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Kesler is Player to Watch in WCF

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Ryan Kesler looks up the ice during a game. 
Picture someone that can score big goals. Picture someone who can eat up minutes. Finally, add in the Brad Marchand style of being an pest, and you've got Ryan Kesler. Part of Kesler's job in the seven-game second round series against the Edmonton Oilers was to be a pest to Oilers star center Connor McDavid. Kesler ended up doing his job very well, and the Ducks ended up winning the series in seven. Now, Kesler's next assignment is to get under the skin of Predators forward Ryan Johansen. So far, he's risen to the task. Throughout Game 2 of the Ducks and Predators' Western Conference Final, Kesler and Johansen were headbutting, slashing, and elbowing each other. Johansen took a shot at Kesler after the game, saying that he "doesn't know how (Kesler's) family can cheer for a guy like that." Kelser responded in an interview, saying that "it's part of my game" and that Johansen "obviously doesn't like that".

You can predict more of that when Game 3 begins at 7:00 in Nashville. Bridgestone Arena will surely be heavily against Kesler. You can expect the boos and the chants, especially for a team with the most childish goal song in the NHL. If Kesler is to continue this type of play, he will have to do that as well as exercise the defensive aspect of his game. Kesler is very good defensively, he was named a Selke Finalist for best defensive forward for the fifth time in his career. He must stop Johansen's point production, who has four points (one goal, three assists) in two games this series.

Finally, if the Ducks are going to win this series, they need to start games better. If Kesler and the Ducks can shut down the Predator's line of Victor Ardisson, Johansen, and Filip Forsberg, they will win the series. If they can't, it looks like another short offseason with nothing to show for it for Anaheim.

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