Game one of the playoffs is approaching rapidly and as the Anaheim Ducks look toward the 2007-2008 playoffs, they might not look exactly the same as last year’s team. Noticeably different, the Ducks team has changed a bit. Mathieu Schneider is a welcome addition to the defense, while the controversial figure to some, Todd Bertuzzi, has done his bit, but it’s the curious play of Doug Weight that has me more stunned than anything. The Ducks lost a good player in Andy MacDonald, in order to make cap room for Scott Niedermayer and gained Doug Weight, which most of us thought would be an almost even trade…so far it hasn’t proven to be true. Weight’s struggles are a concern, since MacDonald was a major contributor in last year’s march to the Finals, but I am sure that as the playoffs start, Weight will find his stride and start putting some pucks in the net. In the first round of the 2007-2008 Western Conference quarterfinals, the Ducks are matched up with not only a Pacific Division opponent, but an opponent who has seemingly had their number all season long. The Dallas Stars took the season series, winning five of the eight games against the Ducks, three of them at home. Now, for a homer like me, I would like to think that the Boys of SoCal were just saving up those wins for when it really counts, in the playoffs. Finishing 28
th in the league in goals per game and 20
th on the power play, the Ducks don’t seem like the likeliest contenders to make it to the Finals and defend the Stanley Cup, but they have, in their own way, overcome the obstacles that the past two Cup Champions couldn’t, they secured the fourth spot for home ice and they finished with just 8 points less than last year’s 110 and only 6 points behind the Pacific division leader, San Jose Sharks. After their respective cup wins, Tampa Bay crawled into eighth place in a tight race for the final two spots, with 92 points in the 2005-2006 season only two points ahead of ninth place and in last season’s defense campaign, Carolina failed to reach the playoffs, finishing in 11
th place. Called a bubble team by some experts, the Ducks finished higher than some had expected, but that was at the beginning of the season. Before the return of Scott Niedermayer on December 16
th, 2007 and Teemu Selanne on February 5
th, 2008, the defending cup Champs were struggling with a 15-15-4 record, of course they were struggling under a cloud of uncertainty as they wondered which one of them would be the one to go to make room under the cap for the elder Niederbrother. Since their former Captain has returned, the Ducks have gone 32-12-4, which is also the best record in the NHL since December 16, at least according the those “experts” on Versus. Yes, that comment was made in jest, forgive me. For those who are a fan of the Finnish Flash, since Teemu Selanne’s return, the Ducks have gone 20-5-1. The Ducks chances are just as good as any in their upcoming match against Dallas. With the return of Captain Chris Pronger, after an 8 game suspension for stomping on Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler, the Ducks are once again heavy on experience, as well as effective firepower. Finishing the season with 12 goals and 31 assists (12-13=43), Pronger has proven to be successful in all area’s of play and with the added experience of Mathieu Schneider and Scott Niedermayer on the blue line, this could be a combination the Ducks need to make it once again to the finals, where they can truly defend their Cup win from last year.
In a nutshell, it is going to take team play from this band of brothers, who protect each other like a mother bear would protect her cub. If they can stay out of the box and mind their P’s and Q’s, the Ducks could very well accomplish what no team has in ten years since the 1997-1998 season, when Detroit won their second Stanley cup in as many tries. Scoring could become a factor, but don’t count out the Ducks based on their regular season performance…the playoffs are a whole new season and anything can happen.
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6 months ago
Great job Shellymarie, I am a borderline hockey fan, but your article makes me want to watch all the games the Ducks play...great job...keep it up....
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