Empowerment Is a Key Issue

After six hard-fought games, the Mighty Ducks and New Jersey Devils will decide the Stanley Cup championship tonight at Continental Airlines Arena.

Let’s just hope that officiating doesn’t play a big role in the outcome.

In Game 6, the Ducks took advantage of two power-play goals scored in eight man-advantage situations to defeat New Jersey, 5-2, on a night the Devils enjoyed only three power-play opportunities.

It was the first time in the series that the Ducks had more man-advantage situations than the Devils, who held a 16-9 edge in power-play chances before Game 6.

Duck General Manager Bryan Murray complained to the NHL’s director of officiating, Andy Van Hellemond, about the disparity of penalties before Game 5 and nothing really changed. In a 6-3 victory, the Devils had four power-play chances to the Ducks’ one.

But after Murray grumbled to reporters about the power-play discrepancy in the series after Game 5, the Ducks finally had a few calls go their way and they won easily Saturday. Go figure.

A breakdown of Game 7:

NEW JERSEY’S MOVE -- The biggest thing the Devils can do is not think about their collapse in the 2001 Cup finals against Colorado when they blew a 3-2 lead to the Avalanche. That was a different team in a different season. The Devils can’t afford any negative thinking because it’s going to be difficult enough for them to beat the Ducks a fourth consecutive time at home.

Goaltender Martin Brodeur was pulled early in the third period of Game 6 after giving up five goals. It was Brodeur’s worst game of the series but it wasn’t entirely his fault.

New Jersey defensemen allowed Duck forwards to get too deep into the Devil zone and their inability to clear pucks hampered Brodeur. Look for New Jersey’s defensemen to be aggressive early in an attempt to keep the Ducks from skating to the net for deflections and rebounds.

The most important player for New Jersey may be forward Jamie Langenbrunner, who struggled in Game 6 after a dominant two-goal effort in Game 5.

When Langenbrunner is playing smart and with passion, he’s a force to be reckoned with, but sometimes he can disappear, as he did on Saturday.

DUCKS’ MOVE -- Center Steve Rucchin’s ability to win faceoffs will be crucial. Although the Ducks have some quality faceoff men, including Adam Oates, Jason Krog and Samuel Pahlsson, Coach Mike Babcock will count on Rucchin with everything on the line, especially in the Ducks’ defensive zone.

Rucchin, who won 12 of 16 draws in Game 6 and is winning 52% of his faceoffs in the playoffs, has found his scoring touch at the right time with three goals in the last two games. The key for Babcock is to make sure that Rucchin is fresh for the third period if the game is tight.

The Ducks can’t afford to get caught up early in the energy the Devils will receive from their crowd. Playing a wild, open-ice game on the road does not work in the Ducks’ favor even if they score first. Just look back to Game 5. If the Ducks are to bring the Cup home, they will do it with defense and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.