Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Game 38: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets 12.31.08



Ducks Lose 2-0


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"They had their chances and they capitalized on them," said Ducks forward Corey Perry. "And we didn’t."

"He’s been playing well.," said Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf of Mason. "We watched him a couple of games before leading into tonight. We knew we had to get some pucks at him. I thought we did that pretty well at the start of the game."

"The referee said that I went to the net and ended up taking a couple of guys with me there," Getzlaf said. "I think it was a matter of us running into each other. It was his interpretation of the play. We had to live with it. Those are the ones that can go either way. You don’t really agree with them all the time, but that is the way it went tonight."

"It was a flat game, emotional-wise for us," lamented Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We had a lot of trouble getting any noise on the bench. Those are ones that you don’t know why, but you try to pump people up and push. It just seemed that we couldn’t get any emotion going for ourselves."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Game 37: Ducks @ Blues 12.28.08



Ducks Win 4-3!!!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"I didn't have any problem with the hit, but the fake of the dropping of the gloves for a player of that stature and his job," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "Think about it. What would your answer be to it. Really, I think what happened was after the penalty to George, on the Janssen incident, we got emotionally involved in the game. That was the difference. If he (Janssen) thinks he did the right thing, well, he just stirred our group."

"Tonight, we found a way to win one and that's a good sign," Carlyle said.

"They told me where to be and pucks were going to find me in there with Scotty walking off the half wall so I was just patient," Ryan said. "Sure enough, it came and I was able to poke it into an empty net. I think (Blues goalie Chris Mason) probably lost it in the scrum there."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Friday, December 26, 2008

Game 36: Ducks @ Stars 12.27.08



Ducks Lose 4-3 in OT


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"These are tough ones to swallow," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "You've got to be careful that these kinds of games don't tear the heart out of your team. We weren't rewarded for the work we put in."

"You get down when you don't work hard and aren't in the game," Carlyle said. "We played closer to the style we need to have success on the road."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Game 35: Ducks at Flames 12.23.08



Ducks Lose 4-3


Deja Vu from Yesterday!

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GAME DAY QUOTE:
"We beat ourselves tonight, I believe that," Morrison said, pointing to Sutter's goal as a key moment in the game. "You have to have a big shift after you get the lead like that and this is a veteran group in here, we should be able to go out and do that and preserve a lead in the third period."

Source: ducks.nhl.com

Monday, December 22, 2008

Game 34: Ducks @ Canucks 12.22.08



Ducks Lose 4-3


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"If we had an answer we wouldn't have to answer those questions," said [Scott] Niedermayer, who had a goal and assist. "It was tough because they moved it around on the power play well and made us pay. Teams are going to do that when you are in the box as much as we were tonight."

"The flow, when you are going to the box one after another, is tough because you are wearing out certain guys and others aren't getting on the ice at all," Niedermayer said. "Frustration starts to build and that is not the recipe for winning hockey games."

"I didn't think we really engaged in the hockey game emotionally until the third period," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "And then we got desperate and started to play more of the type of hockey that is required to have success on the road. It seemed like any time that we got some momentum going, had some good shifts from our grind line and started to cycle like you have to do on the road, then they got a power play. It took all the momentum away from us."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Game 33: Ducks @ Oilers 12.19.08



Ducks Win 3-2 in SO


Teemu Selanne left during 1st period with a laceration to the thigh. Undergoing an MRI tomorrow in Anaheim.

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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"Sometimes it's better to have a lot of shots than just a couple, so it was easy to find my game and easy to be in the game and it felt good," Hiller said.

"He was amazing," Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said. "We were in the box way too much and he came up huge on a bunch of saves when we were trying to kill penalties and then obviously in the shootout. He won it for us there."

"He gave us a chance to win and obviously he was the best player on the ice and that's what you need sometimes when you go out on the road," Carlyle said.

"It's a deep cut, but we don't think it is any where near what Corey Perry had a year ago where he missed six weeks," Carlyle said.[on Teemu Selanne's Injury]

SOURCE FOR QUOTES: http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020473

Monday, December 15, 2008

Game 32: Ducks vs. Rangers 12.16.08



Ducks Lose 3-1


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"They skated well and there were a couple of bad decisions with the puck," said Scott Niedermayer, whose turnover in the second period led to New York's first goal. "We’ve had some good games and done some good things lately. Tonight we fell back a little bit and didn’t play smart."

"Turnovers are killing us right now," Pronger said. "It kills our momentum and our speed through the neutral zone. We’ve got to get through neutral zone better and cleaner, so that we can get in on the forecheck and get turnovers ourselves."

"The guy was coming on me pretty good and I just made a bad decision with the puck," Niedermayer said. "You’re not going to be able to make a cross-ice pass like that with their guy sitting in position waiting for it. The play would have been to just bump it up the boards and keep it away from them. That happens some nights where you make the mistake and then it’s right in your net, twice tonight."

"Tonight was a game where we turned the puck over far too many times in the middle of the ice," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "They played a good skating game and a good pace game. We played into their hands on too many situations where we turned the puck over."

SOURCE FOR QUOTES: ducks.nhl.com

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Traded: Sutherby to Dallas; Aquired: McIntyre

The Ducks acquired center David McIntyre and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Dallas Stars in exchange for center Brian Sutherby.

McIntyre, 21 (2/4/87), is competing in his junior season at Colgate University of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC). In 14 games thus far, the 5-11, 190-pound forward has collected a team-leading 5-7=12 points with 22 penalty minutes (PIM). He also leads the Colgate Raiders in assists and is tied for sixth in ECAC scoring. A native of Oakville, Ontario, McIntyre ranked second with the Raiders and tied for fourth in the ECAC with 15 goals in 2007-08. He finished third on the club in scoring during his sophomore season while also being named the Inside College Hockey National Player of the Week on Mar. 17, 2008.

Selected by Dallas in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, McIntyre has appeared in 93 career ECAC games with Colgate, recording 20-24=44 points with 60 PIM. He placed third in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL) with 92 points in 2005-06 and was named Newmarket’s MVP that season. He participated in the 2006 OPJHL All-Star Game as well as the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJAHL) Top Prospects Game.

Sutherby, 26 (3/1/82), appeared in 17 games with Anaheim this season, earning 3-3=6 points with a +6 rating and 19 PIM. The 6-3, 209-pound center was acquired from Washington in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on Nov. 19, 2007. Sutherby has played in 321 career NHL contests over seven seasons with Washington and Anaheim, collecting 29-39=68 points with 357 PIM.


SOURCE: ducks.nhl.com

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Game 31: Ducks vs. Wild 12.14.08



Ducks Win 4-2!!!!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"It’s a good sign for us," Morrison said. "It was a little adversity for this group tonight. We had a great start. They got right back in the game there. We were able to respond."

"We got a 2-0 lead and then we let them back in," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. " It changed the momentum of the game. All the sudden the pressure was all on us to get the next one and we found a way to get it. I thought overall our work ethic was good. We had a contribution from every guy and that is what’s important."

"I was just driving the net and he made a nice pass to the far post," Morrison said. "I just beat the d-man to the post and was able to get a stick on it. I’m been feeling better here. It couldn’t get much worse than the beginning. It can only go up. I just have to continue to build and be consistent."

"Any time I can get our team victory and help out in that, I’m definitely pleased," Parros said of his continued offensive production. "It was a good insurance goal for us. I had just come off the bench, so I had the whole view of the play in front of me. I don’t think their d-man saw me when I was coming into the zone. He tried to make an outlet pass to the guy at the boards. I was lucky enough to be there to intercept it and find Bobby in front, who was waiting for the one-timer."

"Corey Perry has had a little dry spell, to say the least, here over the last little while.," said Carlyle. "It’s nice to see he was rewarded. He gets a lot of the dirty positions on the ice when you have to stand in front of the net, battle with defensemen and work those corners. It’s not always the hardest spot to play that gets the recognition for scoring goals. You have to have that combination and he’s willing to do that. That is where he makes his living."

"I think these games are tough to play in against teams like Minnesota," Morrison said. "They are disciplined in their system and a team that really feasts on turnovers. You have to make sure you get pucks deep. I thought we did a pretty good job of that tonight overall."

SOURCE FOR QUOTES: ducks.nhl.com

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Game 30: Ducks @ Sharks 12.11.08



Ducks Lose 2-0


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“We can’t look at it as a game that we’re going to get frustrated and hang our heads,” Ducks forward Todd Marchant said. “I think anytime you play a game and you don’t win, you try to learn from your mistakes first of all and second of all, you try to look at some positive from that game that you can carry into your next one.”

“I think in last night’s game we worked hard and held them under 30 shots in their building, which is a positive,” Marchant said. “But we didn’t stick to the structure that we had been doing recently. Our execution wasn’t where we needed to be. As a result, they come away with a 2-0 win.”

“You can’t be a solid hockey club without a good home record,” said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle, whose group was 80-25-18 the past three seasons in Orange County. “We’ve had a good home record in this building. It’s not a given. You have to work at it. Hopefully our home ice issues are behind us. We’ve got good hockey clubs coming in. We have to be mentally prepared and focused to play the game.”

Said Marchant, “We’ve got to make Honda Center a tough place to play. You got to use that to your advantage. We’ve done a better job of it lately and have to continue to do that.”

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Game 29: Ducks vs. Blues 12.10.08



DUCKS WIN 4-2!!!!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"It’s nice to get one," Morrison understated. "When you can contribute, it’s a good feeling."

"About 20 seconds before I scored, I had a wide open net," Morrison said. "I went to shoot it and Teemu just knocked it off my stick. I was like ‘Ah man, that’s the way things are going’. We kept the puck alive. It was basically a scramble and I was able to get my stick on it. "

"There were some emotions there," Morrison said. "I think that’s good at times, teammates getting involved. It gets others guys going. It’s part of the game."

"Our line has found some chemistry," Parros said. "I think we’ve been playing well. We’d like to keep that going."

"We seemed to step up the level of our intensity," said Carlyle. "That is important when you’re in situations like that to have that other gear to go to. We found a way to push one across the line. There were a lot of chances that we missed through the course of the evening."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Game 28: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets 12.7.08



Ducks Win 5-3


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"When you have that 4-1 lead you have to be able to stay focused," said Ryan Getzlaf, who had two goals on the night. "It was a position where we let up a little bit I think, a few plays were lackadaisical and that turns into scoring chances. It’s not a concern at all. We’re going to take our win and go."

"That’s cool," Getzlaf said. "It’s part of another milestone in this organization that has done so much for me. Hopefully I can be here for a lot more." [on scoring the 3,000 goal for the Ducks franchise]

"I am definitely happy," Parros said. "I just keep going forward from here. It’s important for me to build on that, so I can continue the success later on in the second half of the season. Really the important thing is obviously the win tonight. We’re in no position to give away points, so we’re happy for that. " [On his career high 2 assists]

Parros was named one of the three stars of the game, something he estimated hadn't happened since his minor league days. "It’s been awhile," he said with a chuckle. "I had to ask Getzy to make sure I knew what to do."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

Monday, December 1, 2008

Game 27: Ducks @ Blackhawks 12.3.08



Ducks Lose 4-2


ROBBED. Completely.

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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"We had a couple of close chances around the net," Toews said. "Then Steeger made a great play. You've just got to get your stick on those."

"He gave us a chance, we couldn't ask more from our goalie," coach Randy Carlyle said. "I thought after the first period we were in control and did some things well. We started to play our game. We were in a position to win this hockey game, and these are the ones that are tough."

"This was a big win," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "The circumstances turned in the second period. The two points are welcome. Anaheim was playing their game to a 'T.'"

"It seemed kind of lucky. They got the bounce," Hiller said. "It's kind of sad to lose a game that way. On an experienced club like ours, those things shouldn't happen. We had the lead until the end. What else do you want in a road game. It was a bad, bad loss."

"Steeger and Duncs made a great play on Havlat's goal to tie it up," Toews said. "Right there, we said we can win this game. That was a huge turning point in the third."

Source for Quotes:nhl.com

Hiller 2nd Star of the Week in NHL


Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller was named one of the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Sunday, Nov. 30.
Hiller was named the "Second Star" for posting a 2-0-0 record with a 0.50 goals-against average, .984 save percentage and one shutout as the Ducks (14-8-3, 31 points) won three consecutive games. Hiller made 26 saves in posting his second career shutout as the Ducks defeated Chicago 1-0 Nov. 28 and turned aside 36 of 37 shots in a 4-1 victory at Carolina Nov. 30, tying a Ducks' team record by earning standings points in eight consecutive road games. Hiller improved to 6-1-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 appearances this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby was named "First Star" and St. Louis Blues goaltender Chris Mason was named "Third Star" for the week.

Crosby led all NHL scorers for the week by tallying nine points (six goals, three assists) in three games as the Penguins (14-6-3, 31 points) went 2-1-0 and remained fourth in the Eastern Conference. Crosby tallied multiple points in all three games, beginning with a goal and two assists in a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders Nov. 26. He notched two goals in a 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Nov. 28 and finished the week by tallying his second career hat trick and one assist in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 29. Crosby climbed to second in overall NHL scoring with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists), trailing teammate Evgeni Malkin (10-29--39).

Mason won both starts for the week, stopping 75 of 77 shots for a .974 save percentage as the Blues (10-10-2, 22 points) closed within two points of the final Western Conference playoff spot. Making his first start against his former club, Mason stopped a season-high 47 shots and two shootout attempts in a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators Nov. 25. He also recorded 28 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Nov. 30.


Story From: ducks.nhl.com

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Game 26: Ducks @ Red Wings 12.1.08



Ducks Lose 2-1


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"We tried to stay patient. We were, I think, all over them and we outshoot them," Hossa said. "It was just a matter of time when the one squeezed in and it squeezed in and tight game. We did lots of more shots."

"Decided after two periods that he had seen enough rubber for one game and not take a chance," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. [on removing Giguere after two periods]

"Clears (Dan Cleary) had the puck and I just tried to wait for him and I knew it was a matter of time when he was going to make the pass to me," Hossa said. "Basically I just tried to shoot at the net and I think it surprised the goalie by the five-hole."

"I was expecting one-timer and I was already down," Hiller said.

"It was good to get that first one past him (Giguere)," Franzen said. "It usually takes a goal like that, a redirection, an ugly goal. He was playing real good."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Game 25: Ducks @ Hurricanes 11.30.08



Ducks Win 4-1!!!!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"He stood on his head in the second period and made some huge saves and kept us in the game," Rob Niedermayer said. "They really took the play to us there. He is a big reason we were in the game." [on Hiller]

"Sometimes you have a bad period like our second one," Hiller said. "At the end it is my job to keep the team in the game and give them a chance to win. That's what happened in the third."

"Our power play, there's nothing in sync with it, there's nothing good about it right now," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said.

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Friday, November 28, 2008

Burke Named GM of Toronto Maple Leafs

As if anyone is surprised by this:

Following the announcement by the Toronto Maple Leafs that Brian Burke has been named the club’s General Manager, Anaheim Ducks Chief Executive Officer Michael Schulman issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the entire Anaheim Ducks family, we would once again like to thank Brian for his tremendous contributions over the last three-plus seasons,” said Schulman. “Brian stated on many occasions his desire to be closer to his family, which we support. We congratulate and wish him the best of luck with the Maple Leafs.”


See you later Burkie... Thanks for helping bring the Ducks their first cup.





Source: ducks.nhl.com

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Game 24: Ducks vs. Blackhawks 11.28.08 (1 PM START TIME)



Ducks Win 1-0!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"It’s different for us," Getzlaf said of the afternoon start time. "It’s kind of out of our normal routine and out of the ordinary for us, coming to a one o’clock game, but that’s part of what it is to be a professional."

"During the game, you don’t think too much about [a shutout]," Hiller said. "You just try to makes the next save. Sometimes you look up to see how much time is left. At the end it doesn’t really matter if its four-to-zero or one-to-zero. You just try to stop the next puck. For sure I’m happy about the shutout."

"It went through a couple of legs," Getzlaf said. "I was able to get a skate on it and keep it in play. Their guy came through a little bit and the goalie slid across. It was a big mess in there so I just swung at it, lifted it up and put it in."

"We played pretty well defensively," Hiller said. "They didn’t have too many opportunities. They had some on the power play but we did well on the penalty kill. If you play defense first, you always have a chance to win."

"I think the games immediately after Thanksgiving seem to be a little bit different," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. I don’t think either team executed to the level that their coaches would be happy with. There is more room for improvement, but as a coach, I’ve said it a million times, you’re not going to critique the win. We got a goal and they didn’t. We’ll take it."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Game 23: Ducks vs. Avalanche 11.24.08



Ducks Win 4-1!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"I think it was a very solid 60 minutes," Giguere said. "Nice goals, good PK, our power play was rolling. That is the way we need to play, especially at home. We know the potential we have in this dressing room. I don’t think there is one game we can say that we played a full 60 minutes that was flawless. There are no games that are flawless. But tonight was as close to a good game that we can play."

"We have to get that feeling back that this is our barn and getting points from here is going to be tough," Selanne said. "The last three years we’ve had a really good home record. The home advantage is huge. The good start, especially in your building is huge. We did a better job today and we have to keep doing that more often here."

"The second period I thought was our best all year," Giguere said. "We just controlled the play and spent most of the period in their zone. When you do that, things are going to go your way. There is no doubt about that."

"Obviously, I’m playing with great players," said Selanne of his pile of power play goals. "All those guys who I play with on the power play, they can see the game so well. They can shoot and pass. You know that if you get open the puck is going to come. That is a great feeling. It’s pleasure to play with those guys."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Game 20: Ducks vs. Capitals 11.19.08



Ducks Lose 6-4


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"I think the confidence that I took from Iowa coming up has really just translated.," Ryan Said. "Playing with [Ryan] Getzlaf and [Corey] Perry gives me a little more. I know I’m free to do a couple different things here and there and I’m not going to get punished every time I try something.Individually it’s nice to put up points and it’s nice to get your feet under you. All that doesn’t mean a whole lot when you’re losing a game you should have won."

"We have to be ready to play for the full 60 minutes," Corey Perry said. "Coming out and giving up three goals right away, it doesn’t help our cause. The rest of the game we have to battle back. It’s an uphill climb when you get down 3-0 in the first five minutes."

"They are a skilled team, but we knew that," said Perry. "We knew we couldn’t come in and take penalties. Their power play is too good. They shoot the puck and get to the net. If we play five-on-five, you never know what can happen."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle voiced his frustration about the large amount of penalties, a problem for much of the season for Anaheim. "We’ve only talked about it about 250 million times," Carlyle said. "Obviously, it has to resort to some drastic measures. I think we’re in a situation where we’re going to continue to make changes and consider lineup changes if that is going to continue."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Game 19: Ducks vs. Kings 11.16.08



Ducks Win 2-0!!


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"It counts as a team win," Hiller said. "It’s a great feeling for a goalie. I’m definitely happy it finally worked out. I wasn’t that nervous. You just try to concentrate, focus on the next shot and try to stop it. I didn’t have too many worries about what could happen. For sure, you sometimes check the clock and how many minutes are left." [on his first career shutout]

"I think for the first half of the game, we weren’t really with our game," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "After that, we started to get more of the grind game, that cycle game where you put the puck in deep and you work the puck down low. That hasn’t changed for our group. When we do that, where we grind teams, we’re effective. When we don’t do it, we’re one and out and then we play the majority of the game in our end."

"The shot was just one of those things where it popped out," Hedican said. "I let it go and found the net. I think he didn’t expect right away and it snuck in. It was wobbling in. It was kind of a knuckleball, Phil Niekro-style. I’ll take them any way I can get them right now."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Friday, November 14, 2008

Game 18: Ducks vs. Predators 11.14.08



Ducks Lose 4-3 in OT


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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"We had a few little breakdowns in our end that led to some of their chances," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, who tried to flip the puck out of the corner in the OT, only to see it land on Arnott's stick to set up the winning goal. "When you’re playing a team that plays well like they did tonight, you can’t do that. I think it was a bit better effort than the last two games, but still not enough to get two points, which is what we set out to do tonight, so it’s disappointing."

"It’s coming," Morrison said. "For the past week, I’ve been saying that now. My legs are starting to feel better. It’s a step in the right direction. Really, in the big picture it means nothing because we lost. But it’s a work in progress."

"The power play goal gave them the lead and then we had to do everything we could possibly do to get ours at the end," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "It was a see-saw battle and a good compete game. I liked our effort. We lost a point in overtime. We’re not going to get down. We’ll correct some mistakes and work on that tomorrow."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Burke Steps Down; Murray New GM

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Bob Murray Executive Vice President and General Manager. At the same time, Brian Burke has been named Special Consultant to Chief Executive Officer Michael Schulman.
“Brian respectfully declined our contract extension offer last week,” said Schulman. “With his support, we decided to make the transition at this time in the best interest of the organization. Brian and I have been discussing his future with the Ducks for some time. Once he decided last week not to extend his contract, I decided Bob was the obvious successor and Brian agreed.
“Bob’s experience and knowledge of our organization make him the ideal candidate to take over. He’s been a critical member of our organization over the last three seasons, both as Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of our American Hockey League (AHL) club.
“Needless to say, what Brian has done for this franchise as General Manager has been remarkable. He’s led our club to unprecedented success since joining the team, creating an entertaining brand of hockey our community can be proud of. We cannot thank him enough for what he’s done for us. Brian has been upfront and honest with us regarding his family situation. We respect and understand his decision and are pleased he’s staying on as a Special Consultant.”

Murray has spent 33 consecutive years in the National Hockey League, the last three-plus seasons with Anaheim. He was named Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations on July 14, 2005. Since joining the Ducks, Murray had a vital role in the success of the club, which included a Stanley Cup (2007), a Pacific Division title (2007), and three consecutive playoff berths.

Brian Burke steps down into a Special Consultant role after more than three years as Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager.
“I’m honored to be named General Manager,” said Murray. “I want to thank both Michael Schulman and Brian Burke for their support and encouragement during this process and look forward to the future.”

Murray’s previous responsibilities included overseeing all aspects of player development, serving as General Manager of Anaheim’s AHL affiliate (now the Iowa Chops). Prior to the club’s affiliation with Iowa, Murray was the General Manager of the Portland Pirates from 2005-06 through 2007-08. The Pirates went to the Conference Finals twice (2006 & 2008), appearing in six playoff rounds. Anaheim and Portland combined to win 10 and appear in 14 playoff rounds over the last three seasons, the most of any organization in hockey.
Prior to joining the Ducks, Murray worked as a Professional Scout with the Vancouver Canucks from 1999 to 2005 under then-General Manager Brian Burke (1998-2004). Before his stint in Vancouver, he served as a Scouting Consultant for Anaheim during the 1998-99 season.
Murray was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks organization for 25 years, serving as General Manager from 1997-99. He was named the sixth General Manager in team history on July 3, 1997 after serving as Assistant General Manager under Bob Pulford for two seasons. Before joining upper-management, Murray was named the Director of Player Personnel in 1991 and was largely responsible for the club’s NHL Entry Draft selections over eight seasons.
Drafted by the Blackhawks in 1974, Murray spent his entire 1,008-game, 15-year career in a Chicago uniform. He was named to both the 1981 and 1983 NHL All-Star Games. Murray retired at the conclusion of the 1989-90 season and remained with the organization as a Professional Scout.
Burke was named Executive Vice President and General Manager on June 20, 2005. Over the last three seasons, the Ducks captured their first Stanley Cup (2007), first Pacific Division title (2007) and first two 100+ point seasons (2006-07 & 2007-08). The club has qualified for the playoffs all three years, winning six-of-eight playoff series over that span. Only the Detroit Red Wings have matched the Ducks success over that stretch, having also won six-of-eight postseason series.
Burke also received two prestigious honors in the summer of 2008. On June 6, Burke was named the General Manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team by USA Hockey. On, Aug. 7, 2008, he was named a recipient of the 2008 Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. He joined Ted Lindsay, Phil Housley and Bob Naegele in the Class of 2008.
“As I’ve said all along, the Samuelis and Michael Schulman are special people,” said Burke. “This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I’m comforted that the team is in great hands with Bob and David (McNab) in charge. I can’t thank everyone enough for their understanding and patience as I wrestled with this decision.”


SOURCE: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=392022

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Game 17: Ducks vs. Panthers 11.9.08



Ducks Lose 3-1

---------------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES
"We have to look ourselves in the mirror and see what we can improve on," said goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. "This is a good week to take a step back and go back to work rested. We have to be better at home. It’s unacceptable to play like that in front of our fans."

"They were having a tough road trip so far and they played last night in Phoenix, so they had to travel here. I think if we would have played a solid first period and took their will away, maybe the scenario would have been different tonight," Giguere said. "But we didn’t do that, we game them life and that is what happens."

"You have to give a lot of credit to Anderson," said Corey Perry, who had the Ducks' only goal, an early first-period strike. "He stood on his head. He was good with his rebounds. We were in front of him and banging away, but he laid his pads on the ice. A lot of pucks just kept bouncing off his pads and then he covered them up. It’s just one of those nights where it just didn’t go in the net for us."

"I didn’t think we were physical enough and I didn’t think we executed to the level that was necessary until later in the hockey game," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "In the NHL, it takes 60 minutes to win and I don’t think we played 60 minutes."

"We have four days off here and a couple days off to ourselves," Perry said. "We’ll just get our heads away from the game for a couple of days and come back to practice on Wednesday and be prepared."

Said Carlye, "I told them to take two days, come back and be prepared to go to work on Wednesday. It’s the first chance we’ve had in a long time to have a two-day break. We feel that this time is important for them to get rest, get their heads free of hockey for 48 hours, clean the garage and kiss their wife."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Game 16: Ducks vs. Stars 11.7.08



Ducks Lose 5-2

-----------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
"We got away from our game of just the hard work, the skating and the simple things," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. "They came out and did those things. They had us back a little bit and got those early goals. When you’re playing against a team that is pretty determined defensively like they were, it’s tough to turn it around. We tried, but we weren’t able to do it."

"They were playing hard," Niedermayer said. "They were a team that was hungry for the points tonight, probably hungrier than we were. I think that showed. All those things that happened out there, I think they deserved to win."

"I knocked it down, it went into my feet and I just stepped right on it," Niedermayer said. "Things like that do happen in a hockey game. We were already behind the eight ball." [about his falling down resulting in a goal]

"It was pretty much laying there," Morrison said. "It’s not the kind of one that you dream about, but a goal is a goal. Right now, we’ll take them any way we can get them. It’s always nice to contribute. The last three games it feels like it’s starting to come, so hopefully it’s a sign. The goal is to get better each and every night." [on his first goal of the season and as a Duck]

"We didn’t have a very good effort tonight all around," Morrison said. "I don’t think they played exceptionally well. I just don’t think that we were as sharp as we needed to be. We knew they were a desperate team coming in and they were a little bit fragile, but they did what they had to do to win. We didn’t do enough. Now, the key here is to see how quickly we can rebound. That is the sign of a good team is to bounce back right away."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Game 15: Ducks vs. Blues 11.5.08



Ducks Win 5 - 2 !

-------------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
"The team is playing well and everybody is contributing in different areas," Getzlaf said. "Our penalty killing and power play is playing well. We’re getting great goaltending. It’s a matter of things are clicking right now and we just have to continue playing the way we are."

"We have to be happy with our work ethic, first and foremost," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We played in a game last night in L.A. and [the Blues] were here waiting for us. We did some things that we have to do to be successful. We did those more consistently tonight than we did last night and that was our goal."

"You have to put most of it on [Getzlaf's] shoulders," said linemate Chris Kunitz of the Ducks' resurgence. "He sat out in Toronto because of a [dental procedure]. He came back, we got a goal that first game in Ottawa, and ever since then it’s just elevated everybody’s game. The power play started clicking after that. Teemu starting scoring a bunch of goals, Corey started getting a bunch of points and Prongs and Scotty. I think Getzy is probably the cornerstone of how it all started to go."

Monday, November 3, 2008

Game 14: Ducks at Kings 11.4.08



DUCKS WIN 1-0 in OT

---------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
"I knew the guy was coming out of the box so I shot it, luckily it went off the crossbar and in," said Pronger. "We did enough to win, but that's not good enough for this group."

"On the road it might not be perfect, but the important thing is we got two points," said Giguere. "Every time we played the Kings so far in either exhibition or regular season, they've given us a run for our money."

"They had a couple great chances, but (Giguere) was up to the task and made some great saves for us to keep the score 0-0 and give us a chance to try and find that winning goal," said Pronger.

"I think I played pretty well, we got one point, I guess that's good," said Ersberg, who had stopped 29 of 30 shots in his only other appearance against the Ducks, a 2-1 shootout loss on March 26, 2008. "I guess its a game to build on."

"I liked his game a lot," said Kings coach Terry Murray of Ersberg. "Having not played in several weeks here, he showed a lot of composure; he was very calm, under control and made some very big stops."

Source for Quotes: nhl.com

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Game 13: Ducks vs. Flames 11.2.08



Ducks Win 3-2!


Period 1: 1 - 0
Period 2: 3 - 1
Period 3: 3 - 2
-------------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"That’s more our type of game," Giguere said. "These are the types of games that we need to play consistently. It’s what it’s going to take for us to win until the end of the season."

"We were up 3-0 and it seems that after that, we sat back on our heels and watched them play a little bit," Giguere said. "All around it was a good effort, but I think we need to get comfortable playing with that kind of lead."

"Last game was a roller coaster ride, and that is definitely not the hockey that we want to play throughout the year." said Ryan Getzlaf, who had the first goal of the game. "Tonight was a good hard-fought battle. It’s nice to get that lead early and be able to maintain it."

"These are games that your emotions are running, highs and lows, through the game," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "For us, the most important thing is we found a way to gut it out and we won the hockey game. We know that there is areas of improvement that are required for our group to continue to have success, but we’re going to take the two points."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Game 12: Ducks vs. Canucks 10.31.08 Halloween!


Happy Halloween everyone!
Ducks Lose 7-6 in SO.

Period 1: 2 - 1
Period 2: 5 - 5
Period 3: 6 - 6
OT: 6 - 6
SO: 6 - 7 (After a whopping 13 rounds)

-------------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"It was back and forth," Perry said. "We were up two, down three. It had everything in the game. We just came up short in the shootout. We didn’t have a solid game. Coming away with one point is good, but we always like to get two."

"It took forever," Hiller said. "That is probably one of the few games you’ll have in your whole career. It’s sad to lose it at the end. Roberto won this time, but we’ll see next time."

"It seemed like every puck went in somehow," Hiller said. "I think we showed a lot of character in fighting back when we were behind a couple of goals. We deserved that point, too bad we couldn’t get two in the shootout."

"Every game is not a Mona Lisa that you try to paint," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "Tonight was one of those games. I’m sure both coaches are not going to keep the DVD of this one. Either way, I look at it that we did some good things from a standpoint that we battled back when we were down and executed on power play to provide some offense. We’ve been on a pretty good string here, so we’ll just take the point and move forward."

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Game 11: Ducks vs. Red Wings 10.29.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

DUCKS WIN 5-4 IN OT!


Woohoo!!! I have to say, that was almost as good as a playoff game. Almost. For sure the best game of this young season! SELANNE with the HAT TRICK was the cherry on top. His metaphorical ketchup bottle exploded tonight.
--------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"It was just instinct," Beauchemin said. "The puck was right there. I just tried to tap it in. You don’t wait for it to come lower then the crossbar. You just hit it and hope it’s good." [on his game winning OT goal]

Said Selanne, "It was a little bit disappointing that we let them score in the last two minutes, but that’s hockey," Selanne said. "You can’t really think about that too long. You just have to bounce back. We knew that we were having a strong game."

"Every goal is special, but obviously hat tricks don’t come very often," Selanne said. "It’s great feeling."

"The power play turned its fortunes around on the road trip," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "In tonight’s game it was huge for our hockey club and it gave us a chance. We know the personnel that we have and the people that are out on the power play, if you give them enough chances they are going to score some goals."

Monday, October 27, 2008

Game 10: Ducks @ Bluejackets 10.27.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

Ducks Win 3 - 2!!!


Period 1: 1 - 1
Period 2: 1 - 2
Period 3: 3 - 2

The boys are coming home with a 4 game road trip SWEEP. I seriously hope that they can carry that momentum for Wednesday's matchup against Detroit because.... I REALLY REALLY want them to win that one. Really! If they don't win that one this 4 game sweep will mean nothing to me. (Too dramatic? Yes? Sorry...) Yeah that's a tad dramatic but that's how much I want them to beat Detroit.
--------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"I'm very happy about the road trip," Selanne said. "Obviously when you win four in a row you know you've done something good. This wasn't pretty tonight. We were grinding pretty much the whole game. But I always think the last game of a road trip is always the toughest one because the food is in the plane and you're about ready to go home."

"There was a lot at stake for our hockey club to get back to .500," coach Randy Carlyle said after his team evened its record at 5-5-0. "After a rough start, now we're at .500. ... We're just going to savor this for about 10 minutes."

"We've got too much talent and character in this dressing room," Giguere said. "Guys fought hard to get their game back together."

Bluejackets:
"For us to win we had to play 60 minutes, full out, of great hockey and we played 50 minutes," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "It's not good enough - you've got to win games 2-1."

"I hope they are, like I am, frustrated," Hitchcock said. "To play this well and give it away, I'd be frustrated."

Friday, October 24, 2008

Game 9: Ducks at Canadiens 10.25.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

DUCKS WIN 6-4


Period 1: 2 - 2
Period 2: 5 - 3
Period 3: 6 - 4

Canada has been nice to the Ducks!
-------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"Finally, we put some goals on the board and it's a great feeling all around," said forward Corey Perry.

"Even though they scored the two goals to tie the hockey game and then they went up 3-2, we didn't really stray away from what we were trying to do," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We were fortunate enough that our goaltender made enough stops at critical times and our power play delivered for us."

CANADIENS:
"When you do have 50 shots you have to bury a lot more of those," said center Alex Tanguay, who scored twice.

"We did some good things but the mental focus wasn't there," Koivu said. "We weren't as sharp as we were used to being in the last couple of games here."

Source for Quotes: nhl.com

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Game 8: Ducks at Senators 10.24.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

Ducks Win 4-3!!!!


Period 1: 1 - 0
Period 2: 4 - 0
Period 3: 4 - 3

Dominated the first 2 periods then penalties took hold and barely squeaked by in the 3rd. This is why they need to play a FULL 60 minutes! Sutherby, Marchant, Sammy, and Getzy got the 4 goals which proved to be just enough to get the 2 points they desperately need.

------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"I think we feel good in the sense that we won," Ducks center Todd Marchant said. "We've won two in a row. That's a start, right?"

[on his goal] "I watched the replay after the game, and I'm actually looking the other way when it goes in the net," Marchant said. "I had no idea. It's just a fluke break - whatever it is. Those are things you need to get out of your funk, your team's bad spells."

"You knew they were going to come with some form of a charge," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "That's what good teams do. You expect, sitting on 4-0, that one power play or one penalty can turn the momentum. That's what it did."

"We played pretty good the first two periods," Hiller said. "We got a little lucky on a couple of goals, and then kind of lost our game in the third. I'm sure we're happy about the win, but we have to talk about it. "I felt pretty good the first two periods, but I was kind of late on all three goals, so I couldn't be all happy about that. I'm not all happy, but I'm on the right track."

"We played better than we played in Toronto," Carlyle said. "That's been our goal - get better every game. "We'll take it, even though we made it tight."

Source for Quotes: OCRegister.com

Monday, October 20, 2008

Game 7: Ducks at Maple Leafs 10.21.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics
Ducks Win 3-2 in SO


Period 1: 2 - 0
Period 2: 2 - 1
Period 3: 2 - 2
OT: 2 - 2
SO: 3 - 2

I just have to say: PARROS GOT HIS 2ND GOAL OF THE SEASON!!! & when the goal scorers who are supposed to score actually get going, they'll be unstoppable because the non-goal scorers are doing awesome!

---------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
“The mind frame we’re in right now, we’re going to take everything we possibly can,” said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, whose club won for just the second time in seven games this season.

“We didn’t play very well, obviously, past the first period, but we found a way to get two points. Previously, we’ve been better, executed to a higher level and yet, come up empty.” Carlyle

“I can’t explain it,” Carlyle said. “If I had the explanation, it wouldn’t be happening, I’ll guarantee you. The frustration from our standpoint is it just seems that the switch goes off for us. We stop skating, and then all of a sudden, every puck we go to clear hits the shaft of a stick. Then we take a penalty. It just seems that the snowball gets larger, but tonight we won. I’m not going to critique a win.“We know we can play better than what we played, and we’re going to have to play a lot better than that to get more points.”

“I just tried to find what was open,” Selanne said. “We haven’t had that much success in shootouts, either, so it was good to win this game. Again, not a very good game for us. “In the second period, we started watching. The legs stopped moving. We started taking penalties again. Here we go. We really made our night very difficult.”

“It was a great feeling — obviously, any time you can put the puck in the net and actually beat the goaltender on a shot,” Parros said. “Usually I just chip ‘em in off the goal line. I just take my shots and get my goals where I can.”

Source for Quotes: OCRegister.com and ducks.nhl.com

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Game 6: Ducks vs. Hurricanes 10.19.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics
Ducks Lose 3-1


Period 1: 0 - 1
Period 2: 1 - 2
Period 3: 1 - 3

---------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"I think it speaks for itself," Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said of the team's slow start. "We are not happy. The first few games in the year we really didn’t play well. The last maybe three we’ve scrambled back and started to work harder. It doesn’t always turn right away. Tonight, we just came out with a slow start. Offensively, we’re not running smoothly."

"It’s unbelievable," Teemu Selanne said of the team's tough luck. "We’re not getting any bounces. The puck was on the goal line, all kinds of things are happening but it’s not going in our favor. I think it was great effort again and we deserved better than this."

"A change of scenery will maybe do us good," Niedermayer said. "We’re in a tough spot right now and not happy with the way things have gone up until now. We have to think positively and work harder than we have."

Added Selanne, "I think this team needs time to hang around together. That is why this road trip is going to be very good. We’re going to have a few days off after the Toronto game. It’s going to be very important for this hockey club right now. This is a great group of guys here. We can turn this around."


HURRICANES:
"It was a little bit different than the Tampa game," Leighton said. "They definitely threw everything at the net and I faced a lot more shots."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Game 5: Ducks vs. Sharks 10.17.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics
DUCKS WIN 4-0!

Period 1: 1 - 0
Period 2: 2 - 0
Period 3: 4 - 0

Took a little longer than I had hoped to type in "DUCKS WIN" but I finally get to tonight! WOOT! Took away the Sharks undefeated streak to put them at 4-1-0, and notched a win on our belt. Nicely done. Maybe I should mention that it was a SHUT OUT! Giguere stood on his head and boy he showed he wanted that win real bad tonight!

-----------------------------------------

GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS
“It feels really good,” said Giguere, who had gotten off to a rough start with 13 goals against in three games entering this one. “It was a good night for us. We still have a lot of room for improvement, but this is a good start.”

"It was a big win for us," Pronger said. "It was desperate times, especially with the way we had played the first three games. Tonight, Jiggy held the fort when we ran into penalty trouble there early in the first."

"Right off that goal, we got a lot of life, " Pronger said. "We really started to bear down and cinch things up defensively."

"I’ve been working pretty hard in practice," Giguere said. "Eventually, these things are going to turn around. I believe that you create your own luck and that the bounces are eventually going to go your way. Tonight, the bounces went my way."

"We got our first win and we’re happy with it," Giguere said. "The last game (a 3-2 loss to Edmonton) was a starting point. Now we just have to keep going forward and try to put some good games together."

SHARKS
"They capitalized on their chances. We had a ton of shots and generated a lot of offense, but I don't think we got good quality scoring chances," San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic said.

"They worked real hard and earned their breaks," said San Jose coach Todd McLellan who suffered his first loss as an NHL head coach. "It wasn't that we just mailed it in. We competed pretty hard and it just didn't go our way."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com and sharks.nhl.com

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Game 4: Ducks vs. Oilers 10.15.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

Ducks Lose. 3-2.

Period 1: 1 - 1
Period 2: 2 - 2
Period 3: 2 - 3


Looking for a win.... PLEASE! <--- Thanks a lot.....not.

There's good news with this loss.... they actually showed up and played! The game was anybodies game and then a penalty on Perry caused the 3-2 lead for the Oilers and they won. This game had me thinking "this is the team I know".... it was a hard fought loss. Hows that for perspective?

--------------------------------------------
GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"Tonight was tremendously better than the other nights," said Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf. "We were moving the puck well. We were getting chances. Right now, the puck is not bouncing in for us. We had many scrambles around the net, but we just couldn’t get in there. We had opportunities. We just couldn’t bury them."

"It’s something to build off of, no question," said Ducks center Brendan Morrison. "I thought we showed a little more desperation tonight. I thought we initiated a little more. Ultimately, it’s the result that we’re after. The process was better."

"It's frustrating, but it was a good effort overall," Selanne said. "We have to stay positive now. Tonight's effort was a good step forward, but we still have to find one more notch to win games."

"I think the frustration level is starting to show, we expect more from that group than what we've got," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "We're going to have to work with them to find a way to bounce one in off a shin pad or something to get the ball rolling."

OILERS:
"The first half we have to give them credit, they played real good. The second half, we took it from them and played better," Garon said. "We worked hard and took more shots on net, that's how we are going to score goals."

"It was my first shot. The coaches were saying after the second period to shoot more," said Visnovsky, acquired in a trade this summer after playing his first seven seasons in Los Angeles. "It was very important for our power play and for my confidence in our next game."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

Monday, October 13, 2008

Game 3: Ducks at Kings 10.14.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

Ducks lose. Again. 6 - 3.


This game determines who is really in "last" place in the Pacific. For the love of all things Hockey, it better be the Kings.

That worked out real great. Ummmm.... hey Ducks? Did you forget the season started? It's not pre-season anymore.... hello? Anyone out there?? No? Okay then.... I hope you feel like playing tomorrow... you have a game...


--------------------------------
PRE-GAME QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"Teams have success in this league by playing as a team, everybody knows what each other's doing, and you're playing the system. When you're playing that well, you have good results. Right now, we're really not doing that as five guys on the ice." Scott Niedermayer

"We need to go in there and step it up a notch," goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere said. "We need to not be going in there and being afraid to lose."

Kings:
"I really liked the way we played, especially in the second half of the game," he said. "The third period was tremendous. We started to see something I hadn't seen yet, (they're) starting to work hard for teammates." Murray

"It felt like I hadn't played a game in four or five months, but felt better as the game went on," said O'Sullivan, fourth on the team in scoring last season with 22 goals and 31 assists. "I'm glad to get that first game out of the way and live past the fact that I missed training camp. There's definitely some positives and I have a lot to improve upon, but it's definitely something I can develop."

-------------------------------------
POST GAME QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"We know we're not playing well," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. "We know the mistakes we're making and we know we can't do that. That's the bottom line. We just have to be ready to commit to our game plan and basically outwork the other team. Right now we're not doing that."

“We’re not anywhere near accomplishing the things we’ve set out to do," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We’re not getting anything done in the work ethic side of the game. We’re swinging away and we're not working in the tough areas to get enough done.”

"It's a game of penalty kill and power plays, so you can't win by being in the box," Giguere said. "And I'm guilty of it tonight. I took a bad one and it kind of got their game going."

"It's not rust. There's no viable excuses. We're just not working as a team," said goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has allowed 13 goals on 87 shots in three starts. "We need to work together and rely on each other and be confident that the guy beside you is going to do his job. Right now we're just lacking that confidence."

"We can't win taking so many penalties. We've got to be careful," Giguere said. "It seems that too many times we get undisciplined. Then we get frustrated, start giving up goals and it just down downhill for there. So we've got to be a lot smarter, in that sense."

Source for Quotes: nhl.com, ducks.nhl.com

Friday, October 10, 2008

Game 2: Ducks vs. Coyotes HOME OPENER 10.12.08


© Arnold Cheng Graphics

Ducks Lose 4 - 2.

Period 1: 0 - 1
Period 2: 1 - 3
Period 3: 2 - 4

Home Opener! There will be pre-game activities including the Ducks players arrivals on a red carpet entrance. Fun starts at 1pm.

-------------------------------

That most certainly was a hard one to watch. I was hoping that the game on Thursday was a fluke bad game and that they'd come out swinging for their home opener! They didn't. Not even close. They came out and played the same way they played on Thursday. Silly me to think that 3 days could change the way they play. I'm more annoyed this time around because they didn't answer their problems... they stayed the same. What a great message they're sending out right now. Oh well. Time to look to Tuesday...

GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"There were a lot of things that weren’t how we need them to be," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. We’re just not where we need to be mentally with our focus. We’re working, but we’re not working smart and we’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’re chipping when we should be passing and passing when we should be getting it in. That seems to be pretty much how our game is going right now. It’s back to basics. We’ll start from scratch and make an improvement that way."

"It was disappointing and not for lack of effort. I thought we tried," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "The frustration level seems to go up early here for our group when we lack execution. We just seem to be turning the puck over far too many times. It seems toward the end of the game we got more involved emotionally."

"We know we can be better," Scott Niedermayer said. "When you have two nights like we’ve had in the first two games, it’s not very fun."

Said Teemu Selanne, "It’s frustrating right now. The good thing about this league is we’re going to have a game Tuesday again. There are a couple of things we have to fix and just be better."

"We always talk about sticking with the plan," Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne said. "Again, we didn't stick with the plan. We started forcing plays. In the second period, the coaches said we had 25 turnovers. That's not the hockey we should play.
"Obviously there are a lot of things we have to do better, and be smarter. There's no excuse. The players, we have to take responsibility, and we will."

"We had pucks bouncing away and stuff," Getzlaf said. "It's not like we weren't trying. Guys try to rally around each other and get things going.
"Ice conditions get poor pretty quick. We just have to bear down, and make those plays a little bit quicker and a little bit easier — maybe not look for that second or third pass, throw a few more pucks at the net. We'll get it going."

"It happens, especially when you're frustrated a little bit like we were at the end," Getzlaf said. "Emotions get going."

COYOTES:
“Every day is a learning experience for us,” Head Coach Wayne Gretzky said. “To get wins like this is a big step. Listen, we have a long way to go and we know that, but we’re very proud of where we are right now.”

“We had a very positive trainging camp even though our record wasn’t very good,” Jokinen said. “This past week was very good for us. We practiced for five straight days (before the opener) and found some good line combinations. We’re a good skating team and we’ve been using our speed. I don’t know what it was like before I got here, but we believe we have the chance to win every game.”

"Talk to me again after 20 games, but at the same time, we have the capabilties of being really special," Doan said of the team's successful start.



Source for Quotes:Anaheimducks.com and OCRegister.com and coyotes.nhl.com