Getzlaf as PP QB has Ducks Rolling
Written by Darryl Dobbsfrom www.dobberhockey.com
The Mighty Ducks are in the midst of a playoff charge, and for all intents and purposes, it has been beyond successful. Heading into the game on Sunday, Anaheim has won 10 of 13 games, and despite beginning the season winning just eight of their first 23, they find themselves quite secure in a playoff spot. Much of their success can be attributed to the resurgence of Teemu Selanne and his chemistry with Andy McDonald, plus the heart and soul of the team Scott Niedermayer finally adjusting to the new system.
All three of the aforementioned players began the season a little slowly, but really stepped things up at the quarter pole. McDonald had 10 points in his first 20 games, but 59 in 53 ever since. Selanne had 26 in 34 to start, but 52 in 37 since then. Niedermayer had 17 points in 28 games to kick off the season, but has really come on with 41 points in the last 45 games.
The last piece of the puzzle fell into place a couple of weeks ago, when Francois Beauchemin was replaced on the point on the power play as Niedermayer’s partner. His replacement? Hotshot rookie Ryan Getzlaf, whose wicked and deadly accurate right-handed slap shot meshes perfectly with Niedermayer’s left. The 20-year-old 19th overall pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft is still getting the same six or seven minutes of even strength ice time that he has been getting all season long, but suddenly his ATOI with the man advantage has shot up from a minute or two to six or seven minutes. This has translated into a ten points in six games run. Although the Duck PP has stumbled over the past three games, it is a temporary blip that will right itself in a game or two. In the meantime, the future for Getzlaf looks bright, and his fantasy value in the playoffs just increased from near-zero to a decent late round pick in most formats…
MEANWHILE…
Steven Reinprecht has been scoring in droves lately with his new team in Phoenix. The 29-year-old center has 14 points in his last seven games…
When Nashville’s Marek Zidlicky returns from his shoulder injury early this week, his power play partner Kimmo Timonen should break out of his slump that has seen him go pointless in his last six games. With the next four games being against either Chicago or St. Louis, the Preds have an opportunity to score some goals…
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