Diskussionsbereich » Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the

ANAHEIM – Teemu Selanne wanted to do something nice for Sami Vatanen. His fellow Finn, 21 years his junior, had just arrived in Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the Ducks. The way Selanne saw it, if Vatanen was going to make it in southern California, he needed to have his own wheels. So the future Hall of Famer, an avid car collector, decided to lend Vatanen, a smooth-skating defenceman, one of his. A Mercedes CLK to be precise. "I havent seen it in a year-and-a-half," Selanne said with a chuckle. "I dont know if I like that car actually," Vatanen said with a big smile, "but its free." Selanne and Saku Koivu, another Finnish veteran, have mentored Vatanen, Anaheims fourth round pick in 2009, over the last couple of years. Koivu and his wife Hanna, for example, helped Vatanen get his apartment set up. "You can tell that both of them have taken Sami under their wing," said Ducks defenceman Ben Lovejoy. "Hes not even their little brother, hes sort of their son." Told of that statement, the 43-year-old Selanne doesnt miss a beat noting, "He could be." The groundwork laid by Selanne and Koivu paid dividends in the regular season as Vatanen was the third leading scorer among Ducks defencemen picking up 21 points in just 48 games. "Its a big thing," said Vatanen. "Ive been watching those guys for a while. It was fun to get a chance to play with them and its more fun even in the playoffs." Vatanen played in just nine of Anaheims final 32 regular-season games and started the playoffs in the minors with Norfolk in the American Hockey League. He was recalled in time for Game 3 of the series with the Los Angeles Kings making an immediate impact. Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau even went so far as to label the youngster the best player on the ice on either team on Thursday night. Vatanen didnt slow down in his second career NHL playoff game on Saturday night, picking up his first post-season point, an assist on Ryan Getzlafs power play goal. He was also on the ice for Devante Smith-Pellys goal earlier in the period. "Just some confidence on the back end," said Lovejoy when asked what Vatanen brings to the table. "Getting offence against the Kings is difficult and having another smart puck mover back there is only going to put our forwards in better position to create offence." It is the 5-foot-10, 183-pound Vatanens gutsy play, which impresses Selanne the most. "Hes a warrior out there," said Selanne. "Hes not the biggest guy out there, but he doesnt avoid the traffic. Hes putting himself in a situation where hes going to get hit and give hits. Its fun to watch when young guys and small guys can do that. And obviously the way he can see the game and pass. He can make a huge difference." Selanne is nearing the end of his decorated career and takes great pride in being able to help an up-and-coming Finnish player find his way. After all, it was Teppo Numminen who helped a young Selanne navigate some early-career growing pains in Winnipeg. "I remember how much he helped me and thats why I want to do my job as well. And its fun and you see how much they appreciate it and how life is easier when you have help here and there," Selanne said. "Thats what we have done for years. Its so much easier for a young guy when theres a countryman who wants to help and makes things easier and gets you settled down. Thats a very important part of our job." In a way, Selannes career has come full circle as he passes the torch to the next rising Finnish star on the Ducks. So, did Numminen lend Selanne a car back in the day? "Actually, I let him drive my car," Selanne said with a grin. Some things never change. Predators Jerseys Outlet . The Mercedes duo of three-time Canadian Grand Prix champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has won all six races to start the season, finishing one-two in the last five. 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Cheap Predators Jerseys .com) - Intrastate rivals collide Saturday as the Texas State Bobcats hit the road to take on the eighth-ranked Texas Longhorns in a non-conference battle at Frank Erwin Center.Oklahoma City, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Durant scored 10 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied for a 99-94 victory over the Utah Jazz. Six of Durants total came during a pivotal 10-1 run that turned a six-point deficit into a 94-91 lead with two minutes remaining, helping the Thunder bounce back from consecutive lopsided road defeats to Golden State and Sacramento. Russell Westbrook came up big for Oklahoma City as well, racking up 25 points and 12 assists, while newly acquired Dion Waiters put up 15 points off the bench in his second game with the Thunder. Its a lot different, Im able to play, Waiters said. Utah, fresh off a 20-point triumph at Eastern Conference power Chicago on Wednesday, received 27 points from Gordon Hayward and 22 from Derrick Favors. Trey Burke added 20 points in the loss, with Favors finishing with 11 rebounds. Im proud of our team, I thought we didnt make anything easy for them, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. Trailing nearly the entire third quarter and down 90-84 with under 4 1/2 minutes to play, the Thunder finished strong as Durant carried his team on his back. The reigning league MVP sank a reverse layup and Westbrook followed with a jumper before Durant knocked down a contested step-back shot to tie the game with 3:19 left. After Favors was whistled for a travel on the ensuing possession, Durant struck again by hitting a tough turnaround jumper to send Oklahoma City in front. Favors hit 1-of-2 free throws on the otheer end to bring Utah back within one.dddddddddddd However, Haywards pass on the Jazzs next trip was stolen by Westbrook and led to a Waiters fastbreak jam that put the Thunder up 94-91 with 2:10 to go. Burke answered with a pair of foul shots, but Utah came up empty its next time down the court and Durant kicked the ball out on the following possession to Waiters, who drained a 3-pointer that all but sealed the outcome with 23 seconds remaining. After both teams shot the ball well during an opening quarter that ended in a 27-27 tie, the Jazz began the second on an 8-0 run capped by consecutive 3- pointers from Elijah Millsap. Utah stayed ahead through the remainder of the half, though Oklahoma City cut the lead to 41-40 behind an 11-4 push. Burke countered with five straight points to help the Jazz enter the break holding a 50-44 advantage. The Thunder fought back to draw even at 60-60 midway through the third quarter, and the Jazz held a slim 76-74 edge entering the fourth before later extending the margin to 85-78 with eight minutes left. Game Notes Oklahoma City had been 1-13 this season when trailing after three quarters ... The loss was Utahs eighth straight at Chesapeake Energy Arena, where it hasnt prevailed since Oct. 31, 2010 ... The game was the 500th behind the bench for Thunder head coach Scott Brooks ... Utah center Rudy Gobert recorded seven blocks and has 21 over his last four outings ... Favors reached the 20- point mark for a third consecutive game. 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