In the 2008-09 season, there were still six divisions in the NHL. And playoff match-ups were determined by team standings within each conference. The Sharks won the President’s Trophy for having the best record in the regular season. San Jose also ran away with the Pacific Division crown, amassing 117 points.
The Anaheim Ducks, on the other hand, barely qualified for the playoffs. They earned only 91 points, narrowly beating out Minnesota for the final Western Conference berth. They worked hard just to be there. On March 15, the Ducks had played 69 games and had only 70 points.