Stanley Cup playoff notes

A closer look at Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs

A few things have stood out to me during the first week of the Stanley Cup playoffs:

If the Anaheim Ducks can get their penalties under control, they’ll be tough to stop. If they keep parading to the penalty box, it eventually will catch up with them. It will be interesting to see if Coach Randy Carlyle gives J.S. Giguere a start in net after the Minnesota Wild lit up Ilya Bryzgalov in Game 4 on Tuesday …

The war of words between Nashville coach Barry Trotz and San Jose coach Ron Wilson has been entertaining, but not surprising. Here’s why: These are two coaches whose jobs might be on the line. Think about it. In the past two seasons, the Predators have brought in forwards Jason Arnott, JP Dumont, Paul Kariya and Peter Forsberg. Perhaps no team in the league has added so many skilled players. The Sharks, meanwhile, have added forwards Joe Thornton (the 2006 MVP), Bill Guerin, Mike Grier and defenseman Craig Rivet. Both teams have two solid goalies, and both teams have a decent young defense. Clearly both teams’ Gms have supplied the firepower, so the onus is on the coaches. …

Calgary’s Jarome Iginla and Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier are proving in the postseason why they are two of the NHL’s premier players. Iginla’s third-period goal around Red Wings all-world D-man Nick Lidstrom saved the Flames’ hopes in their series vs. Detroit. Lecavalier has pushed the Lightning to a game of knocking out the favored Devils and uber-goalie Martin Brodeur.

Some other players are emerging early in these playoffs, among them Ottawa’s Mike Comrie, Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and Detroit forwards Kyle Calder and Dan Cleary. Comrie was acquired in a stealth deal with Phoenix early in the season when injuries dented the Senators, particularly at center. Cleary emerged as a 20-goal scorer this season after winning a job in Detroit last season on what amounted to a tryout. Calder, who has displayed grit and excellent play along the boards, was obtained in a three-way swap at the trade deadline after a horrible season in Philadelphia and years of being one of the best players on some very bad Blackhawks teams. Getzlaf’s skill is evident to anyone who follows the Ducks, but he plays in every situation and is unafraid to take the big shot or handle the key faceoff.