Grant Kerr
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Apr. 24, 2007 11:44PM EDT Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 10:40PM EDT
The Anaheim Ducks, seeded No. 2 in the Western Conference, take on the No. 3 Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the playoffs.
THE STORYLINE
Anaheim is guided by Brian Burke, the former Vancouver general manager dismissed by the Canucks in May of 2004. Burke surfaced with the Ducks and has assembled a tough-as-nails team that prides itself in not backing down. Burke would like nothing better than to turn Vancouver into Ducks soup.
FAST FACT
Burke surrounded himself with staff that gained valuable experience in Vancouver during his tenure. He hired Chicago-based Bob Murray as senior vice-president of hockey operations, along with head coach Randy Carlyle, who had guided the Canucks farm club, the Manitoba Moose.
THE SKINNY
The Ducks beat the Canucks three times in four meetings during the regular season, outscoring Vancouver 14-6. The only Canucks win came in overtime in February, on a goal by Daniel Sedin, with backup Dany Sabourin in net (workhorse Roberto Luongo was resting). Luongo gives the Canucks their only obvious advantage in breaking down the positional matchups in this series.
SERIES OPENS
Wednesday night at Honda Center in Anaheim, 10 p.m. (EDT).
GRANT KERR PREDICTS
Anaheim in five games.
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