A FIRST LOOK: DUCKS VS. RED WINGS

SCHEDULE

Best of seven (all times Pacific)

Game 1: Thursday at Detroit, 4 p.m.

Game 2: Saturday at Detroit, noon

Game 3: April 14 at Ducks, 7:30 p.m.

Game 4: April 16 at Ducks, 7:30 p.m.

*Game 5: April 19 at Detroit, noon

*Game 6: April 20 at Ducks, 7 p.m.

*Game 7: April 22 at Detroit, 4 p.m.

*if necessary

OFFENSE

The mantra “As Paul Kariya goes, so go the Ducks” is more fallacy than fact these days. While still a force on offense, Kariya has only one goal in his last 18 games. Center Steve Rucchin has one goal in his last 20 games. It underscores how much deeper the Ducks are on offense. Petr Sykora led the team with 34 goals. The Red Wings seem a way station for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Brett Hull scored his 700th goal this season. Steve Yzerman and Luc Robitaille have each topped 600 goals. Brendan Shanahan has passed 500 goals, and Sergei Fedorov is zeroing in on that plateau.

DEFENSE

The Ducks gave up a franchise-low 193 goals. Keith Carney anchors a solid core of defensemen and, like Sandis Ozolinsh and Fredrik Olausson, has a bag full of playoff experience. These days Detroit’s Chris Chelios hits harder off the ice with remarks than he does on it but is still a formidable veteran. Nicklas Lidstrom is a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. Mathieu Schneider, acquired from Kings, has been a key pickup. Jiri Fischer’s slow recovery from knee surgery has been a concern.

GOALTENDING

Jean-Sebastien Giguere has emerged as one of the talented young goalies in the NHL. He had a 1.95 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in his last 14 games. Curtis Joseph was brought in when Dominik Hasek retired last summer. Joseph, a 12-year veteran, has never taken a team to the Stanley Cup final.

COACHING

Mike Babcock, whose only NHL experience was one game as a player in one exhibition, has shown NHL savvy as a coach and raised the standards in the dressing room. Dave Lewis, also a first-year head coach, has shown that someone besides Scotty Bowman can succeed in Detroit.

ANALYSIS

The Ducks can be a dangerous team. They are solid on defense, have balanced scoring and Giguere gives them a chance. Joseph, who has been shaky at times this season, could make the Red Wings vulnerable, as they were two seasons ago when the Kings eliminated them in the first round. But Red Wings have too much everywhere else and should move on to next round.

-- Chris Foster