Mighty luck for the Mighty Ducks

Can you believe this! The Mighty Ducks won again on Saturday, to take

a 2-0 lead in games against the Dallas Stars in the second round of

the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It seemed highly unlikely that the Mighty Ducks, who finished

seventh in Western conference, would be able to make it out of the

first round. Not only did the team sweep the defending Stanley Cup

champions in the first round, they have given the Anaheim fans a

reason to dig their brooms out of the closet and place them by the

front door just in case.

In all my years associated with hockey, both as a player and a

fan, I have rarely seen a team of destiny like this one. Just when

the team needs a lucky bounce, great save or big goal, they get it.

How else can one explain the Ducks’ being down 2-1 with roughly

five minutes to play, getting a power play, not scoring on that power

play, but ending up tying and winning the game anyway. The Ducks came

up short on the power play, but got one huge save from J.S. Giguere

on Kirk Muller with two minutes left. With a timely turnover by

Dallas and that lucky bounce, the Ducks got the equalizer with a

minute left in regulation.

This time, it did not take long for the Ducks to convert in

overtime. Mike LeClerc quickly ended the game and sent the Ducks to

the locker room. They are now heading home to the comforting confines

of the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim.

These events have left possibly the best team in the NHL stunned.

Dallas, for the most part, dominated the game, and Stars center Mike

Modano was a one-man show.

The only thing that the Stars were not able to accomplish was

winning the game. That, folks, is why we play. Sometimes the best

team on paper and even sometimes the best team on the ice, isn’t able

to win the game.

The Stars are a veteran team and should be able to respond and

regroup as they head west. However, I thought the same of the Red

Wings.

We will see in game three what is to come, but for now, it seems

that Mighty Ducks fans are quickly cashing in on years of frustration

for a team that did not or would not go the extra mile. General

manager Brian Murray has assembled all the pieces of the puzzle,

adding where needed, and has now set them in motion to fulfill the

task at hand.

It is a pleasure to watch this group of guys. They have

demonstrated an incredible amount of resilience during this playoff

race and they will need to continue that if they expect to lift the

Stanley Cup over heads. This team will continue to take it one game

at a time and not get too far ahead of itself. At this point, they

have all the makings for becoming champions. Only time will tell.

I will tell you that there are a lot of nervous teams out there

right now, hoping that someone will knock off the hottest team in the

NHL. For now, the team will come home and look forward to playing in

its own house, in front of its own fans and enjoy this ride with

them.

I am frequently asked what I say or would say to these guys during

this incredible run. Well, that’s easy.

As a player, you never know, no matter if you are a rookie or an

aging veteran, if you will ever get another chance as good as this

one. Embrace this opportunity, because the fact is, this may be your

best or even your last chance. Injuries, trades and deteriorating

skills may inhibit you from being able to get back to the playoffs in

the future.

Enjoy the opportunity to put your physical skill and your mental

toughness to the test, and hold nothing back. In the end, the rewards

will speak for themselves.