Game 21: Ducks vs. Sharks 11.21.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 20: Ducks vs. Lightning 11.19.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 2 - 0
PERIOD 2: 3 - 2
PERIOD 3: 3 - 3
OVERTIME: 4 - 3





OPINION:
This was an important 2 points to grab up to begin the 7 game home-stand. That said, the game should have never gone to Overtime to begin with. The Ducks had a 3 goal lead in the 2nd period and watched it slip to a 1 goal lead in a matter of 18 seconds. Tampa managed to tie it up in the 3rd and then we found ourselves in OT. And Ducks fans know OT should be re-named into Scotty-Time. It's where Niedermayer really knows how to shine. You give him 4-on-4 hockey and he's great, you give him 4-on-3 hockey and he's even better, which is how it went down for this game. Ducks had a power play that gave them a 4-on-3 advantage and Scotty recieved a beautiful pass from Getzlaf to secure the 2nd point and send the Lightning packing. Ducks fans would like to hope that this could be the start to a winning streak that can go further than 2 games, but it wont be easy. They face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, who are currently holding the #1 spot in the entire league. (But we saw how well that worked out for them last season ;-) )

POST GAME QUOTES:
“Unfortunately, we left them back in the game after a good start,” Niedermayer said immediately after the game, “but that’s the way it goes. Getz made a great play to bring the guy with him and it left me alone in the slot. Perrs made a great screen and I just had to get it where the goalie wasn't, and I was able to do it.”

"We weren’t feeling very proud after giving up a three-goal lead in our building, yet we found a way to get the last one to get the two points," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "The positives were we had lots of energy at the beginning of the game. We skated and created a lot more in this game from the outset. That is the most encouraging sign and the building point that we want to take forward."

"We showed some resiliency," Ryan said. "In the past, we would have let those three goals really go to our heart and that would have been a time of self destruction for us. But as a group, we pulled tonight and grinded out the two points."

"We have a good homestand that we want to play well in," Niedermayer said. "We’re not really looking too far ahead. We’ll take each one as they come. It’s nice to get a win tonight."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Corey Perry #10, Ryan Getzlaf #15, Scott Niedermayer #27 and Teemu Selanne #8 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Niedermayer's game winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Honda Center on November 19, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Lightning 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 19: Ducks @ Penguins 11.16.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 0 - 2
PERIOD 2: 1 - 3
PERIOD 3: 2 - 5





OPINION:
Just wanted to point out one thing before repeating myself that this losing gig is getting old.... Last season through 19 games the Ducks were 9 - 7 - 3 for 21 points. This season they are 6 - 10 - 3 for 15 points. That is only a 6 point difference, which yeah equals 3 games they need to win to be where they were last season.. but it's only a 6 point difference. Also, last season they were one of the teams with the most games played, waiting for every other team to catch up-- this season they are one of the teams with the least games played. Most teams have 3 more games played than us. Win those 3 in hand and hopefully some of those teams start losing a few and we're right in the mix of things. The only real difference from last season and this one is that the Kings actually decided to show up this year and give everyone a run for their money. As a Ducks fan, it hurts to see them doing so well, but the truth is that they are. Will they be able to keep it up though? The skeptic in me says no. Not all season they wont. Will the Ducks stink up the ice all season? The skeptic in me says no.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"I've been on teams like this before and it's never easy," Marchant said. "It's almost seems like there's never light at the end of the tunnel, but there is. There is time, time to turn this around. We have the personnel, we have the talent, we have the work ethic, we have the character in this room to do it."

(Tight lipped again tonight...yeesh...wouldn't want to be in that locker room.)

Source for Quotes:nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is screened by Anaheim Ducks' Kyle Calder on a third period shot and goal by Ducks' Teemu Selanne during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. The Penguins won 5-2. (PHOTO CREDIT: sports.yahoo.com)

Game 18: Ducks @ Red Wings 11.14.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 0 - 2
PERIOD 2: 1 - 2
PERIOD 3: 4 - 7





OPINION:
First let me start off with the final score looks worse than what actually happened. It looks like we got bombed, and we did. But the Ducks had battled back THREE times to tie the score (2-2; 3-3; 4-4). Then Hiller let in 2 weak goals, and finally the Wings got an empty netter. So don't judge a book by it's cover, this game was anyone's game up until Hiller fell asleep for the last 5 minutes. The first period was crap. 0 - 2, Really? The 2nd period was better, they got themselves into the game, gave themselves a chance. Then the 3rd came where penalties became the Ducks enemy. They would tie the game then take a stupid penalty and the Wings would regain the lead. As you can see, that happened three times. It gave the wings too much life and they ended up bombing us at the end. It's a simple case of the Ducks getting the fans hopes up then Detroit taking that hope and squishing it like a bug. On to the next...... this losing is getting old.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We got ourselves back up with them a few times but they kept bumping back up," Niedermayer said.

"That's why they're a great team year in and year out," Lupul said. "They know how to win those tough games."

(They were not very talkative tonight, eh?)

Source for Quotes:nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry (10) scores a goal against Detroit Red Wings' goalie Jimmy Howard, center, during the second period of their NHL hockey game on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Detroit. (PHOTO CREDIT: sports.yahoo.com)

Game 17: Ducks @ Blue Jackets 11.13.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 1
PERIOD 2: 2 - 2
PERIOD 3: 2 - 2
OVERTIME: 2 - 2
SHOOTOUT: 2 - 3





OPINION:
The Ducks started off on the right foot with this one, but ended on the wrong one. Bobby Ryan helped the Ducks strike first in the game and then Columbus tied it up right before the end of the 1st. In the 2nd Todd Marchant would make the score 2-1 early on, but that wouldn't be enough because Columbus would strike back minutes later. The game got sent into OT where the Ducks found themselves with a 4 on 3 advantage but didn't capitalize. The game went to a shootout where both Getzlaf and Perry missed their chances, and Rick Nash would be the game decider. Since Cheechoo has since gone to the East coast, Rick Nash is now taking over as the official Ducks killer. Without fail, he will score on the Ducks every single game. The Ducks wont have it any easier tomorrow when they face the Detroit Red Wings. Actually, if they play like they did tonight, stick a fork in them because they are already done. They will have to find energy within them somewhere and really go for it. No holding back with the Red Wings, they are a lethal team.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We are desperate for a win on the road," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "I didn't think we played that poor a hockey game. But we will take the point and move on. It's not easy to win on the road."

"We missed a chance in overtime when we had the four-on-three," Carlyle said. "We didn't really create much from it."

"We did a good job staying in this hockey game," Getzlaf said. "We were right there ... unfortunately it didn't come out the way we wanted it to."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Columbus Blue Jackets' Anton Stralman, left, of Sweden, and Anaheim Ducks' Scott Niedermayer fight for a loose puck during overtime of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets defeated the Ducks 3-2 in a shootout. (PHOTO CREDIT: sports.yahoo.com)

NHL Reinstates Samueli

The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that Anaheim Ducks Owner Henry Samueli has been reinstated as an active NHL owner. Co-Owner Susan Samueli, who was abiding by the terms of her husband’s suspension (June 24, 2008), is also returning to her ownership role. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued the following statement:

“We welcome Henry and Susan Samueli back as fully reinstated owners and members of the NHL community,” said Commissioner Bettman.

Henry Samueli will return to his role of Club Governor, with Co-Owner Susan Samueli and Chief Executive Officer Michael Schulman acting as Alternate Governors. Schulman, Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray and Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Tim Ryan will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the club, with Murray and Ryan reporting to Schulman.

“Susan and I are very happy to be returning to work with the Ducks,” said Henry Samueli. “We are thankful to have had great leadership in place that successfully operated the team during this time and look forward to reestablishing contact with the organization. Our goal remains the same – to be a championship-caliber organization both on and off the ice. We are also pleased to be able to return to a more active role in the many philanthropic efforts that the Ducks have undertaken throughout the Southern California community.”

Henry and Susan Samueli purchased the club on June 20, 2005. The Ducks became the first California-based club to win the Stanley Cup (2007) and have qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. The club has won more playoff games since 2005-06 (34) than any other team in the NHL with the exception of Detroit (43 wins) and has played to Honda Center crowds at 95.2% of capacity during that time.

SOURCE FOR ARTICLE: ducks.nhl.com

Game 16: Ducks @ Devils 11.11.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 0 - 1
PERIOD 2: 1 - 3
PERIOD 3: 1 - 3





OPINION:
Special teams? It didn't appear like the Ducks had their power play unit with them for this game. 6 chances with a man-advantage (a.k.a. power play) and nothing? The whole game was a little bit of a snooze fest to be honest. I don't know if it was jet leg playing it's part but whatever it was, it was evident in the game. No energy, no urgency, nothing. They appeared to be just going through the motions with this game. Problem is they're not exactly in a position to be so complacent with themselves. They NEED the urgency and energy, they NEED these points to catch up with the rest of the Pacific Division crew. Hopefully they can get back onto the right tracks with their game at Columbus on Friday. We'll have to wait and see.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We didn't win any of those loose-puck battles on the power play," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said after his team went 0 for 6 with the advantage. "We didn't create much until the last one when we started to shoot the puck more. When you've got an opportunity, you've got to take the most of it. Giving up the short-handed goal took a lot of momentum away from us."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Whitney (19) gets hit by New Jersey Devils' Dainius Zubrus (8), of Lithuania, as they battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. The Devils defeated the Ducks 3-1.(Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com)

Game 15: Ducks vs. Coyotes 11.7.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 0
PERIOD 2: 3 - 0
PERIOD 3: 4 - 3





OPINION:
For most of the game the Ducks held their own. Most being the key word. Going into the third period I think most Ducks fans were thinking "hey, Hiller is moving towards his second shutout in a row, wouldn't that be great" and then into the third that turned into "Holy crap! What's going on here? Please don't have a Minnesota Wild (See Game 3 of the season) repeat." Getzlaf happened to make a huge error by passing directly to another player. It was a great pass, mind you, it was to the wrong team. That pass resulted in a goal, and that goal resulted in a breakdown by the Ducks and a surge for the Coyotes who went on to score two more goals to make the game interesting at 4-3. A far cry from what the game was in the first two periods. The good news is the Ducks had JUST enough of a cushion in goals to squeak past the Coyotes for the 4-3 win.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Considering how the last few weeks have gone here, it’s good to come out with a couple of wins here at home," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. "Home ice is important and you want to take advantage of it. We haven’t been able to do that, but the last two we have. We’re heading in the right direction right now."

"You have to give [Phoenix] credit," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "They did not go away."

"Some of our losses earlier in the season were bad bounces," said James Wisniewski, who returned after serving a two-game suspension for a hit in that last game in Phoenix "I don’t think we played all that poorly, but sometimes if you don’t get the right breaks at the right time, then you’re not going to win games. Now, with our hard work, dedication and the way we’re playing by keeping it simple, getting pucks in deep and grinding it out, breaks are coming out way."


"In the middle of the third period, we went out and gave them life," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "It was almost like we stood around and watched them skate. That is what happens in these games. The momentum swings back and forth. You can’t critique a win. We won the hockey game. We’ll take the two points and move on."

"We want to get on this road trip now and continue to get better," Niedermayer said. "We are playing better hockey and that is why we’re getting some results now. We have to continue to build on it."

Added Wisniewski, "It’s perfect with us getting two wins in a row at home, where we were struggling. It was surprising because we were at home for such a long time. Now, we go on a tough road trip with four games in six days. It might be a good thing for us because of how well we’re playing. We’ll see what we can do."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry scores a goal against Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (Source:Yahoo Sports)

Game 14: Ducks vs. Predators 11.5.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 0
PERIOD 2: 1 - 0
PERIOD 3: 4 - 0





OPINION:
This 4 - 0 shutout of the Nashville Predators was well deserved. Jonas Hiller made it known early on that he was on his game and that nothing would be getting by him. I don't know if any of you have noticed, but when a goalie is going to shutout a team there seems to be a certain aura in the building. A confidence that you as a fan can feel. Selanne (2), Marchant (1), and Ryan (1) were the goal scorers for the night. The first two periods only saw a lone goal from Selanne, but the third period they threw in 3 bombs that would make the final score 4-0. Now we all sit here and cross our fingers that they can use that as the starting point to string together some more wins for an actual winning streak, which they have yet to see this season. Up next is the Phoenix Coyotes which they played just 3 games ago (a week ago exactly tomorrow, when they play) that resulted in a Wisniewski 2-game suspension for his hit on Doan. Wiz will be returning for this game, it could get interesting folks!

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We played pretty solid defensively," Hiller said. "I gave up a couple of rebounds, but our defensemen were doing a great job tonight clearing those. I’m definitely happy about the win. If we play the way we did tonight, we’ll always have a chance to win."

"We have to start building the confidence from little things," Selanne said. "This team can play way better than we did. The good thing is we found a way to win the game and that is all that really matters. Jonas gave us a chance to win and the special teams were good."

"We have had some really good games and so many good chances, but the puck has not gone in," Selanne said of his play with Koivu. "It’s a little frustrating. We have been playing well, but have not been rewarded. I really hope tonight’s game is going to give us the confidence boost we need."

"It was a nip and tuck game until the third period," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We found a way to score some goals in third period to give us some breathing room."

"We knew we had to do something," Hiller said of Anaheim's penalty kill. "We were struggling a little on it in the beginning of the year. We worked hard at it in practice. Everybody was working hard. We just have to keep it up and do the same job the next game."

"From our standpoint, we did a lot of good things in the hockey game," said Carlyle. "The penalty killing came up large. When you’re penalty killing is shutting the other team’s power play out, usually your goaltender has a good part of the responsibility for that. Jonas stood in there and made some big stops for us at key times."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller stops a shot by the Nashville Predators in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. The Ducks won the game 4-0. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler)

Game 13: Ducks vs. Penguins 11.3.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 0
PERIOD 2: 2 - 2
PERIOD 3: 3 - 4





OPINION:
Now if there is any way to lose I guess this would be the way. In the 3rd period it was anyone's game and there are a lot of positives to be had even though the end result is a loss. The Ducks are finally getting their groove going and playing some consistent hockey. The pucks are finding their way to the net, and largely thanks to Perry who has been absolutely on fire. There were opportunities tonight they did not capitalize on, but they were there. You can really tell they have been working on putting out a full 60 minute effort. They don't have that down pat yet, but tonight was pretty darn close. The past 3 games have had tremendous effort and it's a shame only 1 of them resulted in a win. They have deserved the W for these past 3 games but luck just isn't on their side right now. To quote Jonas Hiller from last season's playoffs "sometimes you have to be a little lucky". It will come, in time.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We put in a good effort, but it’s still a loss," Perry said. "If we keep playing like we did in the third period, bounces have to come for us. We’re playing a little stronger and trying to put 60 minutes together. It’s something that we’re preaching every day in practice. "

"I have to do a better job finding the puck on those goals," Hiller admitted. "I lost it on its way. I have to look at it again and see who was screening me, if it was our guy or their guy."

"We had lost of chances and there was lots of frustration coming to the bench," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "The emotion that we displayed at the end was consistent through the game, so it wasn’t like we were not in the hockey game."

"They don’t win a championship with two guys," Perry said. "It takes 23 guys in that dressing room. They all played well tonight. Fleury played well. He stood on his head a couple of times. When they have everybody going, they are a pretty tough team to beat."

"If we continue to play with that level of emotion and just raise our execution a little bit," Carlyle said, "then we will see a lot of positive signs."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Scott Niedermayer #27, Corey Perry #10, Bobby Ryan #9, Sheldon Brookbank #21 and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Perry's second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Honda Center on November 3, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)