Excited Cumiskey jumps right into the deep end

When a player's first game action in three months comes in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals - as was the case with Kyle Cumiskey on Tuesday - a few words to settle the nerves is certainly in order.

Said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville beforehand: "I think as a staff, a couple of guys will mention some things of what to be aware of, to play to your strengths, use your quickness, use your instincts and rely on that."

Cumiskey was inserted after David Rundblad, who was replacing the injured Michal Rozsival, was exposed by the Ducks and directly involved in Anaheim's first 2 goals in Game 1.

In the locker room after practice Monday, Cumiskey was surrounded by reporters for almost 10 minutes. He admitted to being excited but also knew it would be no easy task jumping into the fray against such a talented, hard-hitting team like Anaheim.

"I think it was tough losing Rosi," said Cumiskey, who had 6:36 of ice time through three periods. "Me and David, we haven't played in a month. It's a tough situation to get thrown into. It'll be tough for me too; I just have to try to make the most of it."

Not hurt:

When Bryan Bickell left the bench in the second period of Game 1, it wasn't because of an injury. The big winger simply had the wind knocked out of him.

"Needed a couple seconds to recover," Bickell said hours before Game 2. "I'm sure everybody's had the wind knocked out of them before. I went into the locker room for a couple minutes to find it (my breath) and came back out."

Tip-ins:

The Ducks are the first team with a plus-20 goal differential after 10 playoff games since Colorado in 1997. ... Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen was 9-0 at the Honda Center entering Game 2. That is the most home wins to begin a playoff career in NHL history. … The Ducks were outhitting the Hawks 46-29 after two periods of Game 2.