It was the last regular season game for both teams and the Ducks stole home ice advantage in the upcoming NHL Stanley Cup playoffs away from the Kings-and on L.A.’s home ice with a solid 3-1 win. We still don’t know who either team will be playing in the first round as they must wait for today’s Detroit at Chicago contest but we do know that the Kings blew home ice with the loss and Anaheim is on a high after beating their cross-county rivals on back to back nights.

A funny (but serious to him) side story tonight was soon to be 41 year old Ducks hall of famer to be Teemu Selanne’s first fight since he broke into the NHL when Rocket Richard was just a baby. Selanne who’s now 27th on the NHL’s all-time scoring list and amazingly tied for 8th in league scoring this season along with being 3rd in power play goals, couldn’t have taken it any better when I had the chance to ask him about his scrap with L.A.’s Brad Richardson after the game…

Teemu Selanne with Ted Sobel et al:

Since we’re talking fights, who else did I need to go to next than Ducks enforcer George Parros who’s hopefully not concerned about Selanne stealing his job… 🙂

George Parros with Ted Sobel:

Even Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle had fun with the Selanne bout but was mostly enjoying the thought of home ice advantage when I spoke to him in the hallway…

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle with Ted Sobel:

I then caught up with the NHL’s only 50 goal scorer this season and very possibly the next Hart trophy (league MVP) winner Corey Perry as we talked about such a wild finish to the regular season…

Corey Perry with Ted Sobel:

I then hustled into the Kings unhappy locker room where I spoke with the Dustins, Captain Brown and ex-Duck right winger Penner about what’s ahead in the first round of the playoffs after such a poor ending to the season…

Kings captain Dustin Brown with Ted Sobel:

Kings right wing Dustin Penner:

After my trek to both locker rooms I ran into Selanne in the hallway taking a picture with a friend. And it hit me how fun it would be to get that classic fighter’s pose with one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet and Teemu not only loved the idea but then loved the ‘finnished’ product-also something to remember what could possibly be his final NHL regular season game ever (although the way he’s playing now-don’t bet on it!).

And last but never least, I saw Kings Hall of Fame play by play legend Bob Miller in the media dining room and thought there’s no other voice you’d rather hear than Bob giving his thoughts on his beloved Kings as they limp into the playoffs-which is hard to do on skates…:)

Bob Miller with Ted Sobel:

So the playoffs are upon us and we’re just hours away from knowing who the first round opponents will be for our locals. But at least we can finally say that for the first time in their 19 years as So-Cal rivals, the Kings and Ducks have reached the post-season together and now must find a way to meet in a series to get this area ‘hockey crazy’ (for at least a few weeks anyway). It really doesn’t seem very promising today but as Bob Miller just stated…anything can happen in the run for the Stanley Cup. Good luck boys!