Sykora Pulling Down All A’s

Petr Sykora was not sure what to expect when the Mighty Ducks’ training camp began, having spent his first seven seasons with New Jersey playing on a line with Jason Arnott and fellow Czech Patrick Elias.

That trio was known as the A-line and they helped New Jersey win the 2000 Stanley Cup. The A-line’s biggest strength was its chemistry. Each seemed to know what the others’ moves would be as the linemates weaved down the ice.

It was a new world once Sykora got to the West Coast.

“It took me a long time to adjust,” said Sykora, who leads the Ducks with 29 goals. “Maybe the first 35-40 games, I just tried to find myself out there.... In the Western Conference, it’s more up-and-down hockey. It’s not really crossing hockey. In the East, I got used to the grinding type of play.”

But since Coach Mike Babcock decided to keep Sykora on a top line that also included Paul Kariya and Adam Oates, the Ducks have soared. Even with Kariya in a goal-scoring slump, the line has been producing points.

Sykora, who scored two late third-period goals in Anaheim’s 2-2 tie against Calgary on Sunday, is on pace to become the first player other than Teemu Selanne or Kariya to lead the team in goals since Bob Corkum finished with a team-best 23 in the Ducks’ inaugural season.

“Just to play with Paul and Oatsie is an amazing time for me,” Sykora said. “The last 30 games, I probably have had six or seven shots per game because Paul and Oates are just dishing it out to me and the puck has been going on net.”

Two things Sykora had to get used to were Oates’ timely passes and Kariya’s team-first aggressive style of play.

“[Oates] just sees the ice so well,” he said. “For me, my job is to get in the corner, get him the puck and get open. I know that if I beat my guy to the net, I will get the puck and have a chance to score.”