DUCKS NOTEBOOK: GETZLAF SURPASSING EXPECTATIONS DURING THIS POSTSEASON.Byline: ELLIOTT TEAFORD Staff Writer ANAHEIM -- A year ago, Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf Ryan Getzlaf (born May 10, 1985 in Regina, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. was a 21-year-old rookie overflowing with confidence and potential. At 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, there seemed to be no limit to what he might some day accomplish on the ice. His stature grew as the Ducks moved swiftly through the Stanley Cup Stanley Cup: see hockey, ice. Stanley Cup Trophy awarded annually to the winning team of the National Hockey League championship. Named for its donor, the Canadian governor-general Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston playoffs before losing to the Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). in the Western Conference finals last May. This postseason, Getzlaf has begun to meet and perhaps even surpass expectations. Ducks coach Randy Carlyle Randy Carlyle (born April 19, 1956 in Sudbury, Ontario) is a former hockey defenceman and currently the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. He was raised in a town called Azilda, just northwest of Sudbury. still believes Getzlaf has a great deal more to give and pushes to get more from him. "When the game is on the line, he seems to be able to motivate himself to give you that extra," Carlyle said Tuesday. "That's why coaches get a little excited about a player like Getzlaf because you know he has more to give. "If you push the buttons and he delivers one time, you're going to ask him the next time. The only thing I can say about Ryan Getzlaf, and I've said it before, he can be as good as he wants to be. It's our job to continue to push those buttons." Fill-in forward: Dustin Penner Dustin Penner (born September 28, 1982 in Winkler, Manitoba) is a professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Penner was never drafted; he was discovered and signed as a free agent by the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim filled in for left wing Chris Kunitz Chris Kunitz (born September 26, 1979 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a professional ice hockey left wing who currently plays for the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL. Career Minors , who underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand. Penner played alongside center Andy McDonald For the character in Coronation Street, see . For the professional skateboarder, see . Andy McDonald (born August 25, 1977 in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada) is a professional ice hockey centre and winger currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National and right wing Teemu Selanne, comprising the Ducks' top line. Todd Marchant also had been expected to skate on the top line, but most of the minutes went to Penner. "You have to rely on depth," McDonald said. "(Marchant) is a gritty guy, but he's also got a little speed. In the last game, we had Dustin Penner and Todd Marchant there and they did a great job replacing Koonie." Thornton hurting: Shawn Thornton, a winger on the Ducks' fourth line, suffered an unspecified lower-body injury in Game 2 on Sunday but did play in Game 3. Penner, McDonald and Selanne formed the first line to start the game, with Getzlaf, Brad May and Corey Perry on the second line and Rob Niedermayer, Samuel Pahlsson and Travis Moen on the third line. Thornton, Marchant and Ryan Shannon formed the fourth line. |
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