Strong play keeps Ducks scoring

The Mighty Ducks won again on Saturday and showed their resiliency as

they came back against the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings to

take a 2-0 lead into Monday night’s first home game.

Down a goal with six minutes to play, Jason Krog took a great pass

from Rob Niedermayer and walked in alone on goalie Curtis Joseph.

Krog went forehand to backhand and lifted one top shelf for the game

tying goal.

Just as everyone was preparing for another overtime game, the

Ducks struck again for the go-ahead goal. Who else should have it

been but Steve Thomas? The 39-year-old has been rejuvenated since

coming to the Ducks, and his scoring touch has been reignited.

Another great pass from Niedermayer as Chris Chelios stepped up at

the blue line sent Thomas in. He walked into the top of the face off

circle and blasted a low slap shot that slid under goaltender Joseph.

In playoff hockey, that is the kind of goal that a goalie cannot

afford to let in, and from Joseph’s reaction, he new just that.

At the other end, J.S. Giguere was stopping just about everything

the Red Wings could throw at him. For a goaltender, there is nothing

better than being able to gain an edge on your opponents and having

them believe that only a perfect shot or a perfect pass play will

beat you. Giguere has certainly placed that kind of doubt into the

Red Wings heads.

Being able to continue to frustrate the Wings’ offense will

certainly open up some more scoring chances at the other end of the

ice for the Ducks. The success of this team will continue to rely on

strong goaltending and the ability of the team to keep a good gap in

the neutral zone to avoid outnumbered attacks. They have done it well

for the first two games and will have to continue if they want to

advance to the next round. If they get caught trying to match rush

for rush against the Wings, that will play to Detroit’s strength.

The Ducks again were strong defensively and did a great job with

matching Steve Rucchin against Federov’s line any time they got out

there. Rucchin has once again continued his strong performance and

with his leadership, the Ducks should continue with their strong

play.

In looking at this team and trying to determine who the most

valuable player has been in this series so far has been a no-brainer.

It’s probably not who you would expect me to pick. It is General

Manager Bryan Murray.

No other person or player has had a bigger impact on the success

of the Mighty Ducks organization than he has had. He has been able to

select the right coaching staff, assemble a solid team around its

core players and then add quality veteran players to that team near

the end of the season. These players, Sandis Ozolinsh, Niedermayer

and Thomas, have helped solidify the team and add depth in scoring

with veteran leadership.

Murray has obviously decided that the team is capable of winning

now and has done all things necessary to give his club the best

chance of success. (It makes me both proud and a little envious of

this team).

At this time of year, you need all 20 guys pitching in to be able

to win. One bad shift can cost you a game, or even the series.

That is what has been most impressive for me to see from this

Ducks team. All the players have been prepared to play and,

especially in Joe Louis, this is no easy task. I can tell you that

the team is ready to come home and show the Mighty Ducks fans that

they are a legitimate playoff team, one that can play with anyone.

They will certainly be ready to play in their own building and use

the energy the fans give them.

My advice to all the fans out there is, enjoy it! This is Stanley

Cup hockey.