DUCKS NOTEBOOK: SELANNE HASN'T PLAYED UP TO HIS STANDARDS.

Byline: Greg Christensen Staff Writer

Twelve goals and 26 points in 25 games isn't bad, especially by today's NHL standards. But when your name is Teemu Selanne you come to expect more.

Selanne, who scored 76 goals as rookie and led the league with 47 last season, says he isn't real happy with his play this season.

``I want to play more consistently,'' said Selanne, who went a career-high five games without a point earlier this season. ``I've played OK, but not as good as I want; my standards are higher.''

Despite his reputation as a scorer, the winger said he doesn't judge his play on goal and point totals.

``I'd like to be a better all-around player, the goals and the points . . . they will come,'' he said.

Improvement: While Anaheim's power play continues to struggle, the Ducks' penalty killing has taken a turn for the better. After weeks in the cellar the Anaheim penalty killers had crawled up to No. 27 heading into Saturday's game.

The Ducks, who moved ahead of Vancouver, have killed off 34 of 37short-handed situations in the past nine games.

Gaining experience: Phoenix goalie Robert Esche was making just his fourth NHL appearance. The 21-year-old became the Coyotes' backup by default when Phoenix traded Mikhail Shtalenkov to Florida for Sean Burke, only to have Burke go down for five to six weeks with a partially torn thumb ligament.

Unable to come to terms with holdout Nikolai Khabibulin, Burke was brought in to be the starter, but he played in only two games before getting hurt.

Journeyman Bob Essensa is undefeated (8-0-1), but he is 0-4 lifetime versus the Ducks.

Also: After playing Friday night in Anaheim against the Kings, veteran defenseman Fredrik Olausson, 33, was rested by coach Craig Hartsburg on Saturday. . . . With the return of Steve Rucchin to the Ducks' No. 1 line, Matt Cullen's playing time and production has tailed off considerably. Cullen broke an eight-game scoring drought with an assist Saturday.