Ducks are ready for the next test

* EDITOR’S NOTE: As a special feature, Guy Hebert, a Newport Beach

resident and former goalie for the Mighty Ducks, will be writing

regular diaries about the team and its experiences throughout the

playoffs.

Well it didn’t take long, and it should not have come as a big

surprise whom the Ducks would play.

Yes, the never-say-die Minnesota Wild have accomplished something

that no other team in the history of the NHL has ever done. That is,

being down three games to one in each of its first two rounds and

then coming back from the brink of elimination to win both

game-sevens on the road.

This was no easy task because of the teams that stood in their

path. First-round opponent the Colorado Avalanche, a favorite to make

a run at their second Stanley Cup title, boasted stars such as Joe

Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Rob Blake and Patrick Roy. Round two against

the Vancouver Canucks, with the big line of Todd Bertuzzi, Markus

Naslund and Brendan Morrison along with Trevor Linden and Ed

Jovanoski, certainly pitted stars against the no-name Minnesota Wild.

These no-names won each of their first two rounds by simply

playing as a team, with each player playing his role as directed by

coach Jaques Lemaire. They play a flawless defensive style and attack

when other teams get frustrated. They clog the neutral zone, protect

their goalie and play a simple game.

While there are really no big names on the Wild roster, there are

a few that you might recognize, like youngster Marion Gaborik or

veteran Cliff Ronning. Or most likely, former Ducks Jason Marshall,

Richard Park and Jeremy Stevenson, all of whom will certainly be

looking forward to this match up.

The Wild have gotten balanced scoring from a number of players,

and for a defensive team, they have certainly been able to score

goals in bunches.

Goaltending has been mostly in the hands of journeyman Dwayne

Roloson, who has played solidly for the Wild and will need to

continue to do so as the stakes get higher. If Roloson should falter

as in the first round against Colorado, they will use former No. 1

goalie Manny Fernandez.

Most teams like to stay with their No. 1 goalie, but Minnesota has

been able to keep both of these guys happy and motivated in their

tandem situation. As a former goalie myself, I know this is no easy

task for a coach to get two goalies to share the duties and still be

successful.

Again, this is a team. The team comes first, and when they keep it

that way, they have success. Just ask Colorado and Vancouver.

Teamwork simply outplayed skill.

Well, what can we expect from Minnesota in the next round against

the Ducks? Plenty of what has gotten them to the Western Conference

Finals. Hard work, sacrifice, team-first attitude and, of course,

keeping it simple by playing their style. Do not underestimate the

Wild just because they don’t have the marquee player names that

Detroit, Dallas, Colorado and Vancouver have had. If the Ducks make

that mistake, it will certainly come back to haunt them.

The Ducks will certainly be the more rested team, since they

finished out their series on Monday night and the Wild had to go to

game seven Thursday night in Vancouver. This is a huge advantage, and

the Ducks should try and seize some early momentum. I am sure that

Mike Babcock and the coaching staff are making the guys painfully

aware of how good the team they are playing really is.

Both teams have performed well and have earned the right to play

for the Western Conference title. The teams are quite similar in the

defensive style that they play and both counterattack on turnovers

that result from constant pressure up ice.

It will really be a chess match out there. Coaches will be pairing

lines against lines and taking advantage of opportunities in the

offensive zone with their best face off men to create chances.

The Ducks will rely on Steve Rucchin again to play a key role

defensively and most likely play against Marian Gaborik’s line. Other

key players will be Petr Sykora, Adam Oates and Paul Kariya. It is

tribute to how good the Anaheim team is that they have gone two

rounds and have not had their best player making an impact. Paul will

need to raise his game and show why he is one of the highest paid

players in the league.

J.S. Giguere may not have to be as spectacular between the pipes

as he has been, but he will be called upon to make the saves when

they are needed. This sometimes is more difficult than getting

barraged by shots because of the time in between action. The mind has

a tendency to wander, so focus and concentration will be at a

premium.

The pivotal area for these two teams will be special teams.

Anaheim has gotten away with a very sporadic power play to this

point, but will need to create more scoring in this area if they are

to beat the Wild. Kariya, Oates, Sykora along with Sandis Ozolinsh

and Niclas Havelid certainly have the talent to put the puck in the

net.

Puck movement is a key when on the power play to get defensive

players caught out of position. Once this is accomplished, the Ducks

need to put more pucks on the net and outnumber the Wild defenders

down low. This allows for more tips, screens and rebounds. Time and

space will be limited by stringent defense and the best opportunities

to score will no doubt come from the man advantage.

In contrast, the Minnesota Wild have had tremendous success with

their power play unit and have had dramatic changes in momentum

coming as a direct result of their scoring ability here. Once again,

the Ducks penalty-killing unit will be on the spot, and defensemen

Keith Carney will lead the team in this area.

No one could have predicted these two teams being in the Western

Conference finals. They have played beyond anyone’s expectations

except possibly their own. The National Hockey League and the Western

Conference has a new look to it, and it looks good to Orange County

fans.

No one now should be surprised by the success that these two teams

have had. Their match up will certainly get some attention from its

eastern rivals.