After whirlwind week in London, Ducks get ready for even tougher trip
LONDON: Now comes the hard part for the Anaheim Ducks.
After a whirlwind week in London — where the team paraded the Stanley Cup all over the city and played back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Kings — the defending champions aren't exactly getting a rest.
Next up: a road game on Wednesday in Detroit — on paper a much tougher challenge than playing the Kings on neutral ground — and the Ducks have to yet again deal with a trans-Atlantic trip and the jet lag that comes with it.
Meanwhile, the perennial preseason favorite Red Wings are eager to avenge its Western Conference finals loss to Anaheim.
“It's their home opener, so it's gonna be pretty difficult,” Ducks captain Chris Pronger said. “We're pretty well adjusted now (to London time). And now you have to readjust the other way. We're gonna get in (to Detroit), I think, at three in the morning today. I don't know if guys are gonna be able to sleep.”
It's not much of a honeymoon for the defending champions, who continue their road trip with games at Columbus and Pittsburgh on Friday and Saturday.
“I hope it won't effect us too much. It's certainly not an excuse,” Pronger said.
The Ducks lost Saturday's game 4-1 after allowing three power-play goals, but bounced back with a convincing 4-1 win on Sunday before heading straight to the airport.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said it was up to the coaching staff to make sure the players have time to recover for the Detroit game. Monday will be a rest day for the Ducks, followed by a team dinner in the evening, he said.
“We competed hard in both hockey games, so we've got some wear and tear in our bodies,” Carlyle said. “But our mental focus was good.”
Pronger said earlier in the week that the team was initially reluctant to go to Europe because of the time difference. While the team said Sunday they were glad to have gone, it was too soon to say what effect it's had on the players.
“It'll be a couple of months before you see any toll of travel or jet lag and all that stuff,” Pronger said. “You're playing on adrenaline and stuff right now.”
And while his team may be tired on Wednesday, finding enough adrenaline against Detroit should not be a problem.
“We should be able to put a good effort forth, and make sure we're prepared, because we know Detroit is oozing to get back at us,” he said.