Grit Ringing True in Playoffs

Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is far and away the biggest reason the Mighty Ducks went into Monday’s game with a 2-0 lead over the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But what has also helped is the Ducks’ toughness, something that was lacking in past seasons. Trailing, 2-1, in the third period Saturday, the Ducks started banging about the Red Wing players, slowly turning the momentum.

“We’re not a team that takes a lot of penalties, but we are a grittier team,” General Manager Bryan Murray said. “You need that this time of year. When we got behind [Saturday], we got back in it by being strong on the puck and that allowed us to make plays.”

The Ducks acquired some grit during the season, trading for forward Rob Niedermayer, forward Steve Thomas and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh.

Thomas had the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory Saturday. Niedermayer had two assists and Ozolinsh one, all in the third period.

“We got guys who play tough and gritty,” team captain Paul Kariya said. “That was a big change from last season and even from the start of this season. And it was a change for the better.”

When the Ducks played Detroit in the 1999 playoffs, the Red Wings gave them a pounding. That has not been the case this time.

“We still need to be tougher, take it to a higher level against these guys,” Duck Coach Mike Babcock said. “They already play at that level.”

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There were many benefits from Giguere’s performance in Detroit, his 63-save, three-overtime spectacle Thursday and his follow-up effort Saturday.

The main perks went to the Ducks; to Giguere, who gained national notoriety, and to the team’s goaltending consultant Francois Allaire, who beamed like a proud father.

“It made me feel pretty good to see one of my guys do that well in a playoff game,” said Allaire, 48, who has worked with Giguere for 13 years. “I don’t coach guys to play in the NHL, I coach them to perform. It’s a different level.”

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Detroit defenseman Jiri Fischer, out since Nov. 12 with a knee injury, practiced Sunday and skated Monday morning, but isn’t ready to play.

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Babcock sidestepped commenting on what Brett Hull perceived as a neutral zone trap being played by the Ducks. Hull referred to it as “gross hockey.”

“The media has to write something,” Babcock said.

He did, however, add, “[Defenseman] Freddy Olausson came to me and wanted to know if we had changed systems and were playing a neutral zone trap now.”