A Mighty look at what lies ahead

It seems only appropriate that the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim face off

against the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the Western

Conference playoffs.

This appears to be a date with destiny. How else can one explain

that in the team’s third trip to the post season, they will face the

same opponent for the third time?

As the saying goes, the third time is the charm. In looking at

these two teams on paper the edge certainly must go to Detroit. The

great thing about sports is that fortunately games are played on the

ice and really in the end, the winner is determined by which team

makes fewer mistakes.

Let’s take a look at the teams.

For the Mighty Ducks, who are listed as underdogs, the rating has

put them in a relaxed but focused position. The fact that they start

on the road tonight is going to be a great benefit. They will be able

to avoid most if not all distractions that come with the playoffs in

the NHL. They will be holed up in the hotel being able to take

advantage of putting all their energy and concentration into game

preparation.

Head coach Mike Babcock and his staff will get the team together

to go over film and strategy at a moments notice. Also, the team will

not feel the early pressure to play at home and try and be too fancy.

They will be able to keep it simple and allow there young players to

get there feet wet in playoff hockey, which we all know reaches an

entirely new level of intensity.

Here is a scouting report on tonight’s game:

* OFFENSE: What Anaheim is able to throw at the Red Wings this

time around is a well balanced offensive attack. Captain Paul Kariya

has the top line with Adam Oates and Peter Sykora which will be able

to test the Red Wings defense with their speed and skill. They will

put up some good numbers, but what is more impressive is the

following two lines. The Ducks can now put Steve Rucchin, Mike

LeClerc and Rob Niedermayer or Stanislav Chistov, Samuel Pahlsson and

Steve Thomas on the ice which will provide the scoring depth Anaheim

has never had before.

As for the Red Wings, there is no shortage of offense. The list of

talent speaks for itself and they will no doubt get their chances on

Anaheim’s goalies. Hull, Shanahan, Federov, Yzerman, Lidstrom and the

list goes on will take chances on the offensive end of the ice.

* POWER PLAY: No question the Ducks have the talent to have a

great power play. Both units will have their chance to shine and

again the team will have two balanced units to throw against

Detroit’s penalty killing unit. If Anaheim is to be successful the

point players will be the key in being able to handle Detroit’s

pressure and making sure that they are putting pucks at the net.

Detroit, boasting the future hall of fame cast on their power play

will use Nicklas Lidstrom as their point man and direct where and how

the play functions. As always he is a threat to score from the point.

* DEFENSE: As always, in order to make a serious run at the

Stanley Cup the goalie becomes the major focus for both

organizations. Teams feel that they can ride a hot goalie all the way

to the Cup. This certainly is true and now for Anaheim it can rest on

other shoulders than mine. J.S. Giguerre will be the man in the

middle of all the action. He has had a tremendous season and now that

the real season is upon him he can take the next step. That step is

to make yourself and your team legitimate and the only way this is

done is to be successful in the post season. With a strong defense in

front of him, which includes Keith Carney, Sandis Ozolinsh, Kurt

Sauer, Niclas Havelid, Ruslan Salei and Freddie Olausson, he will be

well protected. These defensemen will be counted on to play pivotal

roles in limiting time and space for the Red Wings potent offense.

With the likes of Yzerman, Federov, Hull, Shanahan and Lidstrom they

will have their hands full.

Detroit will have rely on Curtis Joseph to bounce back from an

average season and regain his form. They will have Chelios and

Lidstrom, along with newly acquired Mathieu Schneider to help stop

the Ducks speedy offense.

* PENALTY KILL: This may be where the series is won or lost. With

one of the best penalty killing units playing against one of the top

power play units, this will be something to look back on when the

series is over. Again, the goalie is your best penalty killer and

J.S. Giguerre will have to be at his best and making sure he can

control his rebounds.

For Detroit the big question mark will be their goaltending. Will

Curtis Joseph play like the old Cujo or will he continue to struggle

to find his rhythm. This is the area that the Wings feel most

vulnerable going into the playoffs. Much like Giguerre, Joseph will

carry the load and the pressure on him to carry his team to the

finals.

* Newport Beach resident Guy Hebert is the Alumni Association

Director for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Hebert, acquired by the

Mighty Ducks in the 1993-94 expansion draft, played eight years for

the team and continues to hold many of the team’s goaltending

records.