By Matt Vevoda
AnaheimDucks.com

Pretty much everybody, from the Ducks players to coaches to fans, would like to hit the reset button after a deflating loss to Nashville in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

“We have to get back to our game,” Beauchemin said. “It was just one of those nights where nothing was going our way. You want to use that home-ice advantage. We lost the first one, no big deal. We just have to make sure we are all focused and ready to go for tomorrow."

While that defeat cannot be erased completely, Anaheim began to move past it during Thursday’s practice and the club is eager for the fresh start that Game 2 provides beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“We have to get back to our game,” Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin said. “It was just one of those nights where nothing was going our way. You want to use that home-ice advantage. We lost the first one, no big deal. We just have to make sure we are all focused and ready to go for tomorrow. Then, we go from there. We have to go in their building and get one, come back home and get home-ice again.”

Beauchemin did not skate in practice, as he continues to nurse a lower-body ailment resulting from a shot he took toward the end of the regular season. Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said he should be available come Game 2.

Ducks Comment On Injuries and Game 2

“It’s just taking a little more time to heal,” Beauchemin said. “It’s tough when you have those games every second day. I’ve been trying to take medicine and painkillers. It’s good on gamedays, but on practice days it’s tough to get out there and force it.”

Another lower-body injury situation that arose late in the 82-game schedule was to goaltender Ray Emery, who was forced to leave the April 6 win vs. San Jose early. He had not returned to action until being inserted in the third period last night after starter Dan Ellis surrendered his fourth goal in 24 shots to the Predators.

After stopping all six Nashville shots he saw in 19:04 of time between the pipes in Game 1, Emery took part in a full practice today. He and Carlyle each sounded pleased with his progress in the recent days and say that if all continues to go well, he could potentially get the start in Game 2.

“I would say Ray Emery is pretty much close to 100 percent,” said Carlyle, who did not tip his hand on which player he plans to use in net come tomorrow. “Emery is more of a bigger bodied blocking type of goaltender, where Dan Ellis is more of a smaller guy, compact and more active in the net. Both goaltenders have success in the NHL with their styles and they both compete to stop the puck. “

Emery, who stopped all six shots he saw last night, said, “I’ve been getting better. I felt I could contribute, so that is why I was the backup. I’m not sure what is going to happen, but my body feels good enough.”

"The playoffs are a whole different thing,” Emery said. “That is what I really love about the game. It’s been a long time. It’s something that I’m hoping get back into because it’s awesome."

Last night was the first playoff action the 28-year-old Emery has had since Game 5 of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, when he was in net for Ottawa against his current team, who secured the franchise’s first championship on that night.

 Being in a playoff atmosphere is special for Emery, even more so after enduring a severe hip injury that kept him away from the game for a year. “The playoffs are a whole different thing,” he said. “That is what I really love about the game. It’s been a long time. It’s something that I’m hoping get back into because it’s awesome."

While with the Senators from 2002-08, Emery was a teammate of center Mike Fisher, who was dealt to Nashville earlier this season after playing with Ottawa since 1999. It was Fisher’s second goal of the game in last night’s Game 1 that sent Emery into the game in relief of Ellis.

“He got a change of scenery and is doing well,” Emery said of Fisher. “We shared that Cup run and fell short here. “It’s funny how things end up and how you cross paths with different guys along the way.

“He’s a hard-working player and not a selfish player whatsoever. He’ll do anything to block shots and he kills penalties. He’s a tough player. He is going to contribute, but I think we can limit his effectiveness. We can find ways to get to their team.”

Putting the mistakes of Game 1 in the rearview mirror, Anaheim will be seeking to be more assertive tomorrow night with the hope of evening the series before it heads to the Nashville.

“We have to play better,” Carlyle said. “We accept responsibility for the way we played. Our execution level has to go up dramatically. That is why I was a little bit adamant this morning in practice that we didn’t do it. Those are areas that have to be addressed right now. There is no accepting the way we managed the puck last night.”