In the big picture, the Ducks’ 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday was arguably one of their more significant wins of the year.
Not only did it move the Ducks one step closer to ensuring home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs — most likely against the Stars — but it featured the return of two players who figure to play huge roles in the postseason.
Scoring leader Ryan Getzlaf returned after missing three games with the infamous “upper body injury� — a strained shoulder, apparently, though in classic NHL fashion, the Ducks weren’t saying — and assisted on both Anaheim goals in regulation, giving him 79 points (23 goals, 56 assists) in 75 games.
“It felt good out there tonight,� said Getzlaf. “Everything went as planned. It was a big win for our hockey club.�
Coach Randy Carlyle said the 22-year-old forward clearly wasn’t quite himself.
“He looked a little winded at times, but he still is a pretty good player with the puck. And the power play, he made it work … we dominated as far as holding onto the puck and having good end-zone time.�
Getzlaf’s return was clearly a boost to a team that has averaged just 1.5 goals its last six games; the last time the Ducks scored more than two goals was in a 5-2 win over St. Louis on March 15. Overall, the Ducks have 197 goals, the fourth-lowest total in the league, but Getzlaf downplayed that stat.
“We’ve got to play with what we have,� he said, “and I think that’s our identity. Last year, we were a little more of a scoring threat, and everybody expected us to be the same way this year, but we don’t have the same team we did last year. … Look at our (defense) corps. If we score two goals, we should win a lot of hockey games.�
Sunday also marked the return of goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere after being sidelined for three games with back spasms. Giguere made 23 saves in regulation and overtime, and made shootout saves on Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen to help the Ducks win the shootout 2-1.
“It was only a week, so it wasn’t that bad,� said Giguere. “I felt pretty comfortable out there.�
The win was crucial to the Ducks’ home-ice hopes because it gave them a five-point lead over Dallas in the race for fourth in the Western Conference. Dallas could still catch the Ducks, but it would have to win all three of its remaining games — a home-and-home series with Phoenix, and a home game with San Jose — while the Ducks could get no more than one point out of their final two games, Saturday at the Kings and Sunday at home against Phoenix.
Home is ice looks particularly significant for the Ducks, who are just ahead of Detroit for the league’s best home record and have set a club record for home victories at 27-9-4. And if they do end up facing the Stars — who could still be caught by sixth-place Calgary — they could need the edge. Dallas won the season series 5-3, although the Ducks won the final two games, with a 2-1 win at Dallas on March 19 and Sunday’s decision.
“There’s very much of a possibility we’re going to meet each other in the playoffs,� said Giguere, “so you want to set the tone right now. It’s something I did pretty well.’
Said defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who had two goals Sunday, “They’re one of the elite teams in the Western Conference, and if we do play them, it’s going to end up being a battle. … But we’re just excited to get there.�
More to come? Carlyle pointed out the Ducks will get at least one more player back for the playoffs — defenseman Chris Pronger’s eight-game suspension for stepping on a Vancouver player concludes Saturday — and other reinforcements are a possibility.
“Ryan Carter will skate this week,� Carlyle said of the forward sidelined for 16 games by a fractured wrist. “He’s actually in Minneapolis right now. There’s a hand specialist there with a machine that has had success with hand injuries, and he’s spent three days there. He could possibly play one of those games (this weekend)
“And then the next person on the list would be Corey Perry� — out for the last 10 games with a lacerated quad tendon — “and that’s into the first round, as a possibility.� Perry, visibly limping as he walked through the Ducks’ dressing room area Sunday, is clearly not too close to an immediate return.
Not in action: Center Doug Weight, acquired from St. Louis in December, was a healthy scratch Sunday, a reflection on the fact he has just one goal and four assists in his last 12 games. Since joining the Ducks, Weight has six goals and eight assists in 37 games.
“Just a coach’s decision,� said Carlyle. “I just felt that right now, there’s some work to be done. He’ll get another opportunity to get back into our lineup for sure. We’re going to need every body, as we talk about all the time.�
Opinions, please: For the first time this year, I have a vote in the selection of five NHL awards — the Hart, Norris, Calder, Lady Byng and Selke trophies — as well as the all-star and all-rookie teams. I'll be weighing my decisions over the next week, and would welcome the thoughts of any readers who wish to share them here as comments. Just remember that, because I have to check comments to avoid spam, it may take some time before your comments appear here on the blog.
Next week: No notebook on Tuesday because of NCAA Final Four coverage. It's possible I'll have one a little later in the week. Stop by or watch The Star for an update.