Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Game 78: Ducks vs. Kings

Photobucket vs. Photobucket

Ducks Win 2-1 in SO


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

They played a pretty good game all things considered. I really like the way this team deals with adversity... they just step it up and wont quit... I love that. They clearly wont let a few injuries get in their way of their ultimate goal. :) They managed to beat the Kings in a shootout that went 6 rounds! With just going to overtime tonight and getting that 1 point we clinched an official playoff spot, getting the 2nd point was just an added bonus and gave the Ducks a tie with their most home game wins in an entire season and added to their home game winning streak that they have going right now. Nice win tonight, it wasn't pretty but it was still a great win, and a big win.

GAME DAY QUOTES:

"It’s great that we’re in the playoffs," the 26-year-old Hiller said. "It was a tough game. During the game, you probably don’t think about it too much. You just try to do your job. I think everybody did pretty well on our team tonight."

"I think you don’t have time to think about anything at that time," Hiller said about the save. "It’s a breakaway. It doesn’t really depend when he comes, the first minute or the last minute, you just try to focus and do what you always try to do and stop the puck. I was happy that I did."

Schneider called it, "an unbelievable save. It was one of the best saves I’ve seen in a long time. He was on tonight, that’s for sure, even in the shootout. They had to make a great move to beat him. He seemed for the most part unbeatable. He’s been the difference for us lately."

"The three years that I’ve been here, some of the toughest games that we’ve played have been against the Kings," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle. "They work hard, stay with their structure. They play us very, very difficult. There’s a lot of physical and exciting hockey that’s been played between the two hockey clubs. This one clinches the Freeway Face-Off Series. There’s a 50,000 dollar stipend going to charity, so there’s a winner here tonight."

"It was nice to clinch a spot tonight and it’s nice to be at home," Schneider said. "The comfort of knowing that we’re home basically for the rest of the season going into the playoffs I think gives us a little bit of peace of mind and a chance to really get our bodies ready."

"It was a tough game," Hiller said. "Everybody on our team did pretty well tonight. We got the two points and it's great to be in the playoffs."

"Both goalies played tremendous tonight," Schneider said. "Jonas made some unbelievable saves there at the end, and their goalie made great saves throughout the game to keep them in it.

Schneider knew his number was going to be called. "I had a feeling my time had come because we were getting down the bench," he said, laughing.

Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said that, although the Ducks are in the playoffs, they have to keep playing hard. "Now we're in a position to improve for home-ice advantage," he said. "We just want to get our game to the level where we feel we can be competitive against the best teams."

GAME DAY QUOTES SOURCES:
http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=Recap&seas=20072008>ype=2&gnum=1153
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Recap&gameNumber=1153&season=20072008&gameType=2

2 comments:

J.L.Swanson said...

I am sensing a 2-1 theme here. Way to go, Ducks! Just think what our team would be like had we all been together the whole year -- without freak accidents, suspensions, or semi-retirements. I am lovin' Hiller. Also lovin' that we are taking shots again...that's a good sign. Gotta love home ice.

DucksFanZone said...

LOL now that you mention it, it has been a 2-1 outcome for the past few games. Interesting. Also noticed we haven't allowed more than 2 goals a game all month. Good observation.

Our team will hopefully be nice and healthy for the playoffs... it's our time to shine! :D