Olausson Waits Patiently

For Anaheim defenseman Fredrik Olausson, who won a Stanley Cup championship ring with Detroit last season, it has been tough being a healthy scratch for every game in the series.

But after 15 NHL seasons, Olausson understands the circumstances, especially when considering that he played in only 44 games during the regular season.

“I would love to play in these games but it hasn’t been in the cards at the moment,” Olausson said before Wednesday’s Game 4. “That’s the way it is. That’s fine, and it helps that we’re winning. We’re doing just fine so far.”

Olausson, who hasn’t played since March 24, has been staying sharp by increasing his off-ice workouts. If he’s not riding a stationary bike, Olausson is working out in the weight room. Anything to keep his 36-year-old body ready.

“I work out a lot,” said a smiling Olausson, who became the 63rd defenseman to play in 1,000 NHL games earlier this season. “I’m trying to stay in good shape. I’ve been working out for a long time now and I’ve built up my strength and stamina.”

-- Lonnie White

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Detroit forward Luc Robitaille was amused by the flood of reporters in the team’s locker room Wednesday morning. The former King recognized the regular hockey writers but didn’t know many of the other reporters, most of whom were making their first visit to the Pond this season.

“Oh, you mean the frontrunners?” he said, laughing.

Robitaille recognized the newcomers as symbols of jump-on-the-bandwagon syndrome, which he saw during his tenure with the Kings.

“The thing about this state that’s different than anywhere else in the U.S. is there’s so many things to do,” he said. “A team starts having some success and everyone embraces whoever is having huge success.

“You can’t fault people. Being a player in that situation is a lot of fun. You feel like you’re turning a huge town upside down.”

He also said he saw the bandwagon rolling in the spring of 2001, when the Kings upset the Red Wings in the first round and lost to Colorado in a seven-game, second-round series, more than he saw in 1993, when the Kings made their lone appearance in the Stanley Cup finals.

“I think the city was more excited [in 2001],” he said.

Duck goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is enjoying his first encounter with the playoff frenzy.

“I’ve never been through this before, so it’s a good learning experience for me,” he said. “It’s nice to get the attention and I feel bad sometimes when I have to put people off because I need to do my routine or get treatments. There is a lot of attention.”

Asked which was more difficult to face, a battery of microphones or the Red Wings, he didn’t hesitate. “Oh, the Red Wings,” he said. “You [reporters] are nice.”

-- Helene Elliott