Stanley Cup Finals preview

Stop me if this sounds familiar.

A U.S. team from a "non-traditional" hockey market battles a Canadian-based team for the Stanley Cup.

That's been the formula for the past three Finals, with Tampa Bay beating Calgary in 2004, Carolina topping Edmonton in 2006 and Anaheim meeting Ottawa this time around.

And it says here this series, just like the past two Finals, also will go seven games.

What to like about the Ducks: J.S. Giguere took out arguably two of the best goalies in the league this past season in the Western Conference semifinals and finals (Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Detroit's Dominik Hasek). The Ducks responded to a lot of adversity in the Red Wings series, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 series victory and surviving the suspension of defenseman Chris Pronger in the process. Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Sean O'Donnell and Francois Beauchemin are a formidable top-four on defense. Center Ryan Getzlaf is becoming a dominant player, and Ilya Bryzgalov is as good a backup netminder as there is in the league.

Cover your eyes Ducks fans: If they take too many penalties, which has been a problem all season and throughout the playoffs. It nearly cost them against Detroit, and Ottawa's special teams might be even better. ... If they suffer any more injuries. Losing F Chris Kunitz hurt, and Niedermayer clearly is ailing.

What to like about the Senators: Top-to-bottom their defense is deeper than the Ducks. Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov are a shut-down pair, while Wade Redden and Tom Preissing offer plenty of offense. Goalie Ray Emery is keeping his emotions in check and emerging as a force (his numbers compare favorably with Giguere's). The top line of Dany Heatley-Daniel Alfredsson-Jason Spezza has been the best line in the playoffs and will cause fits for the Ducks. The Sens' scoring depth is also more balanced than the Ducks.

Don't look now Senators fans: The Ducks' power play will make Ottawa pay for taking penalties. If the Sens come home down 2-0, they're in trouble because Anaheim has proven it can and will win on the road. If the series turns physical, the Ducks rate a big advantage.

And the winner is: Sorry Canada, the Ducks are going to win in six or seven. Giguere is a more sound and experienced goalie than Emery, Pronger and Niedermayer can control the flow of games and the Ducks' physical play will wear out Ottawa, which has faced fewer challenges and nothing close to this caliber of hitting from Pittsburgh, New Jersey or Buffalo.