WEST

* Who: No. 6 Mighty Ducks vs. No. 8 Edmonton Oilers.

* Regular season: Ducks 43-27-12, 98 points. Edmonton 41-28-13, 95 points.

* Season series: Edmonton, 4-0.

* How they got here: Ducks defeated Calgary in seven games and Colorado in four games. Edmonton defeated Detroit in six games and San Jose in six games.

* Postseason power play: Ducks 8-63, 12.7%; Edmonton 14-67, 20.9%.

* Postseason penalty killing: Ducks 61-67, 91.0%; Edmonton 65-75, 86.7%.

* Top scorers: Ducks, Teemu Selanne, 5-5 -- 10. Edmonton, Shawn Horcoff, 5-9 -- 14.

* Team scoring average: Ducks 3.00 goals a game, Edmonton 3.17.

* Team goals-against average: Ducks 1.74, Edmonton 2.14.

* What you need to know: Neither team was supposed to get this far, but each has found ways to win by using speed, skill and opportunistic scoring. They do a lot of little things right: the Ducks’ penalty killing ranks first, but the Oilers’ faceoff skills are impressive. They’ve also proven they have the mental and physical toughness that distinguish successful playoff teams. Each relies on speed to energize their transition game. Each plays smart too and is good at getting the puck in deep and making opposing defensemen work hard. Neither will shy away from a battle, even against bigger opponents. Each also has been tested under pressure after having to press to make the playoffs, although the Ducks secured a spot a few days earlier than the Oilers. The Oilers will have only a day’s rest since eliminating the Sharks, but the Ducks thrived on the same short turnaround after beating Calgary. The key will be whether the Ducks can succeed at Edmonton’s Rexall Place, where they haven’t won in 14 tries since February 1999. The arena will be loud and boisterous, testing the Ducks’ resolve and nerves. If they can stand up to it, they can emerge from what looms as a long and taxing series.

-- HELENE ELLIOTT

SCHEDULE

Game 1: at Ducks...Tonight, 6

Game 2: at Ducks...Sunday, 6 p.m.

Game 3: at Edmonton...Tuesday, 5 p.m.

Game 4: at Edmonton...Thursday, 5 p.m.

Game 5: at Ducks...May 27, 6 p.m.*

Game 6: at Edmonton...May 29, 5 p.m.*

Game 7: at Ducks...May 31, 6 p.m.*

*if necessary; all times Pacific