Game 76: Ducks @ Avalanche 3.31.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net





POST GAME QUOTES:

"Six hundred was bigger for me, but 601 is huge, too, because Jari was my idol. I feel very honored," said Selanne.

"The good thing for us is we're not even worried about who we're playing right now," Blake said. "We're just worried about ourselves. If we keep playing the way we're playing, and the goaltending has been great, it's giving us a chance every night."

"Obviously, that was a huge game for them, but at the same time, it was a game that for us, by winning, we still have a chance," said Koivu, who had a goal and three assists in the game. "There's still a couple teams between us and them, so it's going to be a battle to the end and we just have to keep pushing it and see what happens."

"Obviously, that was a big break for us and it took a little momentum from their side," Koivu said of the disallowed goal.

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Colorado Avalanche left winger TJ Galiardi(notes), left, has his shot stopped by Anaheim Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney(notes) in the third period of the Ducks' 5-2 victory in an NHL hockey game in Denver on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.(Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com)

Game 75: Ducks vs. Stars 3.29.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net





POST GAME QUOTES:

"It’s incredible," Bonino said of the goal. "I’m happy I did at home and happy we got a win."

"When I get on this ice with Perry, Selanne, Niedermayer and Visnovsky out there, you really can’t do any wrong," Bonino said. "The puck just bounced to me. I was in the right place at the right time."

"He said he stills remembers his first goal," Bonino said of Selanne. "I told him I’d probably remember this one as long as I’m playing and as long as I live too."

Said Selanne, "The first NHL goal is always so memorable. I’m very happy he got it. You can already see what kind of skills he has. He is so calm. What amazes me these days about rookies, they are so ready right away."

"It’s been like this for a long time, chance after chance," Selanne said. "I really wanted to score, more so for Jari. He wanted to come here and see it happen. I was honored that he came. I’m so happy. It’s a long way [from Kurri's home in Finland,] but we’re good buddies."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 29: Nick Bonino (R) #63 of the Anaheim Ducks receives high fives from the bench after scoring his first NHL goal in the second period against the Dallas Stars at the Honda Center on March 29, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 74: Ducks @ Oilers 3.26.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 73: Ducks @ Canucks 3.24.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 72: Ducks @ Flames 3.23.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 71: Ducks vs. Avalanche 3.21.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 70: Ducks vs. Islanders 3.19.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 69: Ducks vs. Blackhawks 3.17.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 68: Ducks vs. Sharks 3.14.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 67: Ducks vs. Predators 3.12.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 66: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets 3.9.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
I held a funeral for my playoff hopes after the last game. Then this game happened, and I put those hopes under ground. They are not mathematically eliminated (yet) and of course the fan inside of my wants to hope that a miracle will happen, but then there's the realistic side of me that knows it's just not in the cards. I knew early in the season that the Ducks had likely shot themselves in the foot for the playoffs with the poor start they had. I remember how hard they had to fight just to make it in last year and I figured the chances of them pulling that off again this year were slim to none. But that was the beginning of the season and I really did hold out hope that I was wrong. That they'd make it in and I'd get to enjoy playoff fever once again. Now with one month left the reality is they're not making it. They, as a team, are not playing like the want to make it (as they did last year). There's the handful that have the drive to play hard every game -- Niedermayer, Marchant, Selanne, Sexton, Brown, and the like. And then there's the ego's that haven't missed the playoffs EVER in their career (I'm looking at you Getzlaf and Perry).

I think that by them missing out this year will be just the kick in the butt they need. I'm just severely disappointed it had to be this year which is likely the last for Niedermayer and Selanne (I am in denial about Selanne but I'm fairly certain Niedermayer wont want to put up with this crap again next season). Selanne missed this game with flu-like symptoms. I can't blame him. The way they've been playing lately has me sick to my stomach too.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We seemed to be a very flat hockey club," said coach Randy Carlyle. "For whatever reason, we didn’t seem to be able to provide any energy for any extended period of time. Our execution level left a lot to be desired. Those are things that cost you in the hockey game in the end."

"You can’t come out of a break looking for a playoff run and then drop four straight," said Bobby Ryan. "It’s unacceptable. They were missing a couple of big guy in their lineup. It’s a missed opportunity is the best way to put it. It’s embarrassing."

"I wish I had an explanation," Getzlaf said. "We have to have a starting point. We’re going to start tomorrow in practice. It’s going to be on us and our responsibility as a group. We’re going to come to work tomorrow and get ready to go. We’re in a do-or-die situation. We definitely have to get things rolling and get playing the way we want to. We’ve all been in situations where we’ve lost a few in a row here and there. The easy thing is to give up and get down. That is what we’re trying to stop now and get our momentum going back the other way."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 09: Anton Stralman #6 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and his teammates celebrate the third-period goal of Antoine Vermette #50 as Scott Niedermayer #27 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during their NHL game at the Honda Center on March 9, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Blue Jackets defeated the Ducks 5-2.(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Game 65: Ducks vs. Canadiens 3.7.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
Yeah. No comment. *shakes head in disappointment*

POST GAME QUOTES:
"With the way we played early in the game, we should have been able to get these two points tonight," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. "They just hung around and waited for a couple of mistakes. They took advantage of it."

"It was play where I thought Hillsy had it," said Niedermayer. "Then, once he goes to relax and thinks the play is over, it drops out. It’s unfortunate, but obviously we shouldn’t in that position either."

"I’m not happy with the outcome," said Saku Koivu, playing his first game against a Montreal team with which he spent his first 14 years in the league, 10 as team captain. "The way we came out in the first period, up 3-0, we were really confident that we could get the next goal and put the game away. They fought back and got two late goals. When you lose that way, it’s pretty disappointing, even though we got the one point. Especially for myself, I’ve waited for this game for quite awhile. I’m happy it’s done now, but I’m disappointed that we lost that point."

"It’s pretty disappointing right now," Niedermayer said. "We just need to prepare and compete as hard as we can in the next game."

Added Koivu, "After a big win or loss, you just have to be able to re-group, forget the past and get ready for the next one. Where we’re at in the standings right now and the points we need, we can’t lose any extra points here. We have to be ready for the next one. These next two weeks are going to be critical for us."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 09: Lubomir Visnovsky(notes) #17 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during warm-up prior to their NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Honda Center on March 9, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Game 64: Ducks @ Coyotes 3.6.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
Okay, scratch my thoughts from the last game. Maybe this IS an Olympic hangover. What the hell, Ducks? 7 glorious opportunities with a man advantage and you can't get anything past the Russian man named Bryzgalov (who I wish was still on our side). All it takes is a couple more losses and I'll be holding a funeral for playoff hopes. I knew the horrible start to the season would bite the Ducks in their collective rear ends, and it's a pigs hair away from happening. Montreal wont make things any easier...

POST GAME QUOTES:
"The failure to execute when we had scoring chances was the disturbing part for us," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, whose team was 0 for 7 on the power play. "It seems like right now we're not getting anywhere near the performance level that's required. I think everybody can do more."

"I thought we'd done a pretty good job on the penalty kill and then we make a mistake and it's in the back of our net," Carlyle said.

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 06: Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes makes a pad save on the shot from the Anaheim Ducks during the thrid period of the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on March 6, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 4-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Game 63: Ducks vs. Avalanche 3.3.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
Olympic Hangover? Brain Fart? Too much time off from the NHL? No. A temporarily depleted defense I think is what caused this loss. The Ducks picked up a great defenseman from Edmonton, Visnovski, in exchange for Whitney (cue the hallelujah music). Unfortunately he was unable to arrive in time for the game, so the Ducks played 5 d-man and it didn't work out so well. They managed to blow their 2-0 lead and it is what it is. A loss. The first home loss since 2010 started. Bummer. Not how any Ducks fan expected to start the NHL back up after the two week hiatus.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We played one period of hockey," said a disappointed Ducks coach Randy Caryle. "We didn’t play very well after the first period. They turned it up. We stopped doing what we needed to do and started getting quick. We played too soft around the puck and some individuals had bad nights."

"We were skating and taking care of the puck in the first period," Niedermayer said. "In the second, they came at us different and we started to turn it over. It just all the sudden seemed to their way. It’s disappointing when you come out like that and it comes out this way."

"Right now every game is important and the most important one was tonight," Hiller said. "It’s tough. We were close .We had a 2-0 lead and gave the game away. We have 19 games left and still have a lot of chances. We have to believe and play better next game."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 03: Teemu Selanne(notes) #8 of the Anaheim Ducks fends off John-Michael Liles(notes) #4 of the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Honda Center on March 3, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Avalanche defeated the Ducks 4-3. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)