ducks in the loss.

Selanne has recorded 14 goals and 13 assists in 34 games this season. The right wing is tied with Buffalo's Thomas Vanek for the league lead with 13 power-play tallies.

Drafted 10th overall by Winnipeg in 1988, the 6-foot, 200-pound Selanne has registered 566 goals and 619 assists in 1,100 career games with the Jets, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche and Ducks. A member of Anaheim's Stanley Cup championship team in 2007, the native of Helsinki also won the Calder Trophy in 1993 after scoring a league-leading 76 goals and captured the Maurice Richard Trophy in 1999 - its first year of existence - by netting an NHL-best 47 tallies.