The Ducks could not only clinch a Stanley Cup playoff berth Friday night, but with a certain combination of events, would know their first-round opponent.

And if things work out that way, get ready for another post-season matchup between the Ducks and Detroit Red Wings.

A parlay of a Ducks victory over the Dallas Stars at Honda Center and a Columbus Blue Jackets regulation-time triumph on the road against the St. Louis Blues would lock the Ducks into seventh place in the NHL’s Western Conference, and an opening-round matchup with Detroit, which is guaranteed to finish second.

How about that — the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Ducks against the 2008 Stanley Cup champion Red Wings?

The Ducks and Detroit have met four times in the playoffs, with the Red Wings prevailing in sweeps in the second round in 1997 and the first round in 1999, the Ducks returning the favor with a first-round sweep in 2003 and the Ducks winning in six games in the 2007 Western Conference finals.

Should the Ducks fail to beat the Stars, they could be in jeopardy of missing the playoffs entirely. In any event, the determination of opening-round matchups, as well as which of the Ducks, Blues, Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild will fill the final two playoff spots, could go all the way to Sunday, when St. Louis completes its season on the road against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Ducks are also on the road for their final regular-season game, Saturday night against the Phoenix Coyotes.

[Source: Ducks.FreedomBlogging.com]

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