Posted on 5/28/2007 8:41:00 PM

NHL Opinion 2007 - Stanley Cup Finals Preview

By Ringo Dalewood

May 28th, 2007

OTTAWA SENATORS VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS

Anaheim has been a Stanley Cup favorite since the beginning of the season. Ottawa has flown under the radar, but certainly not based on talent. Their failings from playoffs past haunted the Senators, but those ghosts have been vanquished and now Ottawa is poised to hoist the cup for the first time in 80 years. Their last rite of passage comes in the form of the Twin Towers.

 

OFFENSE

The triumvirate of Alfredsson-Heatley-Spezza has been absolutely unstoppable during the playoffs. They have notched 58 combined points in the playoffs, but will face their biggest challenge in this series. Can they get past Pronger and Niedermayer?

The brunt of responsibility rests on Teemu Selanne’s shoulders. But he is a warrior and will answer the call for his team when that puck drops. What is more important is that the second line of Getzlaf-Penner-Perry gets off to a good start.

Ottawa’s offensive output thins out dramatically after its top-line, but those starting three are a juggernaut. Teemu is a warrior and the second-line of Anaheim is solid, but Ottawa’s top-line holds the edge in offense.

EDGE: OTTAWA

DEFENSE

This is a story of quality versus quantity. Anaheim boasts the more celebrated blue-line, since Pronger and Niedermayer are both Norris Trophy finalists. However, past them, Anaheim only has two other defenseman worthy of mentioning (O’Donnell and Beauchemin).

Ottawa has a bevy of defensive talent that begins with Anton Volchenkov and Chris Phillips. Both are heady defensemen who were able to shut down the four-line depth of Buffalo with relative ease.

As good as Ottawa is, however, depth is not a necessity on defense. Pronger, Niedermayer and Beauchemin are all capable of logging thirty minutes a night. This will be the toughest test for Ottawa, and expect the Twin Towers to put the clamps on Ottawa’s best in this series.

EDGE: ANAHEIM

GOALTENDING

Giguere is simply better then Emery and Anaheim has a definitive edge in net because of him. He is an elite goalie in the NHL and a proven playoff performer. Emery has never been seriously tested thus far.

EDGE: ANAHEIM

INTANGIBLES

Swagger. Ottawa has been playing with an almost cocky confidence throughout these playoffs. These Senators are not the same as years past, and stomping all over the Eastern Conference was the best way to prove it.

 

Anaheim’s physical style of play could seriously disrupt the Senators mojo. Anaheim will play those first two games by throwing their bodies around, trying to knock the smaller Sens on their backs. If that happens, the Sens swagger may fall by the wayside.

EDGE: ANAHEIM

VERDICT

Anaheim has been slammed recently for discipline issues due to their game four meltdown against Detroit. But that was one game, and the Ducks proved they could overcome that adversity by winning games five and six.

 

Ottawa has crushed their opponents thus far, while also crushing their reputation as playoff pushovers. But can they overcome the duo of Pronger and Niedermayer? Everyone who has tried before has failed.

That is why you should bet on the Anaheim Ducks to win in six. They have the better goalie, better special teams and the better blue-line. Ottawa will bring the heat and that top-line certainly can’t be stopped, but they can be contained. Look for Pronger-Niedermayer and Giguere to take center stage in a classic series.

The promised land is at your finger tips, boys. Four more wins and the glory is yours. Lord Stanley awaits.

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