Scouting Report

Mighty Ducks (36-33-13)

vs. Phoenix Coyotes (38-37-7)

1996-97 Record vs. Coyotes: 1-3

Series format: Best-of-seven

Dates

Today: at Ducks, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: at Ducks, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday: at Phoenix, noon

Tuesday: at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

April 24: at Ducks, 7:30 p.m., if necessary

April 27: at Phoenix, noon, if necessary

April 29: at Ducks, 7:30 p.m., if necessary

* 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.

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 DEFENSEMEN

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)

* 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 DEFENSEMEN

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)

THE MATCHUPS

* OFFENSE: Phoenix’s Tkachuk led the NHL in goals with 52. The Ducks’ Selanne had 51. The Ducks’ top line is the league’s most productive, combining for 114 goals.

* DEFENSE: Phoenix’s defense is keyed by goalie Khabibulin, one of the league’s streakiest. Tverdovsky, acquired from the Ducks in the Selanne deal, was fourth among NHL defensemen in scoring. 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 on top of their game.

* SPECIAL TEAMS: Phoenix’s power play is fifth in the NHL, and the Ducks’ penalty killing ranked No. 22. Best to stay out of the box against Phoenix. Duck power play is best in their history at No. 9, but Phoenix penalty killers rank No. 5.

* COACHING: 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.