Twenty-three years ago, Anaheim Mighty Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguère strung together a legendary start to the 2002-03 playoffs, losing only twice in his first 14 games while posting a blistering .960 save percentage. And then, ahead of the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup Final appearance, came a 10-day break.The unusually long layoff threatened to derail Anaheim’s postseason momentum. But Giguère recognized some benefits. He spent time with his family, healed up from small injuries and remained sharp in practice. The unique schedule also allowed Giguère to fulfill various media requests, none more notable than an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”It was there, lounging in the green room of the iconic late-night program’s Burbank, Calif., studio, that Giguère finally learned of the Ducks’ upcoming opponent after watching Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final. An enjoyable experience all told, but Giguère would’ve much preferred a shorter break in hindsight.“It’s not the ideal situation,” Giguère said. “I think, ideally, you get five, six days off, where that gives you time to heal up a bit and recover. You’re not going through a period of time where you know practicing is really hard.”The 10-day break experienced by the ’02-03 Mighty Ducks is tied for the second-longest between playoff series in modern NHL history, alongside that of the 2018-19 Boston Bruins. But both teams trail this year’s Carolina Hurricanes, who will emerge from an 11-day hibernation on Thursday to face the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.“You don’t really get (days off) all that often in the middle of the playoffs,” Hurricanes defenseman K’Andre Miller said. “So, I found myself kind of struggling with my day-to-day stuff every once in a while. I was just waiting for that next game to come on the TV. It was practice and then kind of wait around for those next series to play out.”Once Giguère and the Mighty Ducks finally started their Stanley Cup Final, it was clear they had accumulated rust. After only dropping two games in its 14 games, Anaheim fell behind 2-0 to the Devils and ultimately lost in seven games, even though Giguère ended the postseason with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.“We tried every single thing we could to try and stay in game shape,” then-Anaheim center Adam Oates said, “and honestly, the first two games in New Jersey, I don’t think we crossed center (ice). I don’t.”Some of Giguère’s teammates had used their historic playoff layoff to treat more serious injuries — such as Oates, who was battling sore ribs and a broken left ring finger. On the ice, the Ducks alternated between hard practices packed with battle drills and scrimmages. But, for some, remaining patient for the next matchup proved even more difficult than staying in shape, a familiar challenge to the Hurricanes as they prepared to meet the Canadiens.“It was torture,” Oates said. “It really was.”Unless Rod Brind’Amour secretly appears on a future episode of “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” the Canes coach’s main focus has been getting his players ready for the next series.