Ducks’ Bump-and-Grind Style Succeeds

ANAHEIM — They started out in nearly identical fashion in 1993, but it didn’t take long for the Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks to take different paths.

The Panthers went with a slightly higher payroll, a bit more skill and they zoomed to the Stanley Cup final in their third season.

The Mighty Ducks moved slower, went more with grinders and muckers, later added amazing talents, but have yet to capture a playoff berth.

But the expansion twins crashed together Wednesday night at the Pond, playing almost the same style. Amazingly enough, the Ducks adopted the Panthers’ brand of hockey and came away winners.

“Sometimes you’ve got to win ugly,” defenseman Bobby Dollas said after the Ducks stopped a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Panthers in front of 17,174.

“We won ugly tonight.”

Dumping their eye-catching but not always winning method of operation, the Ducks turned to a bit of extra work in the corners, along the boards and in front of the net to win.

“Bump-and-grind hockey,” Dollas called it.

Florida surprised North America last season by playing just that way, turning a simple formula into a spot opposite the Colorado Avalanche in the Cup final.

The Ducks copied the Panthers’ style Wednesday, but added a dose of skill from Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne and Steve Rucchin. Florida couldn’t match the Ducks’ top line and found itself outworked too.

If nothing else, the Ducks learned that when they effectively mix their talent with a bit more elbow grease the results can be winning.

“We can score, we’ve just got to take care of our own end,” Dollas said. “I thought a couple of lines worked hard in the corners. If you don’t score at least you’re tiring guys out.

“I’m a defenseman, believe me, I know what it’s like to play against guys who are always working hard in the corners.”

The Ducks began Monday’s 5-1 debacle against the Vancouver Canucks with good intentions, but ran aground after a terrific start.

“The other night, I hate to make excuses, but we came out flying in the first period against Vancouver, then it was like you could see we hit an invisible wall,” Dollas said. “We had nothing left.”

Wednesday, the Ducks followed through in better fashion. Oh, they still suffered a second-period letdown that almost cost them the game, but the defense clamped down in the third period.

They were more physical, more intense and were rewarded with their second victory over the Panthers in a week.

“We need the Rychels, the Antoskis to just crush people,” Dollas said of enforcers Warren Rychel, who scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal, and Shawn Antoski, who delivered several big hits in his first game back from a hip injury.