HOCKEY

Five keys for the Ducks

The most important concerns for Anaheim as the NHL season begins.
10:27 PM PDT, October 8, 2008

1 It's OK if veteran defenseman Chris Pronger gets called for holding, hooking, tripping or even roughing, as long as he doesn't pretend to be stomping out a fire on an opponent's leg and end up suspended during a key stretch.

2 With 11 players on the roster age 30 or over, the Ducks will need to find a way to maintain their stamina without seeking over-the-counter medication.

 
3 Unlike distance running, fast starts in the NHL often result in better finishes. Two years ago, the Ducks started 12-0-4 and went on to hoist the Stanley Cup. They were 6-8-2 through the same stretch last season and didn't make it out of the first round.

4 One of the buzzwords in the NHL seems to be "sports hernia," though it's sometimes disguised as a groin pull or lower abdominal injury. Regardless, the Ducks have slathered on enough Bengay in the last 12 months to drive up Johnson & Johnson's stock. The Ducks need to avoid those types of nagging injuries.

5 The Ducks minor-league affiliate, the Iowa Chops, might have the most NHL-ready player in the American Hockey League in forward Bobby Ryan. Whether the Ducks can find salary-cap space to promote him could make a difference down the stretch.

-- Dan Arritt




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