West Matchup: (2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks


Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks
Power Home 0.502 0.614
Power Away 0.642 0.557
Power Total 0.581 0.559

Goals For 222 258
Goals Against 201 208
Diff Per Game 0.256 0.610

PowerPlay 17.2% (20th) 22.4% (3rd)
PenaltyKill 86.9% (1st) 85.1% (5th(
PP+PK 104.10% 107.50%

Key players for Vancouver: Sedin twins, Roberto Luongo, Trevor Linden

Key players for Anaheim: Chris Pronger, Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer

Analysis: Vancouver got the easiest draw in the first round and barely outscored the Stars. Luongo did everything he was expected to do, Linden did far more than that, and then everything petered out.

With all due respect to Trevor Linden, he cannot be your highest scoring player in the playoffs. Marcus Naslund and the Sedin twins need to get moving and moving fast, because the Ducks will be flying from the first puck drop. And they’re fast, and they’re big and they’re mean. If they can do so without taking too many penalties, the Canucks will be lucky to see more than 2 home dates.

I’m pulling for the Canucks because I have to hope for the Cup to come back to Canada (and Ottawa doesn’t count ;)) but I wouldn’t put any money on them.

Prediction: Ducks in 5

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