Ducks electrify opener with double OT thriller

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Western Conference finals turned out to be

the close checking, solid defensive game we all thought.

The Mighty Ducks beat out the Minnesota Wild, 1-0, in a double overtime fight that ended with Jean-Sebastien Giguere blocking all of

the Wild’s 39 saves, and Petr Sykora scoring 8:06 into the second

extra session to end the game.

The first period saw both teams making some early nervous mistakes

but seemed to adjust and eventually began to play the style that

brought each of them to the Western Conference finals.

Anaheim appeared to be a little out of sync early on but that

could be attributed to the fact that the Ducks had a longer layoff

between series. Most players will tell you that after taking or

giving that first hit, you are in it. For a goalie you want to get a

good look at that first shot and make a clean save. The more action

you get early on, the more involved you become.

Giguere was definitely the more active of the two goalies during

the first two periods. Manny Fernandez, who got the start over Dwayne

Roloson, was equally solid but was not tested near as much as

Giguere. Both goalies and tight defense by both teams kept the

scoreless tie through two periods.

Minnesota really was the aggressor in the first two periods and

had several good opportunities because of Ducks turnovers. They had

good speed and seemed to surprise the Ducks with that speed and their

ability to counter attack.

But Giguere did his job and turned back each of these scoring

chances.

This game exemplified great team play and the commitment to

defense. I have talked about time and space in the past, and clearly

in the Excel Energy Arena there was little of both.

On occasion, the line of Sergei Zholtok, Cliff Ronning and Pascal

Dupuis were able to generate some good speed for the Wild and created

some chances but they were far and few between.

As for the Ducks, Steve Thomas, Stan Chistov and Sam Pahlsonn were

the most effective line combination for Anaheim.

As I watched the third period unfold, the game began to take on

that familiar feeling. What would it take for one of these teams to

score on Giguere or Fernandez? Were we looking at another Game 1

overtime.

Why not, the Ducks other series openers went to overtime with the

Ducks prevailing in both. The only thing that concerned me was that

the Wild seemed to be carrying the play as the game neared the end of

regulation.

But then I remembered that the Ducks have won 7-of-8 games with

five minutes or less remaining. As the third period ended, I could

not wait to see what overtime would bring.

I didn’t have to wait long to see. Wow what an overtime. The first

ten minutes were fast and furious and fatigue certainly didn’t appear

to be a factor for either team. The Wild carried the play and put

constant pressure on the Anaheim defense and goalie Giguere.

Giguere was called upon to make several big saves to keep his team

in it. Manny Fernandez was no slouch either at the other end making

point blank saves on Stanislav Chistov and Sykora.

Then the Wild got a power play late in the first overtime period

but failed to make anything happen and would this missed opportunity

come into play later on?

As the teams began the second overtime, I was sure that the longer

this game went there was a huge advantage to the Ducks.

At some point the Minnesota Wild have to feel effects from going

seven games in both of their prior rounds and playing their fourth

game in six days. Both teams traded chances with Minnesota having the

better of them in the second overtime.

However, as we have learned, these overtime games have been won on

mistakes and the Ducks were again able to convert. With Filip Kuba

pinching in at the offensive blue line, Mike LeClerc was able to get

by him and move up the ice on a two on one with Peter Sykora.

Sykora, like any good goal scorer, drove the net and got a nice

pass that sent him in all alone on Fernandez.

With a great deke, Sykora put the puck past the outstretched glove

of Fernandez and put the Ducks up one game to none. This once again

puts the Ducks in the drivers seat and back in that familiar position

of having regained home ice advantage.

Tonight, the Ducks will play Game 2, and the team will have the

confidence of a one-game advantage on its side. Win or lose, their

confidence will be sky-high when they return Wednesday, as the fans

will be at Arrowhead Pond to cheer them on.