Five keys for the Ducks

1It's OK if veteran defenseman Chris Pronger gets called for holding, hooking, tripping or even roughing, as long as he doesn't pretend to be stomping out a fire on an opponent's leg and end up suspended during a key stretch.

2With 11 players on the roster age 30 or over, the Ducks will need to find a way to maintain their stamina without seeking over-the-counter medication.

3Unlike distance running, fast starts in the NHL often result in better finishes. Two years ago, the Ducks started 12-0-4 and went on to hoist the Stanley Cup. They were 6-8-2 through the same stretch last season and didn't make it out of the first round.

4One of the buzzwords in the NHL seems to be "sports hernia," though it's sometimes disguised as a groin pull or lower abdominal injury. Regardless, the Ducks have slathered on enough Bengay in the last 12 months to drive up Johnson & Johnson's stock. The Ducks need to avoid those types of nagging injuries.

5The Ducks minor-league affiliate, the Iowa Chops, might have the most NHL-ready player in the American Hockey League in forward Bobby Ryan. Whether the Ducks can find salary-cap space to promote him could make a difference down the stretch.

-- Dan Arritt