Fedoruk, Penner Are on Same Wavelength

Duck wingers Todd Fedoruk and Dustin Penner, who are known more for muscle than finesse, have formed a mutual admiration society

Penner replaced Fedoruk in the lineup for the fourth game of the series, after Fedoruk spit up blood and was hospitalized for two nights. The Ducks won that game, buoyed by Penner’s physical presence, and Coach Randy Carlyle used the same lineup Saturday. That decision meant Fedoruk was a spectator, as were Jonathan Hedstrom and Jason Marshall.

“We’ve got toughness on this team, and that includes mental discipline,” Penner said. “Guys go through a wall for each other. We’re not a goon squad, but when the time comes we’ll be there.”

Given the offense-friendly tilt of the NHL this season, no team can afford to carry a player who’s simply a goon and must ensure that enforcers also have some skill.

“The best example is a guy like Todd Fedoruk, who had 23 points,” Penner said. “He can go with the heavyweights and play the game.”

Fedoruk returned the compliment, saying that Penner’s 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame and overall game were huge assets as the Ducks evened the series.

“I think we played that game the way we should have before that,” Fedoruk said. “Pen is a good player, a big kid, and we need that, especially against these guys. Calgary has a lot of big defensemen, and having a big forward up there really helps.

“It’s a tough thing to come up from the minors and jump into a playoff series in a game the team needs to win. I thought Big Pen and Travis Moen both did a good job of that.”

-- Helene Elliott

A big part of the Ducks’ strategy against the Flames is winning one-on-one battles along the boards in the corners along with holding possession of the puck in the offensive end.

That’s where the line of Rob Niedermayer, Todd Marchant and Jeff Friesen has become a vital part of the series. Their value has increased in the playoffs because of their ability in those areas of the game.

“Momentum is such a big thing,” Niedermayer said. “Getting shifts down in their end and generating some scoring chances. I think more attention is put on it in the playoffs.

“A lot of the shifts are kind of played along the boards. It’s a big part of the game right now.”

Niedermayer leads all forwards with an average of 20 minutes 48 seconds of ice time in the series. Marchant, a key penalty killer, is averaging 17:51 and Friesen 11:50.

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About 1,900 tickets remain for Game 6 on Monday night at the Arrowhead Pond. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster, (714) 703-2545.... The Ducks’ minor league affiliate in Portland, Maine, advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs with a Game 6 win over Providence on Friday night.

-- Eric Stephens