An All-Timer, but Still Only a One-Timer

Fatigue was what the Mighty Ducks and Dallas Stars were trying to overcome Friday, hours after the fourth-longest game in NHL history ended with a 4-3 Duck victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Amnesia was what they were trying to develop.

The game has already been shipped to ESPN Classic for its “Instant Classic” time slot next week. But with Game 2 today at noon PDT, those who’d played were ready to file the game away and reminisce at a later date.

“I didn’t sleep well,” Duck right wing Steve Thomas said. “I felt like I was going to wake up between the mattress and the box springs. It was such a tough game that I didn’t dare untie my skates between periods or else there would have been a puddle. The replay was on TV when I got back to my room. I watched some of it. Amazing!”

Yet in saying that ...

“There is no time for us to look back and reflect,” the 39-year-old Thomas said. “It was a big win, but at the same time we need three more. We’re only a quarter way through this series.”

And already it has seemed like an eternity.

Petr Sykora ended 140 minutes 48 seconds of hockey, which lasted for more than six hours, beginning on a Thursday evening and ending early Friday morning, with a one-timer that beat goalie Marty Turco.

In the aftermath, all wanted to make clear they could count.

“We move on,” Sykora said immediately after the game. “It’s just one game.”

In the Stars’ dressing room, Turco was counting the same after stopping 50 of 54 shots.

“It is just one game. It’s one-nothing, Anaheim.”

That sort of Sesame Street math spilled over into Friday afternoon. The Ducks downplayed the victory. The Stars shrugged off the loss.

“This time of year, it is so emotional anyway, that carries you through a lot of things that maybe in the regular season it might not,” Dallas center Kirk Muller said. “Sure it was a long game, but

Just one game?

“Just one game.”

The Ducks intended to at least skate Friday, but changed plans after winning Game 1.

“The guys wanted to get on the ice and work,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “That thought lasted about 35 seconds after the game.”

Although Babcock was ready.

“All I did was drink water and yell at people during the game,” he said. “That kind of game can be really tough on guys. But when you have mind and body, the mind is tougher. The body will do what it’s told. The guys just have to get their legs back and remember it’s ... “

Just one game?

“Just one game.”

Duck goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere put in nearly three games’ worth of work. He faced only eight shots in the first 36 minutes but faced 40 in the overtimes. He stopped 60 of 63 shots.

“The playoffs have been a time of learning for me,” Giguere said. “I don’t know if I need five overtimes to learn, but it does show what kind of character this team has.”

The Ducks were able to win, despite moments when it would have been easy to fold. They blew a 3-1 lead. Their power play remains an albatross, with no goals in 17 chances during the playoffs. What appeared to be a game-winning goal in the third overtime period was overturned on replay.

And still the Ducks won.

Said Thomas, “It was funny, but you could see it in their faces. It was like, ‘Come on guys, uncle. Enough already.’ It showed in all of us. I was just happy, at my age, I can still play five overtimes.”

The Stars spun things a bit differently but stayed upbeat.

“It’s tough, but you got to win four games,” center Pierre Turgeon said. “We have to regroup for the second game and go from there.”

Because ...

“It’s just one game,” Duck captain Paul Kariya said. “It’s back to business now.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Ducks vs. Dallas

*--* Western Conference Semifinals Ducks lead series, 1-0 GAME 1 April 24 -- Ducks 4, at Dallas 3 (5 OT) GAME 2 Today -- at Dallas, Noon, Ch. 7 GAME 3 Monday -- at Pond, 7 p.m., ESPN, FSN GAME 4 Wednesday -- at Pond, 7 p.m., ESPN, FSN GAME 5* May 3 -- at Dallas, Noon, Ch. 7 GAME 6* May 5 -- at Pond, 7:30 p.m., ESPN, FSN2 GAME 7* May 7 -- at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., ESPN * if necessary

*--*