First Round Facts and Figures

Mighty Ducks (36-33-13) vs. Phoenix Coyotes (38-37-7)

1996-97 Record vs. Coyotes: 1-3

Series Format: Best-of-seven

Dates: Series expected to begin Wednesday at the Pond.

* DUCKS AT A GLANCE: They roared down the stretch with a 13-3-7 record, including a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2), to secure the home-ice advantage for the first round of their first playoff appearance. Unbeaten in last 14 games (10-0-4) at the Pond of Anaheim.

* COYOTES AT A GLANCE: Playing their first season in Phoenix after moving from Winnipeg at the end of last season. Edged the Ducks on a tiebreaker for the eighth and final playoff berth last season. Clinched fifth place with a 6-2 victory Friday over Edmonton.

COYOTES’ NO. 1 LINE

LW Keith Tkachuk (52 goals, 86 points)

C Craig Janney (15 goals, 53 points)

RW Mike Gartner (32 goals, 63 points)

COYOTES’ TOP DEFENDERS

Oleg Tverdovsky (10 goals, 55 points)

Teppo Numminen (2 goals, 27 points)

COYOTES’ GOALIES

Nikolai Khabibulin (30-33-6, 2.83 goals-against average)

Pat Jablonski (0-1-0, 2.03 goals-against average)

DUCKS’ NO. 1 LINE

LW Paul Kariya (44 goals, 99 points)

C Steve Rucchin (19 goals, 67 points)

RW Teemu Selanne (51 goals, 109 points)

DUCKS’ TOP DEFENDERS

Dmitri Mironov (13 goals, 51 points)

Bobby Dollas (plus 17 plus-minus rating)

DUCKS’ GOALIES

Guy Hebert (29-25-12, 2.67 goals-against average)

Mikhail Shtalenkov (7-8-1, 2.89 goals-against average)

THE MATCHUPS

* OFFENSE: Phoenix’s Keith Tkachuk was the first player to reach 50 goals this season, finishing with 52. The Ducks’ Teemu Selanne had 51 goals. The Ducks’ top line is the NHL’s most productive, combining for 114 goals.

* DEFENSE: Phoenix’s defense is keyed by goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, one of the league’s streakiest. Tverdovsky, traded by the Ducks in the Selanne deal, is among top NHL’s top scoring defensemen. The Ducks gave up two goals or fewer in 14 of their final 23 games.

* GOALTENDING: Khabibulin started the final 42 regular-season games and appeared in 72 of 82 for the Coyotes. The Ducks’ Hebert started 42 of 43 during one stretch and appeared in 67 of 82 overall. Both are superb when they are on top of their game.

* COACHING: Both Don Hay of Phoenix and Ron Wilson of the Ducks are making their head coaching playoff debuts. Hay is in his first season with the Coyotes. Wilson guided Team USA to the World Cup title in September and is the front-runner for the 1998 U.S. Olympic team job.

* INTANGIBLES: The Coyotes have been there before--although as the Winnipeg Jets last season when they lost to Detroit in six games in the first round. The Ducks have a 14-game unbeaten streak at home, but 23 of the Coyotes’ 38 victories were on the road.