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Fight, Fight, Fight Cry Gets a Literal Response

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Times Staff Writer

OK, so the Mighty Ducks are having a little problem scoring goals. That doesn’t mean they lack punch.

For those keeping score through two games: Duck goals, two; Duck fights, six.

Left wing Garrett Burnett and defenseman Todd Simpson have been busy. Burnett has had four fights -- one of which got him a roughing penalty -- and Simpson two, plus a game misconduct for not having his jersey properly tied down.

“Both of us are trying to provide as much physical play as we can to get the team going,” said Burnett, who has 19 penalty minutes in the first two games.

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Burnett, 28, spent eight seasons in the minors. Simpson, on the other hand, has been annoying star players for eight seasons. He waited all of 20 seconds before tangling with Dallas’ Bill Guerin in the season opener Wednesday.

“I’ve been trying to get Guerin to fight me for eight years,” Simpson said.

Simpson got his game misconduct during a bloody skirmish with Nashville’s Scott Walker on Thursday. Simpson said his jersey was tied down.

The Burnett-Simpson act has an important purpose. “You don’t see anyone taking cheap shots at any of our guys,” Coach Mike Babcock said.

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Center Samuel Pahlsson, a native of Sweden, has a personal interest as his homeland’s team plays Germany in the Women’s World Cup soccer final.

“I went to school with [Sweden midfielder] Frida Ostberg,” Pahlsson said. “I don’t remember much, except we both played a lot of sports. If we didn’t have a game Sunday, I would go to the final.”

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