Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf vs. Connor McDavid Second Round Preview

In the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we see an interesting matchup between the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers.

The Anaheim Ducks second round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers will almost certainly produce the favorite to advance to the Stanley Cup Final out of the west. Thus this series may be about more than just games, it could come down to legacy-defining moments for the teams opposing captains.

Ryan Getzlaf may not end up opposing Connor McDavid on the ice, but how their teams do in this series may come down to their performances.

Getzlaf at 31 (he’ll be 32 on May 10) is the leader of his team in the last two years when his production has been down during the regular season the Ducks have been down. This year when Getzlaf’s game picked up in March the Ducks pushed past the rest of their opponents to win their fifth straight division title.

Getzlaf is often compared to Hall of Famer Mark Messier because they both play the big power forward role on the team, and also because of the quiet leadership, they exude on the ice. Despite the comparison unlike Messier, Getzlaf’s leadership hasn’t translated to the playoffs.

Getzlaf has a Stanley Cup ring, but that came in his second year in the league when he was just a cog in a championship machine. As a captain in his own right Getzlaf hasn’t gotten his team to a Stanley Cup Final and in 4 straight seasons of losing Game 7 on home ice, his play has suffered.

In the first round of the series of this year playoffs Getzlaf set the tone by scoring 3 goals and leading the team in points with 5 while logging the most ice time. By dominating play the Ducks swept the Flames in quick fashion, proving the Ducks go as Getzlaf goes.

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On the opposing side Connor McDavid the young gifted superstar who lead the league in points and may win the league’s MVP this year. At 20 McDavid is the leader of a young group of talent who just ousted the defending Western Conference Champions San Jose Sharks. It was fitting that McDavid’s empty net goal ended the series, and signaled that there was a new kid on the block.

Now another series win for McDavid and the Oilers will bring down another team from the old guard of contenders.

Despite leading the team in points during the Sharks series with 4, McDavid didn’t dominate the series, so going up against the Duck gives him another opportunity to showcase his skills.

McDavid’s speed and skill will be on full display as he tries to avoid the Anaheim Ducks hard hitting style, if the Oilers are the emerging dynasty then McDavid may need to carry the team in this series to continue.

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The Ducks-Oilers series will be a hard fought one, and either Getzlaf or McDavid will build a playoff legacy if they can get the series win.

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