enlarge Doug Jones/Staff Photographer

Bobby Ryan, who has 11 points through the first 11 playoff games, will be counted on again against Wilkes/Barre-Scranton.

NEXT ROUND FOR PIRATES

WHO: Portland Pirates vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

WHAT: AHL Eastern Conference finals

GAME 1: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Bobby Ryan's future prospects are looking brighter with each round that the Portland Pirates advance in the AHL playoffs.

Nearly three years after the Anaheim Ducks made him the second overall pick in the NHL draft, right behind Sidney Crosby, Ryan is playing a major role in the Pirates' drive for the second Calder Cup in their 15-year history.

"You want him to play as much as possible," said David McNab, the Ducks' assistant general manager. "You want him to be in a situation where he is counted upon to be important. You want him to play games that are important."

The Pirates, who came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Providence Bruins in six games to capture the Atlantic Division title on Friday, will open a best-of-seven series Wednesday night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

With five goals and six assists, Ryan shares the team scoring lead with linemate Andrew Ebbett, who has two goals and nine assists through Portland's first 11 playoff games.

"Guys you hope will be impact players in the National Hockey League have to be impact players here, and they have to be important players here," McNab said.

During the playoffs, Ryan, who had five goals and five assists in 23 games over three stints this year with the Ducks, has been much more than just an offensive threat.

"In the NHL, you obviously have to be an overall player," McNab said.

"He can't be a defensive liability, and he's gotten a lot better in that role."

Ryan is glad to get a chance to play in a wide variety of situations during the playoffs.

"This is an opportunity for me to be relied on in more than one way," he said. "I need to be counted upon defensively here before I go (to the NHL). This is a good opportunity for me. That's what playoffs are about.

"Everybody kind of steps into a new mold and leaves the comfort zone a little bit, and you push the envelope and do more things," Ryan said. "I'm getting more comfortable doing those things here, so I think it can only pay dividends down the road."

Because he was chosen right behind Crosby in 2005, McNab said a lot of people expect Ryan to make as big a splash in the NHL.

"The problem is when players get drafted real high, people have certain expectations, but he's still just 21 years old," McNab said.

The 2005 draft followed the lockout, and the Ducks got the second pick by the luck of the draw. "They put 30 names in a hat and pulled them out one at a time," McNab said.

"Normally when you're picked second, you're going to the team with the second-worst record," McNab said. "(Ryan) went to a pretty good team with a lot of good scorers and a lot of right wings, so it's been a lot harder (for him) to get into the lineup."

Last year, the season after Ryan was drafted, the Ducks won the Stanley Cup.

This season the Pirates, Anaheim's top minor league affiliate, are making a run at the Calder Cup, and Ryan is a big part of it.

"He's really stepped up here," McNab said. "He's sort of taken the bull by the horns, and this is where you want a player of his caliber to take off. You want him to be the best player on the ice."

NOTES: During the regular season, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Portland split two games. On Jan. 25, the Pirates edged the Penguins 2-1 at the Cumberland County Civic Center. On Feb. 8, the Penguins cruised to a 3-0 victory at home.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Tim Brent, who spent the last two seasons with the Pirates, has eight goals and nine assists in 10 playoff games to lead the AHL in scoring. Because of injuries, the Pirates have used 28 players in the playoffs. "We've gone through two extremely physical series," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said.

All eight of the Pirates' playoff victories have been by one goal. ...