Facing the top-ranked San Jose Sharks and playing in one of the toughest arenas in sports, the NHL team Anaheim Ducks would have been lucky to head back to Arrowhead Pond with a 1-1 split. Instead, the NHL team Ducks will return to their home ice with a 2-0 lead over the Sharks. San Jose must now win four out of the next five games just to advance past the first round.
Since 1994, an eight seed has knocked out a one seed only seven times in the playoffs. With tons of post-season experience and a roster full of veterans, the NHL team Anaheim Ducks are likely candidates to be added to that list. But it was the new guys who made the most noise for the Ducks in San Jose. Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller, making his playoff debut, stopped all 35 of San Jose’s shots in Game 1 to record his fifth shut-out of the year. In Anaheim’s 3-2 win in Game 2, Hiller was again impressive as he racked up 42 saves and held the Sharks to just two goals, while center Andrew Ebbett scored his first post-season goal to break up a 1-1 tie with 10:16 left. Also scoring for the first time in the playoffs were right wing Bobby Ryan, who put one in the net on a power play early in the first period, and left wing Drew Miller, who added a goal late in the third that sealed the Ducks’ two-game sweep in San Jose.
If the NHL team Ducks can keep up their impressive defense and balanced scoring through the next two games in Anaheim, the 2009 President’s Cup winners from San Jose could be in real trouble.
