In my second-half-of-the-season preview, I wrote that it’s easier to divide this season into three parts:
1. “Ducks 1.0”: pre-Scott Niedermayer, pre-Doug Weight.
2. “Ducks 2.0”: post-Niedermayer/Weight, pre-Teemu Selanne.
3. “Ducks 3.0”: post-Selanne.
The team that beat the Blues on Saturday with (somehow) five goals played like Ducks 1.0. It was ugly. The Blues are uglier.
Ryan Getzlaf missed about 3 empty nets when the game was close before finally, with the Ducks up 4-2 and the net “statistically empty” as Manny Legace headed to the bench, Getzlaf scored. I loved the irony, but it was subtle and easy to miss.
The WC playoff standings:
1. DETROIT: 47-17-6; 100 points; 120 possible points; 10 games left (5 at home)
2. SAN JOSE: 42-21-8; 92 points; 111 possible points; 11 games left (6 at home)
3. MINNESOTA: 38-26-8; 84 points; 104 possible points; 10 games left (5 at home)
4. DUCKS: 41-25-8; 90 points; 106 possible points; 8 games left (4 at home)
5. DALLAS: 42-27-5; 89 points; 105 possible points; 8 games left (4 at home)
6. COLORADO: 39-28-6; 84 points; 102 possible points; 9 games left (4 at home)
