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This has been a difficult year for the Ducks, they have been up and down and scoring is a problem along with a lapse in defense at points. While the Ducks showed lapses last year, they were intimidating the whole time were this year they were intimidating basically when they won and that was it. Here are my viewpoints and predictions.
I think the Ducks are a strong team and are getting healthy, but one problem exists. Unlike last year when we got healthy about a month before the end of season and could get used to playing with each again, we have to get Pronger inserted back in and playing well, Carter and Perry. Carter looked great adding some spark, but Pronger has routinely taken three to five games to adjust and will Perry be able to gel quickly enough without messing up any momentum later in the series or if we advance in the second round?
A second issue is scoring. I like Carter adding some spark to Selanne/Kunitz and hopefully he can play well as he is good in the faceoff circle. I have a problem with getting in front of the net. At times we are physical and daunting up front then other times the puck sits there and no one goes for it. Bertuzzi has to the Penner presence, even if he doesn't touch the puck and other guys have to go in. Our third line will also have to provide spark.
My last issue is lapses. Routinely we are strong the whole game come playoff time, but will we again this year. I think yes as our motivation will be there. Like the Sharks and Wings, we seem to be able to turn it on and off when we want. We have to play good defense the whole game, which I think we will with seven or eight guys in our lineup. I think Bergeron will suit up as a seventh defenseman and I like him on the PP and possibly Dipenta but I doubt this move. The only certain for us is Giguere playing well right now and our shutdown line of Pahlsson, Moen and Niedermayer stopping the top line.
Now, predictions. I like the Ducks going all the way, but the Sharks, Wings, Stars and Flames all have claim. The Preds are out of the question and Avs and Wild have enough to possibly get to the conference finals playing well, but unlikely. I like the Ducks beating the Stars, but San Jose will tough and I think we might lose that series. The Sharks will be physically tested by Calgary and then the Wings might not be challenged by anyone until the conference finals. It looked like the western conference winner would have to face 2 tough teams on the road to the cup, but the Ducks would probably get three tough teams and the Sharks two. Either way the western conference will be beat up for the Canadiens or Penguins and good finals will ensue. I still like the Ducks winning it because of experience and toughness though. Go Ducks!!!
Sorry for the long post, but what does everyone else think about this or what else is missing?
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