For a man who scored 601 goals in his NHL career, Jari Kurri is a remarkably unselfish man.

At one of his hockey camps in Helsinki, he had no problem lending the keys to his Saab to an upstart 17-year-old named Teemu Selanne, who just happened to be an unlicensed driver at the time.

“He had a good car,” said Selanne, noting that he did not attempt to draw any “figure eights” in Helsinki parking lots with his newfound toy.

Twenty-two years later, Kurri braved the long flight from Finland to Anaheim, on the Ducks’ dime, to recognize a historic accomplishment. Selanne reached the 600-goal plateau on March 21, becoming the third European-born player to do so, and Kurri presented Selanne with a framed poster Monday to commemorate the occasion [video below].

Kurri stayed at Selanne’s home after flying in Sunday and this time, on the way to the rink Monday, Kurri rode with Selanne.

“It’s great to be part of this,” Kurri said. “Plus, he’s a good friend also.”

Selanne did not score Monday, missing an empty net as time expired in the Ducks’ 3-1 win over the Stars. While the game was relatively meaningless – both teams are virtually assured of missing the playoffs – Selanne was hoping to match Kurri’s record for the most goals ever by a Finnish-born player.

“It’s been like this for a long time, chance after chance,” he said. “I really wanted to score, more so for Jari. He wanted to come here and see it happen. I was honored that he came. I’m so happy. It’s a long way, but we’re good buddies.”

Selanne has hinted that he might retire after this season, when his two-year contract expires. That gives a certain import to the final seven games of Anaheim’s season – even if the team doesn’t reach the postseason.

And even if Kurri isn’t around to watch his record fall.
 

C Joe Thornton missed his first game as a Shark on Sunday, a day after he had to leave midway through a game against the Vancouver Canucks. Thornton fell hard into the boards after being shoved cleanly by Alexander Edler. Thornton was diagnosed with an undisclosed “lower body” injury, but Thornton told the San Jose Mercury News it is not considered serious. … C Manny Malhotra was also injured in the game, breaking his nose when he was hit by an Edler slap shot, but played Sunday against the Avalanche. … The 4-3 win over the Avs was the Sharks’ fourth straight victory, opening up a four-point gap on Phoenix for first place in the Pacific Division and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. … G Thomas Greiss made 42 saves for the victory, his first since Feb. 4. … Captain Rob Blake missed the Colorado game along with Thornton, an alternate captain, and Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe wore A’s on their sweater.

 

The Coyotes clinched their first playoff berth in eight years Saturday, when the Calgary Flames lost to the Boston Bruins. … Citing unnamed sources, the Phoenix Business Journal reported this week that the NHL is considering a bid from Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf that might include a clause allowing the team to get out of its long-term lease at Jobing.com Arena. The report also claims that the NHL “is working on a backup plan with Toronto billionaire David Thomson and Winnepeg [sic] based True North Sports and Entertainment that also could send the Coyotes back to Canada.” … NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly released the following statement Monday: “In response to the many inquiries we have received in light of the story in the Phoenix Business Journal this morning, we would like to make clear that at this point in time the National Hockey League has no "deal" in place to move the Coyotes' franchise to Winnipeg — or to any other city for that matter — in the event a transaction cannot be timely consummated in Glendale.” … Paul Bissonnette signed a two-year contract Monday, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The enforcer has three goals, two assists and a team-leading 112 penalty minutes in 40 games this season. ... Head coach Dave Tippett told the Arizona Republic that he thought the Coyotes were a playoff team before he took over the reins in September. … A 2-0 loss to Chicago last Tuesday ended the team’s season-long winning streak at nine games. … Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss to Nashville ended a streak of wins in eight straight shootouts.

 

GM Dean Lombardi shares his thoughts with LAKingsInsider.com about where the Kings are in the final weeks of the season. … Minnesota’s 3-2 win over Los Angeles on Monday was the Kings’ fourth straight loss. … The Kings surrendered four power-play goals in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday. … G Jonathan Bernier was recalled from American Hockey League affiliate Manchester on Monday. He will back up Jonathan Quick on Tuesday in Nashville with backup Erik Ersberg out with a strained back. Listen to an interview with head coach Terry Murray about Bernier. … D Matt Greene is expected to return from an undisclosed upper-body injury. … C Andrei Loktionov was activated from IR and assigned to Manchester on Friday.

 

The Stars’ 3-1 loss in Anaheim on Monday was their first regulation loss at Honda Center since Jan. 15, 2008. … C Mike Ribeiro was 10 minutes late for a team meeting Sunday, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Stars blog, which preceded Marc Crawford making him a healthy scratch in Anaheim on Monday. … Including the loss to the Ducks, G Kari Lehtonen has a 4-2-0 record, a 2.33 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in his last six games. … Mathieu Tousignant and Tomas Vincour signed three-year entry level contracts last Wednesday. … Dallas has killed all 11 of its opponents’ 5-on-3 power plays this season. Vancouver is the only other NHL team that has not allowed a 5-on-3 goal.

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