Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler joined NHL Live to look ahead to the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets.
Game 1 is Thursday at Honda Center (10:30 p.m. ET; CNBC, TVA, SN, PRIME).
"The last few days we've really been working hard," Fowler said. "We've had some good practices and it's allowed us time work on some things that we'd like to clear up heading into the playoffs. Now we feel like we're all prepared and we just have to go out there and execute."
The Ducks (51-24-7) earned 109 points to clinch the best record in the Western Conference and capture the Pacific Division title for the third straight year, and are eager to improve their recent postseason track record. Anaheim lost in seven games to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round in 2013. Last season, the Ducks advanced to the second round, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in seven.
"We know how hard Winnipeg has been playing these last couple of months to get in the position that they're in now," Fowler said. "That's something that we're well aware of. We know that they're going to come out, ready to go, and compete as hard as they can. That's their identity as a team so we need to make sure that we match that."
Anaheim went 3-0-0 against Winnipeg in the regular season but two games went into overtime, so Fowler is anticipating a tight, physical series.
"We definitely don't look at it as a 1-to-8 matchup," Fowler said. "We had good games against them in the regular season. It's going to be a heck of a series. We know it's going to be a challenge but we're confident in our game. If we go out there and execute, hopefully things will work out for us."
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