BILL FICHTNER
ACTOR - PRISON BREAK
First things first.
Yes, it is true. I'm from Buffalo and I blogged for my Sabres two years ago.
But I also cheered from the stands back in '07 when Luongo stopped 62 shots and at the end of the evening the night belonged to the Ducks. And I was there when the stunned Wings were sent packing in the Conference Finals.
So when I got the call to write about the Ducks in the playoffs this year, I said "Absolutely! It would be my pleasure and honor."
So here we go.
The moment is now. The NHL playoffs are here and there is no better hockey on the planet. So I ask… are the San Jose Sharks the best in the League? You could argue that. Did they win the Presidents' trophy? Yes they did. Are they going to slam the door on the Ducks. Not so fast. And not necessarily.
Remember, the Red Wings are the only other team in the playoffs with more Cup winners than the Ducks (the Wings have 19, and the Ducks have 13). And let's not forget, we know how to win that underdog series (speaking of '07 and the Wings).
The way I'm looking at it, we got Getzlaf, Perry, Pronger, Bobby Ryan, Selanne on the PP (16 PPG this season - very dangerous), we got the Niedermayer brothers. We got experience, and we definitely got the fans!
I'll never forget the night the Rollilng Stones could not have been heard over all the Ducks fans, when the final buzzer was barely heard and the Cup graced the Honda Center just two short years ago.
It's an uphill battle, no doubt. But if the boys in black can play mistake-free hockey, inspired hockey, and take one of those opening games on the road… why not? That's what I'm thinking.
Why not?!
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