Hockey: Teammates come to Selanne’s defense

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The five-minute major penalty for fighting assessed to Ducks star winger Teemu Selanne late in the third period of Saturday’s game against the Kings at Staples Center is believed to be the first of his 18-year NHL career.

Selanne got in a tussle with Kings center Brad Richardson and both were sent to the penalty box at the 16:38 mark of the period with the Ducks leading 3-1. A skirmish ensued in which Ducks defenseman Sheldon Brookbank received two minutes for roughing and five minutes for fighting, Kings winger Kyle Clifford got a five-minute fighting major and Wayne Simmonds received a two-minute minor for roughing.

‘I was pretty mad,’ Selanne said.’At that point in the game, for him to do that... I mean, I usually just go about my business but that crossed the line.’

Ducks goaltender Dan Ellis, who made 43 saves in the victory, agreed:

‘That [cross check] was completely gutless by Richardson. If you want to pick a fight with someone, pick a grinder, don’t go after a Hall of Famer like Teemu. He held is own, though.’

-- Steve Galluzzo