Snub Hasn’t Slowed Selanne

ANAHEIM — Teemu Selanne is the NHL’s sixth-leading scorer, but he’s no all-star.

He’s locked in a four-way tie for seventh place in goals, but wasn’t picked to represent the Western Conference in the All-Star game Jan. 18 at San Jose.

He has scored a goal in four consecutive games, but wasn’t deemed worthy of a spot in a game that supposedly showcases the league’s finest players.

The fans didn’t vote Selanne onto the starting lineup. Instead, they picked Mighty Duck linemate Paul Kariya. And there’s nothing wrong with the fans’ selection of Kariya.

But what sort of brain cramp must have seized Brian Burke, the NHL vice president who helped select the reserves? Burke, Dallas Coach Ken Hitchcock, Dallas General Manager Bob Gainey and Colorado General Manager Pierre Lacroix had to ensure every team was represented.

General Manager Jack Ferreira called the snub an injustice. Coach Ron Wilson agreed. Selanne has kept his cool--publicly at least.

There is still a chance he could play in the game, filling in as a replacement for an injured player. It’s likely he could be added to replace either Joe Sakic or Peter Forsberg of Colorado, each of whom is sidelined by injury.

But Burke won’t announce replacements until Monday at the earliest..

“You can’t overlook Teemu now,” Wilson said. “If we were an elite team in the conference or hadn’t gotten off to such a bad start maybe Teemu would be on the team. I’m still hoping they see fit to put Teemu on there. He deserves to be there.”

Selanne said he will play but wants enough advance notice.

“Monday?” Selanne said when informed of Burke’s plans for announcing the all-star additions. “I haven’t decided, but I don’t want to close the door [to going]. I know the all-star game is a great happening. It’s great for the game.

“I know it’s hard to pick the team. Every team has to have one player there. There are a lot of good players still out there who aren’t going.”

If all this is weighing heavily on Selanne it’s not showing.

He continued another torrid point streak by scoring a goal in his fourth consecutive game, helping the Ducks to a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night at the Pond.

He has at least one point in six consecutive games (five goals, four assists) and 16 of the last 18 (11 goals, 14 assists). Already this season, he has had two nine-game point streaks.

“I told myself there’s nothing I could do about it,” said Selanne, who leads the Ducks with 24 goals and 52 points. “ I want to play well every night. [But] I can spend more time at home if I don’t go to San Jose. I have a family at home. I have a 10-month-old son at home.”

The bottom line is that he should be in San Jose, playing alongside the league’s best. The all-star game wouldn’t be the same without Teemu Selanne.