Whether it was coach-speak, true analysis or something in between, Ducks boss Randy Carlyle had an interesting take on his club’s 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Thursday night’s opening game of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at HP Pavilion.

“In a lot of ways, in reviewing, we were very, very fortunate to get the shutout and get the hockey game,” Carlyle told reporters after the club’s Friday afternoon practice. “A lot of things went our way — favorable bounces, posts, a crossbar, some of those things. At the end, we have to expect to play to a much higher level to have success.”

The teams meet again Sunday night in San Jose before the series shifts to Honda Center in Anaheim for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

“We know that they’re a proud hockey club,” Carlyle said. “We know they were in first place (during the regular season). They have strength throughout their lineup, and we’re going to have to prepare for a much more spirited hockey game come Sunday.

“I don’t look at is as anything other than we’ve taken one step. And there are going to be lots of steps, and lots of peaks and valleys, as we go deep into this series.”

[Source: Ducks.FreedomBlogging.com]

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