Hockey

Selanne sparks Ducks in return

Teemu Selanne scored in his first game after missing 17 because of a broken hand, and the Anaheim Ducks held on for a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

Finds net against Predators after missing 17 games with broken hand

Teemu Selanne scored in his first game after missing 17 because of a broken hand, and the Anaheim Ducks held on for a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

Anaheim, which led 3-0, received a 25-save performance from Jonas Hiller. Matt Beleskey and Ryan Getzlaf added goals for the Ducks.

Patric Hornqvist and Martin Erat scored for Nashville.

Selanne gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 12:10 of the first period.

From behind the Nashville net, Brett Festerling sent a pass to the low slot to Petteri Nokelainen. His shot hit off  the shaft of Selanne's stick and got past the glove of goalie Pekka Rinne. 

Beleskey doubled the Ducks lead at 5:17 of the second.

Corey Perry sent a pass from the right circle to Getzlaf in the left circle, where he slid a backhand pass to Beleskey alone in the low slot. Beleskey easily beat Rinne high to the glove side.

Beleskey has goals in his last three games.

Getzlaf gave the Ducks a 3-0 advantage at 11:26 of the second when his wrist shot from above the left circle through traffic got by Rinne on the short side.

Hornqvist's power-play goal 45 seconds into the third period was his third man-advantage tally in three games. He has 11 goals in his last 13 games.

Erat's goal with three minutes left cut the deficit to 3-2.