NO. 2 ANAHEIM DUCKS (30-12-6) VS NO. 7 DETROIT RED WINGS (24-16-8)
STRENGTHS
DUCKS: Huge 1-2 punch at forward with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, the sort of big-body types who typically trouble the Wings. Perry leads all Western Conference scorers since 201011 with 102 goals. Equally solid tandem in goal with Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth splitting time and both owning save percentages above .910. The Ducks posted their best road-winning percentage in franchise history (.687) and also set a club record by winning 13 consecutive home games from Jan. 26 to March 20.
WINGS: Got on roll to earn 22nd consecutive playoff appearance, winning last four games of the season and losing just once in regulation over their last nine. Dynamic duo of captain Henrik Zetterberg (4-8-12 in last four games) and Pavel Datsyuk (2-6-8 in last three games) were reunited down the stretch and delivered the goods. Goalie Jimmy Howard had his best NHL season. He was consistent all season, tying for the league lead with five shutouts and winning 10 games when the team was outshot. Forward Johan Franzen scored seven times in Detroit’s last seven games.
WEAKNESSES
DUCKS: Challenging Chicago for first overall in the West with a 22-3-4 record on March 20, the Ducks closed out the regular season 8-9-2. Skid started with back-to-back losses on home ice to Detroit. Secondary scoring could be an issue. Teemu Selanne (four goals in 17 games), Bobby Ryan (two goals in 17 games) and Saku Koivu (one goal in 27 games) are all struggling. Daniel Winnik, who scored five times in Anaheim’s first four games, has tallied once since. Ducks have won just one playoff series since capturing Stanley Cup in 2006-07.
WINGS: Putting the puck in the net has been an issue for Detroit all season long. The Wings scored fewer than three goals in 25 of 48 games and won just four of those games. Special teams were improved down the stretch, but it’s been feast or famine for the Wings on the power play all season long, especially on the road, where they finished 23rd in the NHL (12.5 per cent). Three rookies — defencemen Brendan Smith and Danny DeKeyser and third-line centre Joakim Andersson — will play key roles during their first post-season opportunity. Smith and DeKeyser often work as a penalty-killing tandem.
BREAKING IT DOWN
FOR THE DUCKS TO WIN: Perry and Getzlaf must be dominant, Anaheim must use its size up front to its advantage against the less physical Wings defence.
FOR THE WINGS TO WIN: Howard will need to maintain his brilliance, Datsyuk and Zetterberg must continue their recent dominance, Franzen should keep his scoring roll going and defencemen Smith and DeKeyser can’t be overwhelmed by their first playoff experience.