Ducks OK with being target of Jets crowd

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This article was published 21/04/2015 (3854 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Anaheim Ducks are perfectly cool with being cast as villains, with being mocked incessantly by enemy fans and being cross-checked after scoring critical goals.

Then again, being up 3-0 in their series with the Winnipeg Jets makes it just a tad easier to turn the other cheek.

The Ducks need just one more win to move on in the Stanley Cup playoffs and get their first opportunity Wednesday night at the MTS Centre (8:30 p.m.; Sportsnet/TSN 1290).

Predictably, all the clichés about securing the fourth win in a playoff series being the toughest of all were spit out during their media availability today. Asked if, as the Ducks captain, he had to teach the Swedish, Danish and players of other nationalities the cliché about the fourth game being the hardest, Ryan Getzlaf grinned and said:

“I think everyone knows that one. Everyone is well aware of what task is ahead. It’s never easy to close out a series and we’re going to have to play our best game of the series tomorrow.”

The Duck are up 3-0 in the series by making Stanley Cup playoff history – they are the first team to win three games when trailing in the third period and have out-scored the Jets 7-0 in third periods and overtime. All told, they have led for a grand total of 11 minutes and 21 seconds through the first 180 minutes of the first three games.

“It’s playoff hockey, that’s what it is,” said Getzlaf. “You don’t get points for ties and you’ve got to play until the end. We’ve been able to build throughout the year in learning how to win in different ways and situations and it’s paid off for us, obviously, in this first round.”

Ryan Kesler was at the receiving end of the MTS Centre’s wrath Monday, hearing ‘Kesler Sucks’ from the warm-up to the final horn.

And he enjoyed absolutely every second of it.

“I love it. I embraced it,” said Kesler. “It brings my game to the next level. It gets me going even if I didn’t feel like I had that much early on. That definitely got me going.”

The other main target of the fans was Ducks sniper Corey Perry, who scored Anaheim’s second goal – and received a cross-check from Dustin Byfuglien as he raised his arms in celebration.

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“I had no idea what was going on,” said Perry of the incident. “I saw the one guy beside me and then I didn’t see him at all. It’s playoffs. You just take it, roll with it and move forward.”

Pressed as to how he did not retaliate, Perry shrugged.

“It’s easy. You just keep playing hockey. We’re here to get a win. We just want to play our game. If they take that penalty, hopefully we get a great opportunity on the power play. And that’s what we’re looking for.”

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait