from Eric Stephens of the OC Register,

When the Ducks open their first-round Western Conference series against Winnipeg on Thursday night, Perry and Getzlaf will chase after the silver chalice for the sixth time.

“Times like this don’t come around too often,” Perry said. “We have a great team. But also we haven’t gotten out of the second round since we won in ’07. Those are tough things to swallow. You think it’s going to happen all the time.

“At the end of the day, you only get so many chances at this. You got to go out and you got to do it and you got to earn it. There’s no better time than now. That’s kind of what we’re thinking.”

The two are linked with this common thought – that this is their best look at putting a second Cup on their already envied resumes.

Getzlaf and Perry are big believers in the moves by Ducks general manager Bob Murray last summer – most notably trading for center Ryan Kesler – and feel that they’re better equipped to get through the Western Conference minefield.

In the captain’s mind, the difference is these Ducks have learned from past failures and respond better to adverse situations.

more