DEFENSE ONLY DOESN'T CUT IT ANYMORE

The Ducks appear to be learning the lesson modern playoff hockey has been teaching - and they have company in the classroom.

You see, no longer does the phrase "Defense wins championships" ring true.

In today's game the ability to put the puck in the other teams net is paramount.

Just look at the teams that find themselves down 0-2 in the opening round; New Jersey, Boston, Ottawa (playing without Alfredsson and Fisher), Nashville, and Anaheim who are the weakest scoring team from the regular season in this years playoffs. All of them have serious issues when it comes to their attack and the warts are showing.

Devils - a new coach but the same checking based system that's just fantastic - with a lead.

Bruins - trap happy system with a cheesey d-corp and unproven netminding, oh, and your best offensive player is concussed. Good luck with that.

Senators - they have the potential to score, but with the injuries and the general flounder that last year's Eastern Conference champs seem to be in...potential can't be realized.

Nashville - they were a one-line offense in the regular season and one line is usually easily shut down in the post season - even if your not the best defensive team in the league - which their opponent the Red Wings are.

Anaheim - the Ducks sacrificed offense for defense in their quest to repeat and it isn't panning out. With leading goal scorer Cory Perry injured and Andy Mcdonald and Dustin Penner elsewhere, they are relying on brooding Todd Bertuzzi, 38 year old Teemu Selanne and their checking line to beat Turco - it's not working.

And apparently it's not just about the number of goals you can manufacture, it's also about who strikes first. The team scoring the first goal of the game has gone on to win an incredible 15 of the 16 opening round games played so far.

In the Stars - Ducks series Dallas is scoring first, scoring often, and scoring with relative ease against an Anaheim club that isn't scoring, defending or playing with any hockey sense. If this continues, and there is every indication it will, the Stars will be the latest team to prove that playoff hockey in 2008 rewards the attacker more than the defender.

Lock it down?

How about Fill 'er up.