Western Conference Quarterfinal

 

Season Series (Anaheim 3-2-3)

 

Leading Scorers
  • LW Fredrik Sjostrom (82 GP, 26 G, 38 A, 64 PTS)
  • C Daymond Langkow (81 GP, 16 G, 43 A, 59 PTS)
  • RW Branko Radivojevic (80 GP, 22 G, 36 A, 58 PTS)
  • C Anze Kopitar (79 GP, 22 G, 34 A, 56 PTS)
  • LW Mike Fisher (79 GP, 23 G, 32 A, 55 PTS)
  • RW Alexei Kovalev (82 GP, 30 G, 51 A, 81 PTS)
  • LW Brian Rolston (81 GP, 27 G, 41 A, 68 PTS)
  • C Bobby Holik (82 G, 24 G, 38 A, 62 PTS)
  • RW Daniel Alfredsson (80 GP, 27 G, 34 A, 61 PTS)
  • LW Dustin Penner (82 GP, 16 G, 38 A, 54 PTS)

 

Special Teams
  • Power Play - 15.3 % (16th in NsHL)
  • Penalty Kill - 82.3 % (t-25th in NsHL)
  • Power Play - 18.5 % (3rd in NsHL)
  • Penalty Kill - 89.2 % (2nd in NsHL)

 

Keys to the Series

PHOENIX COYOTES

  • Crash the net. The Ducks are a very solid defensive team and Roman Cechmanek is one of the league's top goalies. Phoenix has to shoot the puck and get people going to the net. If they allow Cechmanek to see shots without much difficulty, the Ducks will be sitting pretty.
  • Special teams. The Ducks are very good on both ends, and the Coyotes will have their hands full. They have to avoid retalition penalties as the Ducks play a nasty brand of hockey. Chris Pronger will be a key on both ends as well.
  • Don't think. The Coyotes have a lot of kids who haven't been here before. They have to go out and play there game without thinking too much about every little detail. They can't give the Ducks too much respect. They have to play with the same intensity that allowed them to grab home ice for the first round.

ANAHEIM DUCKS

  • Roman Cechmanek. The Ducks play in net this year was average at best before acquiring Cechmanek. He has stablized the situation in net for Anaheim. He will have to continue his strong play for the Ducks to move on.
  • Ryan Getzlaf. He has immense talent, but the numbers weren't there during the regular season. Playing on the top line with Brian Rolston and Alexei Kovalev, he will have to produce in this series. He doesn't, however, have to do everything on his own. All the Ducks are asking is that he makes the smart plays, and not try to do too much.
  • Don't think about playoffs ghosts. The Ducks have a storied history of playoff failure in the first round. The Ducks can not allow thoughts of these failures to enter their minds. This year has nothing to do with any other year. Take care of business at hand.

 

And the winner is...

The Coyotes are one of the surprise teams of the season. It was the Ducks expected to be the primary challenger to Los Angeles in the Pacific Division. The Coyotes are also largely inexperienced. The Ducks are arguably the most playoff ready team headed in and their special team play is great. With that in mind...

Ducks in five games.