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Ducks will be without Pronger in Game Four

Jun 4, 2007 - 2:01 PM Anaheim at Ottawa 8:00 pm EDT Stanley Cup Finals Anaheim leads, 2-1

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The Anaheim Ducks will be without defenseman Chris Pronger for the second time in the playoffs when they visit the Ottawa Senators in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday.

Pronger on Sunday was suspended one game by the NHL for his hit on Dean McAmmond in Saturday's Game Three loss to the Senators, who trail two-games-to-one in the best-of-seven series.

It is the second suspension of this sort in this year's playoffs for Pronger, who was forced to sit out Game Four of the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings for a blow to the head of Tomas Holmstrom. The Ducks overcame the loss on that occasion and beat Detroit despite the absence of their top defenseman.

A finalist for the Norris Trophy this year, Pronger has recorded three goals and 11 assists in 18 games this postseason. The 6-6, 220-pounder also has collected 26 penalty minutes and a plus-9 rating.

The hit on McAmmond occurred late in the third period as he skating down the right side in the Ducks' zone. Pronger raised his left arm, landing a blow to the veteran right wing's head with his elbow and forearm. After crumpling to the ice and sliding into the corner, McAmmond lay motionless for short period before being helped off the ice and to the locker room, where he remained for the rest of the game.

"I think it should have been a suspension because it was a blow to the head," McAmmond said Sunday. "It wasn't incidental. It's not like that couldn't have been avoided."

McAmmond, who scored what proved to be the game-winning goal late in the second period of Saturday's 5-3 win, apparently was feeling better after the contest, but his status for Game Four is in question.

Anaheim is still looking for their first road win in the Stanley Cup Finals - the team is 0-5 all-time, including four losses at New Jersey in 2003. Conversely, the Ducks are a perfect 5-0 at home in the Stanley Cup Finals.