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Ducks ‘are not the favorite’ against the Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings v Anaheim Ducks

during the NHL game at Honda Center on March 14, 2012 in Anaheim, California.

Victor Decolongon

The Anaheim Ducks finished the lockout-shortened season as the second seed in the Western Conference. Their entry into the Stanley Cup playoffs was never really in doubt.

The Detroit Red Wings, on the other hand, had to fight right down to the final Saturday of the regular season in order to make the playoffs. The last time they did not qualify for the post-season was in 1990, so there was a very impressive streak on the line.

On paper, it would seem as though the Ducks are the favorites heading into this quarter-final, which begins Tuesday in Anaheim.

As one might expect, the Ducks were saying all the right things on Monday, heaping praise on the Red Wings and deflecting any heightened pressure.

“Have you listened to the media the last couple of days?” Ducks forward and captain Ryan Getzlaf told the L.A. Times.

“We are not the favorite, trust me. It’s the same story as the whole season. We’re prepared for that.”

The Red Wings, with a playoff appearance hanging dangerously in the balance down the stretch, found a way to win four straight games to close out the season.

Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock has seen an improvement in his team’s play, but it always helps when you get good goaltending.

On Monday, Red Wings puck stopper Jimmy Howard was named NHL’s first star of the week after posting four straight wins - two of those being shutouts.