Randy Carlyle's dilema;


COLUMBUS, OHIO — Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle has a strict policy in not announcing his starting goaltender before any game he has coached in his two seasons in Anaheim. But he's sure to face the question of who will start when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin this week.

It would figure that Jean-Sebastien Giguere would be in the net for Game 1 of their first-round series against Minnesota at Honda Center on Wednesday or Thursday. But Ilya Bryzgalov, who already has had postseason success, appears to be ready if Giguere falters.

Bryzgalov had given up two or fewer goals in six consecutive starts before giving up three Saturday against Columbus, but the second-year goalie also made a season-high 42 saves in another strong performance.

In his last nine games, Bryzgalov is 5-1-3 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. And the Ducks certainly know what he is capable of in the playoffs, where he had a 249-minute, 15-second shutout streak last season that ranks second in NHL postseason history.

"We haven't really strayed away from our statement of having a 1A and 1B," Carlyle said. "We felt we had two quality goaltenders starting the year. That didn't play out 50-50 through the course of the season.

"Giguere has had some injuries and Bryzgalov has come in and stepped up. Tonight, [Bryzgalov] played real solid for us again."

Scott Niedermayer getting upset!?

Rarely does Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer get riled up to the point of having to be restrained, but teammates and the referees kept him from going after Columbus forward Manny Malhotra on the Blue Jackets' bench after Niedermayer was hit from behind by Columbus star Rick Nash.

Niedermayer drew a 10-minute misconduct penalty after Nash picked up a five-minute major for charging. The Ducks' defenseman said he initiated the verbal exchange with Malhotra.

"I was doing a good job of keeping my cool for a while," Niedermayer said. "I got a little stupid for a second. I didn't appreciate the hit. I appreciate that they want to play hard and be physical, but we didn't need that.

"I was upset. I said something first and that wasn't smart of me."

The Finn is the Best in the West

With his 12th two-goal game this season, Teemu Selanne reached 48 goals for his highest total since getting 52 in 1997-98 to tie for the league lead with Peter Bondra.

Selanne figures to lead all Western Conference players in goal scoring as Calgary's Jarome Iginla entered Saturday night with 39 goals. He also led the NHL with 25 power-play goals.

"It's awesome, for sure," Niedermayer said. "He loves to skate and how quick he is, you wouldn't believe that he's one of the older guys on this team. He still moves as well as he ever has."

Said Selanne: "If somebody would have told me before the season that I'd get that, I wouldn't believe that."


Hockey and fighting is their life....

Far and away the leader in fighting majors this season, the Ducks finished with 71 after Rob Niedermayer fought Blue Jackets defenseman Ron Hainsey in the first period. Edmonton was second with 46…. The fourth line took on a different look than in the last few games as Dustin Penner played alongside Mark Hartigan and Ryan Shannon. It was Shannon's first game since March 26 at Detroit.

Soulrce;LA Times

and that is why the stars will win the west and the cup

I'm not really sure what this has to do with Anaheim's "issues."