NHL: Wild / Ducks "The Series"
 

Ok two teams that realistically shouldn't have made it outside of the first round are now in the conference finals. First the Ducks, never has a team defeated the #1 and the #2 seed back to back in the first two rounds. The Wild, never has a team been able to come back and win back to back series after being down 3 games to 1 in each one.

Who wins this series?

Is J.S. Giguere this bad-ass?

Can Marion Gaborik rise to superstardom in the playoffs?

Come on guys and gals who do you have winning this series?

Ducks in 6. Goaltending, goaltending and goaltending are the reasons.

The Minnesota Wild is like a bad stain in that, no matter how hard you try, you can't get rid of them. So, for that reason, I'm going to have to say Wild in 7.

And goaltending is not the only key. No goaltender is complete without his defensive corps, which the Wild seem to have mastered. I haven't seen the Ducks play this year, but if they don't collapse in front of their goaltender like the Wild do, then the Wild have this sneaky ability to pass the puck across the net to an open player when no one is looking. How's Giguere's lateral?

In any case, this is going to be a tough series for either team.

Edit: Spelling mistakes

It's going to come down to special teams.. if the ducks take alot of penalties..the wild will win.. their PP is fricken awesome right now. I pick the Wild in 6

And if the ducks defense makes any mistake look for the wild to take advantage of it to the full extent. In my mind hte ducks have to play perfectly to win this.

i picked minnesota in 6, mainly cuz of their goalkeeper

They have 2 goalies =) They rotate em, both are damned good though, but i don't think they are as good as the ducks goalie.

no one is going to win and it going to be canceled after 27 overtime periods in the first game. that is when ESPN realizes that only 357 people are watching and they have to show a strongman competition.

WILD IN 7! Come on look at their track record!!!

sorry I forgot the first game in on ABC. Probably call it off for the news

whoever wins, will win it in seven games, and they will only score 4 goals in the whole series. The loser will score 3.

damn ends in a good breakaway by the ducks. Think minnesota was getting tired quickly.

Well I'm a little late to this thread but I put in my vote for Ducks in 6 which I would have done even before they won today.

Great game one, lot of great saves by both goalies. But Giguere's backhand stick save in the third period was bas ass!! If he see's the puck he can't be beat.

they beat the red wings and the stars


i just plain dont see how any one can not think they are for real


ducks in 5

I dont know crap about hockey, but seeing a local team do well has got me really interested in the outcome. I have a lot of amateur fanboy in me saying that it'll be the Ducks in 5

Well it's intresting to see that more people picked Minnesota right now then the Ducks. I just checked some scoring stats and I noticed that the Wild have a lot of players among the tops of that list. The Ducks just have JS.

Yeah, the wild have the best offence, and a good defence not just the goalies but the defencemen, except for the mistake they made that lead to the breakaway.. the ducks goaltender played an outstanding game, if it wasn't for him the ducks would of been down 3-1 and lost that game.

the wild outplayed the ducks in every area except at the very end..that doesn't say good things about the ducks. The wild were tired and still skated all over them. The only positive I saw for the ducks were that they somehow shut down the wild's power play we'll see if that happens again. It was boring hockey which is unusual for the west but hey whatever it takes to win right?

Sykora has always been my favorite player. He's been coming through in the clutch again and again for them this year. If Giggy can keep playing like he is, the Ducks will have no problem getting to the final

The only problem with Minnesota making it to the finals will be..... The trap becoming popular again!!! I hope the ducks win! I am all for tight defense but the trapping schemes just suck.

i know very little about hockey as well

basketball is my sport


but i knwo that the redwings won it all last year and the stars were a favorite adn the ducks beat both of them

seems like easy math to me

the wild play a deadly trap.
wild in 6

The Ducks in six. I know this hasn't been the case yet but eventually experience has to prevail.

Both teams play a staunch defence. The fact that the first game took 4 scoreless periods proves that. But I also think both teams were playing pretty conservative.... however the Wild seemed to be pressing more than the ducks....


GO MINNESOTA!!!!!!!!!!

Rolly is hurt and fernandas isn't good enough to take them to the next level.
Ducks in 6
as far as the east goes ......flip a coin as who ever wins out of the east will take the cup

Ducks just got another shutout, 2-0. Who thinks they're gonna sweep again?

Damn their goalie!!!!!!!!!!

gettin' giggy!

I am diggin' that goalie.

there golie is un real

If Giggy can keep playing like this, it won't matter who comes out of the East. You gotta score to win.

Their goalie is just flat out insane, i don't see how any one beat him before after the two performances he has put on so far.

Thing is..he's still inexperienced. 7+ scoreless periods he's put on the board. Against a high potent offense, at some point He'll be brought down to earth.

I just don't see it happening anytime soon.

Ducks are not showing alot of offensive might but they will make you pay for your mistakes.

Anyone know what the record is for consecutive shutout minutes? Giggy is at 152 min so far I think.

blue face


same thing i said againist the stars

and for that matter the redwings

i think this guy might be for real

Who cares who wins this series?!? It's just great hockey! I wish that this had been the finals...
But, anyways....my pick is the Ducks in 5 at this point.

ok ... so obviously close to none of you know anything about hockey ... and obviously never watched the first to games of the series, where the Ducks have shut out the Wild in both and completely dominated on offence, defence, special teams and most of all goaltending. I for one have the privilge to hate both teams equally because the play European hockey and lets face it is god-awful to watch. but taking all this into mind ... this series will go no further than round 5

i am farely certain that the wild had more shots on goal in both games


i did watch the frist one

were they are getting owned is the faceoffs and the golie

the ducks golie is just plain great

I haven't seen any definitive stats, but I do remember seeing that the Ducks dont get nearly as many shots on goal as their opponents do in a few of their games - they still win. Very efficient scoring, I'd say.

The Wild will adjust, they adjusted their play to meet and exceed that of the other teams they have played so far.

They WILL break down the Ducks Goalie.

It is also a fact that the Wild play better Away Games than at home. Which is bad since they have home ice advantage for the first time in the playoffs. But they are gems under pressure.

And <b>Lyncher</b> This ain't European Hockey, this is the Neutral Zone Trap, closed play, wait for a mistake hockey. Europeon Hockey could not be played like that cause the ice is bigger over there, the game is far more open and finesse is king.

The Ducks are already leading 2-0 so you'll just have to excuse my tardiness.
I'm picking the Ducks in 6.
I don't think Jacques Lemair can will his players back to another come-from-behind series victory. Truth be told I would have picked the Wild from the beginning because, as many have said, I just don't think the Ducks have the offensive juice. Sykora and Karia sure... but then who? The Wild beat Colorado and then Vancouver. Those two teams are almost identical offensively. The Ducks beat an offensively impotent Redwing team. I say it was a fluke that both teams were playing that well and that poorly at the same time. I'm surprised by the Dallas series... I chalk it up to JSG and a hobbled Dallas team.

What am I saying in all this rambling? I think that the Ducks aren't the real deal, that the Wild is a better coached team with more talent. I just don't think they can pull it out from being down 2 games, but they'll make it close.

Ottawa or New Jersey will kill the Ducks in the final.

Ok, I've watched most of these first two games. I originally picked the ducks, but I know that Minnesota at some point will figure out how to score, They just tossed the 'Nucks around and the Avs were lucky to make it a 7 game series. Keep in mind the ducks have come from behind in 3-1 disadvantages, all because of there outstanding offense. If Jiggy gets in trouble, he'll let them score on him like a broken dam releases water.

Bullshit!

You say none of us know anything about hockey? Did you even <B>see</B> the first game? The Wild, who everybody expected to be dead tired coming off of their 7 games series with Vancouver, completely dominated the Ducks in terms of offense, and if you don't count the goaltenders, the Wild were the better team in terms of defense. Why do you think the Ducks didn't score during regular time? The Wild didn't have a super hot goaltender to rely on. The Ducks sat back, and let their goaltender ride them through 4 1/2 periods, right before they capitalized on a single mistake made by Minnesota in the second overtime.

I'm sorry if my tone is harsh, but I really hate average teams that ride their outstanding goaltenders through the Playoffs. The Buffalo Sabres did this when they had Hasek. They even managed to get to the Playoff Finals. But once the other team got around their goaltender, they showed what a poor team they really were.

And don't get me wrong. The Ducks have some mighty fine players like Kariya, Oates, and Sykora, but there just isn't enough talent on that team to justify their current standings. The same thing that happened to the Sabres is eventually going to happen with Ducks. They can't expect Giguere to carry them forever.

And I think most people remember that series, hell that's the series that supposedly never ended...all because of Brett Hull's in the crease goal. Hasek was a more proven goalie during that playoff run, atleast moreso then Giguere. I can't remember the exact stat but it was something crazy points wise. I think the Wild had like 7 players who were beating the highest point getter for the Ducks. It's only a matter of time before some team figures out the Ducks, and I think the Wild have the Moxy to get it done, though I'm stil not sure if they can figure it out before the series is over with.

I'm an old North Star fan and I haven't seen a Minnesota team in the Stanley Cup Playoff for a long, long time. I hope they win it all, but I'm proud of our three-year old team any way you look at it. Look out world - Minnesota is back in the NHL

By the way, the Minnnesota Gophers are the reigning NCAA Hockey Champ!

Once "Jiggy" lets the first goal past..the flood gates will open. When and if that happens look for the Wild to become full of energy again. Their speed will eventually overtake Giguere. They get plenty of chances and let's face it the Wild's Power Play is awesome. A power play that good doesn't stay dormant long. As far as the east goes.. if the Devils come out.. they will own the ducks. Broduer is a WAY better net-minder than Giguere. I think his home goals against average is 0.89. That's tiny. The sens and ducks will make a good series but the wild and devils will make a better one. As much as I hate to say it, I think the Devils will skate with the cup.

Sorry Wild fans, but unless Giggy dies something soon, your team is done.

JS has been scored on before, he recovers.. dont think the flood gates will open. That's wishful thinking.

Who in their right mind thinks the Wild can come back from a 3 game deficit?

They have come back from 3-1 deficits 2 times in the playoffs (the only 2 times also), so if any team has a chance it would be the wild.

Nah. The Wild are dead. They aren't the same team that beat the Avalanche and the Canucks. They looked tired, and frustrated. The Ducks are also doing what they should be doing, and that's collapse in front of the net. I think the Ducks players stopped more shots than the Duck's goaltender.

Oh well, looks like it's going to be a Senators-Mighty Ducks final ;)

(And I swear, if they end up having to engrave the words "Mighty Ducks" on the Stanley Cup, we're going to have to melt it down and start all over again).

Oh so true!!!

The picture is so grim right now for the Wild. I watched last night and either the missed the net of whiffed on the puck or that damn goalie just stoned them them.

Without a doubt if the Ducks had ANYONE else in goal this series would not be this way. The Wild are pressing hard and cannot find daylight in that damn net!!!!!!

I will pray to lord stanley before game 4 and seek his advice and guidence for the wild.

Well ... I think you all know what I am thinking after Game 3's conclusion ... SWEEP ... SWEEP!

I always say that an average team with great goaltending can win series, but an above average team with average goaltending cannot.

I think this year in particular is proving my point.

Looking ahead to the finals, both Ottowa and NJ have goaltenders who can play above average, but will they ? I feel that is the key.

I will now ask, ask the powers that be, lord stanley and crew to give the Wild at least a win tonight. Don't let these guys be the team that gets completely shut out and swept... please, give the Wild the strength to embarass the Ducks at home.... their too cocky now, they need some humble soup....


Please just one!!

Far too much is being made of Giggy right now, he is not standing on his head so much as his fundementals are perfect he isn't letting anyone see the net behind him, he's playing a game of possesion/puck control and his team is playing great defence.
As far as the final if it's the Devils, Broduer is more of a stand up goalie who is getting hotter as the play-offs go on, and Lalime, Mr. butterfly seems to be hot as well.
If the Ducks keep the D system that is working so well for them watch for the Devils to cycle down low and wait for some one to
chase them.
If its the Sens, look to to see Chara move from the point to the net.
Either way the coaching out of the east will break the system out of the west.

I know I'm just a girl and all....but I think Giguere is ok...a few others think that too.....

Giguere no overnight sensation
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com
May 15, 2003
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Pssst. Over here. We're going to let you in on a little secret here, a little inside info.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere isn't an overnight sensation.

There you go, the cat's out of the bag. Sorry to ruin all these storylines in the media about Giguere dropping down from Planet Zumar to lead the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and upset series wins against the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars.
"We're out in Anaheim and it's like we're on a desert island," teammate Mike Leclerc said. "The hockey world is finally getting to see him. He's been doing this for two years."
Another thing, like their goaltender, the Mighty Ducks hardly qualify as a team that appeared out of thin air to get to the Western Conference Finals. A 95-point regular season is a huge block of evidence that Anaheim is a very good team. But that's another story for another day. Now, here is the deal on Giguere.
After three games of the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Wild, Giguere hasn't allowed a goal in more than 2:13:17 hours. For the record, his scoreless streak is up to two hours, 18 minutes and 28 seconds, dating to Game 6 against Dallas in the second round. That's quality goaltending at a critical time of year.
It's unlikely there would be any storyline here if Giguere hadn't had an excellent regular season. Giguere appeared in 65 games during the regular season and posted a 34-22-6 record with a 2.30 goals-against average and eight shutouts. Ironically, his goals-against (2.13) and save percentage (.930) were better in 2001-02, but the team wasn't as strong, so Giguere's record was 20-25-6. By then, Anaheim knew it had a No. 1 goalie, especially after his first season in Anaheim, when the then-unheralded Giguere was 11-17-5 with a 2.57 GAA and .911 save percentage.
So Giguere, originally drafted in the first round of the 1995 Entry Draft (13th overall) by the Hartford Whalers, has found a home. Now, he and the Mighty Ducks are looking for a home in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Earning the respect and admiration of his teammates has played a big part in Giguere's success. Long before the rest of the world started taking notice, his teammates knew they had a winner. The goaltender realized as well that there would be no personal success if there wasn't team-wide success.
"The secret has been 20 guys showing up every night helping me do my job," Giguere says when quizzed about his postseason heroics. "I couldn't do that without any of the guys on the ice. My defense [has] been playing unbelievable. They did a great job making sure I see the puck all the time. If there is a rebound, they take it away. You have all [of] the forwards coming back helping the D's, taking their guys in their zone and scoring big goals. If we all do our job as good as we can, then we have a chance to be successful.
"I can't do it out on the ice by myself," he said after shutting out the Wild in Game 2. "I need my D to help me and the forwards to come back and take them in. Tonight, they did such a good job, obviously. I saw every shot out there. They took all the rebounds away and they were really tough in front of the net. It was tough for the Wild to try to come and get in front of me."
As a result, another playoff shutout is added to the ledger. But, the goaltender insists there is only one stat worth tracking now -- the total number of wins leading up to the 16 it takes to win the Stanley Cup.
"Jiggy is making a case for himself to be moved into the next level of great goaltenders." --Anaheim veteran Steve Thomas.
"A shutout is really not important in the playoffs," he said. "What's important is trying to get the win as much as possible. It doesn't matter what the final score is. It could be 8-7, 1-0. We just want to win. As far as the 'zone' is concerned, I'm feeling pretty good. You know, I was ready to play in the playoffs. I have been practicing for this for three years. I have been trying to get ready for this exact moment, and right now, I'm having a lot of fun. Every game is a great challenge. I'm feeling like I'm getting better right now."
"He's gotten on a roll here," agreed Wild goalie Manny Fernandez, who was on the losing end of Game 1's 1-0 double-overtime decision. "He's got a lot of confidence. He's made himself a little bubble. He's kind of a legend right now living in this League."
"Jiggy is making a case for himself to be moved into the next level of great goaltenders," Anaheim veteran Steve Thomas said. "A lot of guys do a pretty good job, but the ones who are great make a difference in big games. That's what great goaltending is about."
Giguere hasn't just gotten hot in the playoffs. He had three shutouts in a row during the regular season and also had a scoreless streak of 237 minutes and seven seconds, longest in the NHL in more than 50 years.
"I don't think the playoffs have anything to do with being hot or cold. It has to do with being prepared," said Giguere. "If you're prepared and ready to go, you should be successful."
Giguere and the word "prepared" are joined at the hip. That is the basis of his goaltending philosophy -- being ready.
"If I make a spectacular save, it means I did something wrong," Giguere said. "I have had two of those. That is enough for one playoff."
Giguere explains, "If I make a spectacular save, it means I did something wrong."
Giguere was referring to a spectacular save he made in Game 1 against the Wild.
The Wild nearly grabbed the lead in Game 1 during a power-play sequence after Ducks center Samuel Pahlsson was called for cross-checking at 10:05 of the second period. A fine backhand, cross-crease pass by Andrew Brunette set up teammate Marian Gaborik, Minnesota's top scorer, for a backhand shot from low on the left side, but Giguere lunged across the paint to get the paddle of his stick on Gaborik's bid. The save was tough for everyone to fathom, that's how good it was. Well, except for Giguere, who had another description for it.
"A little bit lucky," Giguere said. "I thought Brunette did a great job. I don't think he had much to shoot at, and he made a nice pass to Gaborik. It was just kind of a diving save. Sometimes you need one of those. Hopefully, I won't have to do too many, but I'll take it.
"That's not the way I want to make saves. I was out of position. I was lucky. I want to be square to the shooter, square on the puck."
"That might have been the save of the playoffs," Anaheim captain Paul Kariya said.
To Mighty Ducks defenseman Keith Carney, the save was just business as usual with Giguere.
"Here we go again," Carney said. "Game 1 on the road, another overtime game and Jiggy making it possible for us to win at the end."
"Giguere is on top of his game," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said. "But like any other goaltender, you look at them closely and you find they have strengths and weaknesses, and you have to work on his weakness. We know where they are. We have to get the opportunity, and we'll get them."
The clock is ticking on the relentless Wild, who have twice come back from a 3-1 deficit to advance this spring. Minnesota's ability to come back, especially on the road, provides a solid sense of reality for Giguere.
"Our confidence level is pretty good," he said. "Even coming into the playoffs, we knew we had a pretty good team. We knew we could win some games. We're a pretty young team, but getting those two series wrapped up is really good for the confidence. The Wild's confidence is probably as high as it is for our team. It's going to get harder and harder to win games. It's going to be very exciting. It's going to be very tough and a lot of fun to play in.
"This is what I have been working toward the last three years," he said. "I have worked hard because I wanted this moment."

Would it be wrong of me to say girl shmerl, if you have some proof to back up your point who cares about your gender.
I mean if your almost right your almost right.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY SCORED!!! wow mabye minnesota will get another goal and win the game!

Wow. I never saw this one coming.

4 - 0 for the Mighty Ducks.

I mean, geez, I knew Giguere was hitting a hot streak, but damn, I didn't realize he was an inferno.

It'll be kind of interesting to see if the East (whoever goes on) can find the formula to crack Giguere's defences.

Awsome!!

I can't belive it but I'm gonna hold my excitement for the Cup. Really hard to belive the Ducks are going to the Stanley Cup finals.

I really like thier chances against who ever they play. I would perfer to play the Devils just because I'd like to see Martin and Giggy duke it out.

Ducks in 6.

Giguere's average goals allowed per game over the playoffs?
0.5
That's horrifying.

Kadath I don't think that's for the entire playoffs only for this series. Giguere did set a record though for least amount of goals allowed in a series...the previous mark was 2, and that happened twice. He'll get cold in the down time though.

And not to mention for this series it's a little lower then that.

I totally wasn't paying attention when I worked out the average. His average for this series was 0.25, for the playoffs was 20/12, or 1.67, which is none too shabby. I got a little too zealous.

Geez.. all the hate... why cant you guys give him respect? Surely you couldn't have done any better.

I was respecting him! I think what he's done is bloody amazing and it's not just blind luck, there's talent there.

It's not that I'm trying to down play Giguere's play, but prior to these playoffs no one knew who he was. He's not a Rookie this year and sure Patrick Roy was awesome when he first entered the league but Giguere has been around. I can recite many examples of a team having a one shot wonder in the Playoffs, take for example "The Moose". Thing is Giguere is riding a hot streak, and sure he might be able to pull the entire thing off but it's unlikely. The rest of the Ducks aren't putting up stats that could allow the Wings to win if Giguere begins to fail. I'm all for the underdog and Giguere is just that, an underdog. He realistically should have been shut out a little prior to all of this.
.
And Giguere's Offificial stats 1.22 GAA,96.0% SVP
Other Goalies still in it...

Lalime 1.66 GAA, 93.1% SVP (Most likely out of it though)
Brodeur 1.47 GAA 94.4% SVP

Those stats are way to close to be considered 'hands down' Giguere's game. We'll see though in the finals.

Oops I said '...could allow the Wings...' I meant '...could allow the Ducks...'

I never saw a sweep coming. The ducks really controlled the games. Jiggy did an amazing job in net let's see if he can keep it up. I'm betting against him. I think he's a great net-minder but I don't know how much he has left. Whoever they play it should be a good series. If it is New Jersey..which it looks like it will be then I'll take the devils in 6. Brodeur is a better goalie IMO, and I like the devils offense and special teams. Plus, they know what it's like to play for the cup. Whatever happens, it will be a fun series to watch even though I hate both teams :D

The thing with Giggy, is that if you look back at him in JR, and other times he's gotten like this before, and carried his team, but he comes crashing back to earth big time, and well time will tell...but if your going to put any money down go with the eastern winner.
Either way you look at it the QMJHL still pumps out the best 'tenders in hocky and this year proves it again with all three teams that are still in having starting goalies out of there.

I wouldn't be so sure about a sens/ducks final just yet.. speaking of the sens..why hasn't Spezza been in the lineup at all for the playoffs..the kid is good..he proved that last night.

As far as your second comment I couldn't agree more :D

Spezza was in the playoffs and scored a goal and got an assist on the game winner ... but I guess that you haven't seen the game yet because you posted this before the game :D

p.s -- Told you all ... "Sweep" ... "Sweep"

even though I hate the Ducks I have alot of respect for them for thier team work and evened out scoring ... plus Giggy! :)

I saw the game..check my post.. I said he proved he was good :D I was just wondering what took so long to put him in the lineup. The front office has wanted him in there but there was a disagreement between them and the coach..I bet the coach is eating crow now eh.

So true. Martin was basically "told" to change things up, thus finally adding Spezza into the lineup. History has proved that Martin doesn't like to shake things up ... and look where that has put Ottawa the last couple of years.

While I'm not a Sens fan it would be kinda good seeing them win the cup knowing that their fate is murky at best. Who knows where they will end up or what will happen. Hopefully I'm not out of date on this but last I heard they were up for sale and I never heard of a buyer.

I remember hearing so many people talk about the Roy of '86 like that, and look what he ended up doing that year. :p

Eugene Melnyk receives court approval to purchase the Ottawa Senators. (Dated May 9, 2003)

DOH!!!
Well I was hardly at home so I have an excuse to why I missed it LOL.. in that case I don't care who wins the cup :D