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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 13 May 2017

Ducks eager for rematch with Rinne’s Predators in West final

cade, Nashville goalie forward James Neal said. Here are some more things
Pekka Rinne might be the “So just take advantage to watch when the clubs
biggest — and not just be- of it. Know what’s at stake. meet for a trip to the Stan-
cause he’s 6-foot-5. Know what kind of chance ley Cup Final:
After beating Anaheim in you have to do something DUELING D
two previous playoff se- special and to win.” The Predators have ad-
ries, the fantastic Finn and Rinne and the wild-card vanced largely on the
his Predators are looming Predators beat the Ducks strength of their stellar
again in front of the Ducks in seven games last spring, corps of defensemen in
in the Western Conference prompting coach Randy front of Rinne. Ryan Ellis,
finals. Game 1 is Friday Carlyle’s return to Anaheim P.K. Subban, Roman Josi
night in Anaheim. and a renewed focus on and Mattias Ekholm form
The Ducks and the Preda- playoff mental strength. one of the NHL’s best top-
tors were the class of the The Ducks are in the con- four groups, even contrib-
first two rounds, taking just ference finals for the sec- uting a combined 27 points
Anaheim Ducks center Andrew Cogliano celebrates after scor- five combined losses and ond time in three years af- in these playoffs — just one
ing during the second period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL
hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers earning a rematch of last ter winning five straight Pa- point fewer than the Pred-
in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 10, 2017. season’s first-round series cific Division titles, but they ators’ four highest-scoring
Associated Press for considerably higher still haven’t made a Stanley forwards. The Ducks have
stakes. “It’s really hard to Cup Final since 2007. excelled with youth on the
GREG BEACHAM hurdles and obstacles get here, and you put in In the rematch, the Ducks blue line. For the final six
AP Hockey Writer that have blocked the a ton of work to give your- hope to show the Preda- games against Edmonton,
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks’ path to self a chance to play for tors what they learned last Anaheim used a six-man
Among the numerous a Stanley Cup title this de- the Stanley Cup,” Nashville spring. group with nobody over
“Obviously, it’s a new year, 26 and averaging just 23.6
new teams, (but) for some years old — the youngest
of us, it means a little bit group among the NHL’s 16
more,” Anaheim center playoff teams.
Ryan Kesler said. “But we’re QUICK TURNAROUND
all playing for the same The Ducks will be back on
thing, and right now it’s ice two days after finish-
about getting four wins be- ing off Edmonton in Game
fore they do. It’s going to 7 . At least Anaheim didn’t
be a tough road, but we’re have to travel, but the
up to it.” Predators have been rest-
Rinne and the Preda- ing since their clincher over
tors also beat the Ducks St. Louis last Sunday. Car-
in 2011 for the first playoff lyle would have preferred
series victory in franchise an extra day off, but Hon-
history. Heading into the da Center is booked for the
franchise’s first conference Stars on Ice touring show
finals appearance , Nash- Saturday night.
ville is putting little reliance “Having the clinching
on its previous successes game last night and then
against the Ducks. being — I don’t know if it’s
“I feel like for years, they’ve called forced — to play
been one of the top teams the next game in less than
in the Western Confer- 48 hours is kind of a sur-
ence,” Rinne said after prise,” Carlyle said. “From a
the Predators arrived in Or- scheduling standpoint, that
ange County. “Any time we’re playing on Friday
you have a chance to play night and we just finished
against them, you know it’s on Wednesday, you don’t
going to be a battle. Both get a lot of time.”
times I’ve played them, it’s SURVIVING RINNE
been a six-game series and Rinne is huge, but his mo-
a seven-game series. I have bility and puck-handling
nothing but good things to skills make him even more
say about this team.” daunting.q