Last season, your Anaheim Ducks flamed out in the first round trying to defend their Stanley Cup championship from the previous year. The flop was understandable—they muddled through half of the season, uncertain whether stars Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne would return, and never truly clicked as a team when the two finally decided to play. This time around, the Ducks can count on the two playing a full season (and, for Selanne at least, one more after that), meaning your local five can resume their role as one of the NHL’s premier teams, possessing the perfect mix of youth, experience, speed and grit necessary to beat back the Red Wings and Penguins of the world. See them open the season against the Phoenix Coyotes today, and don’t forget to yell at Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky!
Sun., Oct. 12, 5 p.m., 2008
