Ducks and Red Wings: A Preview
Posted 2:12 AM ET | Comments 6
Well, it looks like both teams of the Western Conference finals have earned their position as the top two teams in the west. A good amount of people have predicted Calgary to emerge from the first round. Even more predicted the Sharks would emerge from round two. Even if everyone were to predict the Ducks, I'd still have a source of worries from a Detroit team that absolutely refuses to sit down. Of course, I still believe the Ducks can win the WCF.
The Ducks have defeated two of the most defensive teams in the league so it will undoubtedly be disorienting playing a team that has a pretty potent offense. However, I think the Ducks can rise to the occasion, seeing that they can adapt their play to almost any playstyle (I think Jacques Lemaire first pointed this out).
Offensively, both teams are obviously very good. However, Marchant's return could see us return to a 4 line system and with the our checking line playing as well as they have, Advantage: Ducks (by a small margin)
Defensively, the loss of Schneider is definitely going to hurt Detroit. However, the Ducks have never faced a norris defenseman yet in the playoffs so once again, simply dismissing the Red Wings would be a bad idea. I also stand by the notion that defensively, our checking line has been better than theirs. Seeing this, advantage: Ducks.
While Hasek is a good goalie, I think I'm inclined to give a very slight advantage to the Ducks here. Frankly, I don't see either goalie outplaying the other by a large margin but because of Hasek's propensity to injure himself and because of Bryzgalov's availability for Anaheim, I think the favor swings slightly in Anaheim's direction.
The Ducks are much more physical and if they continue their usual physical game, it will take a toll on their old grizzled vets.
It may seem extremely homer of me to stack everything in the Ducks favor. However, Detroit seems to have what it takes to git 'er done. These clear advantages on paper don't provide a clear assessment on how the games look to play out. The bottom line is that I see Schneider's absence as a big loss to the Wings and I think our Physical style of game will start to make those seemingly ageless players show their age. As long as the Ducks are able to stay consistent and keep up the quality of play they've been showing in the previous two rounds, I see the Ducks putting this away in 6.
The Ducks have defeated two of the most defensive teams in the league so it will undoubtedly be disorienting playing a team that has a pretty potent offense. However, I think the Ducks can rise to the occasion, seeing that they can adapt their play to almost any playstyle (I think Jacques Lemaire first pointed this out).
Offensively, both teams are obviously very good. However, Marchant's return could see us return to a 4 line system and with the our checking line playing as well as they have, Advantage: Ducks (by a small margin)
Defensively, the loss of Schneider is definitely going to hurt Detroit. However, the Ducks have never faced a norris defenseman yet in the playoffs so once again, simply dismissing the Red Wings would be a bad idea. I also stand by the notion that defensively, our checking line has been better than theirs. Seeing this, advantage: Ducks.
While Hasek is a good goalie, I think I'm inclined to give a very slight advantage to the Ducks here. Frankly, I don't see either goalie outplaying the other by a large margin but because of Hasek's propensity to injure himself and because of Bryzgalov's availability for Anaheim, I think the favor swings slightly in Anaheim's direction.
The Ducks are much more physical and if they continue their usual physical game, it will take a toll on their old grizzled vets.
It may seem extremely homer of me to stack everything in the Ducks favor. However, Detroit seems to have what it takes to git 'er done. These clear advantages on paper don't provide a clear assessment on how the games look to play out. The bottom line is that I see Schneider's absence as a big loss to the Wings and I think our Physical style of game will start to make those seemingly ageless players show their age. As long as the Ducks are able to stay consistent and keep up the quality of play they've been showing in the previous two rounds, I see the Ducks putting this away in 6.
Ducks in 6???? LOL.......What a joke.....ANA played two of the best defensive teams?? How about 2 of the WORST OFFENSIVE teams!!Take off you ANA tinged glasses, dude. MIN
Ducks in 6???? LOL.......What a joke.....ANA played two of the best defensive teams?? How about 2 of the WORST OFFENSIVE teams!!Take off you ANA tinged glasses, dude. MIN
Don't need to say it twice. I don't agree. Red Wings in 7. And they have lots of offence believe me, I'm a Canucks fan. And thank you we finaly got a Ducks/Wings preview.
This series will come down to goaltending. If Domink Hasek has one of his flakey meltdowns the Ducks will advance, however, he did seem to have his head back in the game during games 5 and 6 of the Sharks series. I am gonna have to say Red Wings in 6 unless Hasek goes coo-coo.
wings10cup... get a life. Would you really respect the blogger if he wrote Wings in 6, being a Duck fan??? Geez... everybody has their own spin on the series. No need to comment on every blog that the blogger is a homer, and has Duck-tinted glasses.
Good call Nemmy. Congrats Ducks!Bring on the Sens!