On Thursday, Ducks wing Teemu Selanne was on the phone with a close friend who is battling terminal cancer back in Finland. The friend asked his fellow countryman to send him the puck if he recorded a hat trick in an upcoming game. That night, Selanne picked up his first three-goal game since March 2001, in a 5-1 victory over Dallas. Was Selanne pulling a miracle out of his helmet, conjuring comparisons to Babe Ruth's purported promise to hit home runs for an ailing boy? Not so fast. Although Selanne hadn't managed a hat trick in nearly six years, he has three multigoal games in Anaheim's last seven contests. He's been finding the net with ease and has nine goals in that seven-game span. With the pace he's keeping of late, Selanne could flirt with his first 50-goal season since 1997-98. Also setting a torrid goal-scoring pace is Washington's second-year wing, Alexander Semin. The 22-year-old Russian tallied 10 goals in 52 games during his debut season, and has responded with 24 in his first 40 games of 2006-07. Semin also is off to a fast start in 2007, with seven goals in his last four games. He was held scoreless in Washington's New Year's Day loss to Phoenix, but has recorded three two-goal games in his last four. Known for a quick wrist shot and wicked slapper, Semin scored the game-winner on a backhand Saturday night, putting his second shot past Altanta goaltender Kari Lehtonen for a 3-2 win with 17.7 seconds remaining in overtime. Semin currently trails fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin by just four goals at the top of Washington's leader board. On the NHL board, the less-heralded Semin is tied for seventh in goals. The pace he's keeping could bring him a lot more attention in the new year.