Game 12: Ducks @ Sharks 10.30.10

OPINION:
All I have to say is: WHERE WAS THIS TEAM THAT PLAYED THOSE LAST TEN MINUTES, FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE 50 MINUTES PRIOR. I don't like when they have a lightbulb turn on and they right their ship when there's only fractions of a period left to go. It's that TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE scenerio that I DON'T LIKE. I don't like when they do it because then they get my hopes up even though I know better and know it'll still be a loss. I can't handle games that work that way. Unless of course it actually worked out where they did steal the win. BUT NOT TONIGHT THEY DIDN'T.

San Jose? We played with San Jose? I didn't see any SJ game, did you?

Bah Humbug.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We didn't play the way we needed to right off the drop," Getzlaf said. "We can't get scored upon on a faceoff play."

"There's obviously an animosity developing," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We didn't seem to get involved in the game. There's always going to be fatigue, but it didn't look like we had much structure."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks right wing George Parros (16) and San Jose Sharks left wing Frazer McLaren (68) get into a fight in the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. (Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

Game 11: Ducks vs. Devils 10.29.10

OPINION:
Hmm. Where have I seen this before? The Ducks losing to the worst team in the league? Oh yeah, happened last year too when we played Toronto. When it comes to the Ducks and battles with the last place teams, the Ducks like to lose. And it's highly embarrassing. I don't know how to explain it... they downplay their game to the worst teams, and manage to lose. Then when they play the higher ranked teams, they somehow win. I don't get it, it must be a law of physics I'm not smart enough to understand, but it happens. Without fail.

I don't have much more to say other than that except one thing. What was Randy Carlyle thinking putting Voros on the top line? What was he doing anywhere near the top line? Carlyle has lost his marbles.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We knew they were going to come out hard and try to start a winning streak," Blake said. "For us, we were just trying to keep the ball rolling. We had a great win in Dallas. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get the win tonight. I thought we had some great chances. We were facing a great goaltender."

"We didn’t have a lot of momentum going our way until later in the hockey game, after they got the 2-1 lead," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We just didn’t execute. Our power play was pretty much on the outside. We scored one goal with Jason Blake that was a power play goal. But the other group didn’t get much done from an offensive standpoint."

"We knew they were one of the teams in the same situation as us, not playing as well as they are supposed to," Hiller said. "It was almost a must-win. We just couldn’t find a way. Every time you think we’re going to get it going, we play a game like tonight and lose again. It starts all over again. We have to find a way to win tomorrow. It would be great if we could get a streak going. It just makes it easier."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 29: Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils makes a save in front of Saku Koivu #11 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at the Honda Center on October 29, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Game 10: Ducks @ Stars 10.26.10

OPINION:
If we cut out the 1st period, this was a solid game for the Ducks. I don't know what the 1st period was, but we'll forget it happened. Whatever was said in the locker room during 1st intermission worked because they came out for the 2nd and 3rd a completely different team than the one that came out in the 1st.

Bobby Ryan netted 2 goals and everyone watching was just waiting for the hat trick. It didn't happen, but we did get to see Parros score on a break away! I think if you saw that mustache darting toward you, you'd let the goal in too. Also, Teemu netted 1 to get his 800th career point as a Duck, and Perry added to the total when Dallas had a little brain fart forgetting to have somebody in the penalty box to serve Robidas' major penalty for a boarding hit he nailed Beleskey with. (Later reported that Beleskey is fine, after he left the ice looking a little more than woozy).

Great game, and the Ducks get to head home for Friday's match against the New Jersey Devils, who have been having the same kind of rough start the Ducks have been dealing with. And a great win to put the heartbreaking loss to the Wings three days ago into the distant memory bank.

(PS; Ducks scored 5 goals tonight, head over to ducks.nhl.com to get your coupon for FREE Hooters wings! Valid for 24 hours.)

POST GAME QUOTES:
"I've met (Hull) many times, and I never imagined I'd score more goals than him," said the 40-year-old Selanne, who also had an assist to give him 801 points with the Ducks. "It's unbelievable, when you look back at your career, the numbers. Good things happen when you play long. When I read my name in the same story with Bobby Hull or somebody else, it's a big compliment. I'm thankful for all these years."

Selanne said he was aware of NHL greats when he was a kid learning the game in Finland. "Automatic, you know those names," Selanne said. "I used to have Guy Lafleur skates."

"It got us started," Ryan said of his first goal. "It's a morale boost. You're sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself, that kind of turns the tide."

"At times he (Ryan) looked like the best player on the ice," Carlyle said. "He was skating and when he does that, he's a dynamic player."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks right winger George Parros takes a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Parros scored on the shot. Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports

Game 9: Ducks @ Red Wings 10.23.10

OPINION:
Tonight's game was pretty much case in point of why I personally hate it when the Ducks have to go to Detroit to play. (And I'm thinking there's not very many Ducks fans who would disagree with that feeling). The first period was ridiculous and it's always pretty ridiculous in that building. No matter what the Ducks do, they just CAN'T win there. And it's not for lack of trying. They get penalized for things they didn't do, the Red Wings don't get penalized for squat. They score goals, but they don't seem to score enough. You would think 4 goals would be enough.

One thing, actually TWO things we can be happy about after this game. That's the last time the Ducks have to go to Detroit this season (unless they make the playoffs and face the Red Wings) and that means it's the last game they have to play in Joe Louis Arena ever (unless they make the playoffs and face the Red Wings), because that baby is being replaced. I'm not sad to see it go. I'm actually pretty stoked about that.

And I don't think I'm the only one... Teemu had some good words about the game, that he could potentially be fined for. I don't think he's worried about a fine, and I am quite pleased that he, and Carlyle, spoke out about how the game was officiated last night. And Kronwall can thank his lucky stars he had a Red Wings logo on his chest last night for the ELBOW he delivered on Teemu, and leaving his feet to do it.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"That guy (Kronwall) is dangerous out there," Selanne said. "One of these days somebody's going to get him, for sure. I know that. It's just a matter of time when. For sure his elbow hit in my face. I didn't see the replay but I know how it felt."

"He (McElhinney) played good for us, he made some stops," coach Randy Carlyle said. "That's two good games in a row. You think we could get more than one power play in this building?"

"It is a joke," [Selanne] said. "As long as I have played here, it's always happened. You almost know. They get at least three power plays every first period. ... Like 50-50 calls are going to go in their favor. We knew. It's not a secret for anybody. Plus, there's a young referee who's pumped to do the games here. The calls are going to go in their favor."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks winger Bobby Ryan (9) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports

Game 8: Ducks at Flyers 10.21.10

OPINION:
In a game where the Ducks were desperate to get their first win on the road, being 0-4-0 on the road thus far, they found a way to win. They did everything they could, and pulled it out and won the game. They started fast in the first period with a quick goal to start the game on the right foot ( as opposed to their usual left foot starts ). They left that period ahead by a goal at 2-1.

Their second period got a little slopping, and they lost themselves a bit, but not enough to leave the period only in a tie game at 2-2. They entered the 3rd knowing they needed to pull out all the stops to get that winning goal, before overtime was needed. And then it happened. In a quick play of crashing the net, Getzlaf managed to squeek the puck past the Philadelphia goal crease. It had to be reviewed but the review showed very clearly that the puck did cross the line completely and the Ducks were credited with the goal, which would be the game winning goal.

It wasn't easy, and I don't think anyone thought it would be, but they managed to hang in there and walk away with the victory. Their next stop on Saturday is at the same arena they started their season in. Eveyone say it with me-- the always unfriendly Joe Louis Arena. I really don't have high expectations on this one, just given their experiences in that building, but hey... if they want to prove my expectations could be higher, I welcome it.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"The initial shot, he stopped with his stick and I was able to get another swipe at it," Getzlaf said. "I saw it go in, and judging from my reaction, you could tell. It was one of those things where we caught a break at the end. It was a big relief for us. We've been working pretty hard and not necessarily getting the bounces, so this helps."

"It doesn't matter how it goes in," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "It went in. I don't care if it was an end-to-end rush, a fluke from center, whatever it is. We're desperate for wins. We found a way to get the job done."

"When he shot the puck I tried to stop it, but it slid right by me," said the 22-year-old rookie [McElhinney], who made his fourth start. "The team lost and I feel like it's my fault. I have to play better. We must win the game."

"It felt great," [McElhinney] said. "There were some nerves early on, and a couple of rebounds that got away from me. As the game went on, I felt more comfortable. Everybody collapsed well and did a tremendous job in front of me. It was an all-around great effort from everybody."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 21: Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers surrenders a first period goal against the Anaheim Ducks as teammates Chris Pronger #20 and Matt Carle #25 look on on October 21, 2010 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Game 7: Ducks at Blue Jackets 10.20.10

OPINION:
The road is not being kind to the Ducks to start this season. They are now 0-4-0 on the road. It wont be getting any easier with Philadelphia tomorrow and those blasted Red Wings again on Saturday, in the very unfriendly Joe Louis Arena.

My gripe tonight is with Hiller. Not how he's playing, he's standing on his head and doing the best he can given the circumstances. But for the millionth time this season he let in 2 quick back-to-back goals. I don't know why that's happening, and I know it's not all Hiller. I just know he's getting some rotten luck with back-to-back quick goals and it's getting irritating to see it happen almost every game. It's almost guaranteed that when 1 goal comes, another 2nd goal wont be far behind. That really needs to stop.

POST GAME QUOTES:
“We did some things very well but we made some mistakes,” Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. “We give up a goal to MacKenzie, a slap shot into the pads; that’s a mistake. Then the next thing you know, Nash gets a goal and it kind of goes off our defenseman.”

“The power play wasn’t effective tonight,” the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf said. “Those things kill you in games. You have to win those special teams’ battles.”

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 20: Teemu Selanne #8 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates a third period goal with Saku Koivu #11 while playing the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 20, 2010 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus won the game 3-1. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Game 6: Ducks vs. Coyotes 10.17.10

OPINION:
This was a good game. High energy, do what it takes to win, win. On that note, I'd like to point out Shane Doan. I'll refrain from calling him the names I'd like to call him here and keep it PG at PUNK. Minutes after Cam Fowler scored his first NHL goal, he was a goal line away (literally, it landed right on the goal line) from scoring his second. And that's when Shane thought it'd be a good idea to pummel the kid face first into the boards. Cam left the game and never returned, with a broken nose, two black eyes, and a neck strain. Thanks Shane.

Not too far along into the game after that happened, Shane attacked again. This time he decided a blindside hit to Dan Sexton would be ok. Well news flash, Shane. That's the exact play the NHL said it would be cracking down on this season, and you sir get to sit out for 3 games. Don't like it? Tough. You did it. You're extremely lucky Sexton wasn't injured with that reckless play of yours.

In spite of Shane Doan, the Ducks pulled off the win, 3 to 2. Not without trying to show their fans, once again, that the 2 goal lead is dangerous. That one is for you, Cam. Get well soon, we need you!

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Bobby made a great play in the defensive zone," Perry said. "He battled for the puck and made a great play to get it to Getzy. The two of us were just trying to get to the net as fast as we could. Getzy found a way to get it through and I got a stick on it."

"We did a lot of good things in the game to give ourselves a two-goal lead, but we can’t slip in the third period like that," said coach Randy Carlyle. "I don’t have cuticles left, so that is the way it went. It got to a hairy point there. The bottom line is we won the hockey game."

"If you just check my stats from previous years, I haven’t been doing that too much," said Lydman of his first career goal streak. "It’s nice to put a couple in there. Especially when we win, it feels so much better."

"It was huge to get back in the win column and have that feeling going on the road," Perry said. "We know we can win in crucial times. We showed it tonight. We found a way to win. That is how we have to play."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 17: Cam Fowler #54 of the Anaheim Ducks leaves the ice with an injury alongside Paul Mara #23 the Phoenix Coyotes during the second period at the Honda Center on October 17, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Game 5: Ducks vs. Thrashers 10.15.10

OPINION:
This game started out very promising. The Ducks controlled most of the game, and looked sharp. Then, they set out to prove how dangerous the 2 goal lead is. Doing their signature move of trying to protect the lead, they let it go. As disappointing as that was. What looked like a sure 2 points, dwindled to being happy they at least got 1 out of the deal.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Any time you lose in your own building, it’s disappointing, especially when you have the lead going into the third," said Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf. "We worked pretty hard all game long. We needed to close it out of the end and we didn’t."

"We’re upset with losing the point tonight," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "That is probably as emotional as I have been in losing a shootout because there were mental mistakes that we made that cost us the point, not their effort. They worked and tried. Some nights shootouts go for you, some nights they don’t."

"We just need to keep pushing," Getzlaf said. "We have a big game coming up on Sunday and we know it. We’ll come to work tomorrow like professionals and get ready."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 15: Toni Lydman #32 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his second period goal against the Atlanta Thrashers at Honda Center on October 15, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Thrashers defeated the Ducks 5-4 in a shootout. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 4: Ducks vs. Canucks 10.13.10

OPINION:
OK the high from the game is gone, I can clearly think out an opinion. Mine goes along the lines of it was a game where in the initial period one might think "oh my God, not this again!". I'll chalk the first period of the home opener up to nerves and excitement from our guys. That's normal and they had a normal reaction.

The 2nd and 3rd period on the other hand actually started to look like we had a team that knew what they were doing. Not only did we finally have a game with numerous goals, but we had a game in which we won. AND that win wasn't easy. After getting the lead early in the 1st, they quickly lost it, and it was an uphill battle the rest of the game. Going into the third period trailing 3-2 mean the Ducks needed 2 goals to force the win. And they did just that.

It was like a light bulb turned on and all of a sudden, the top line knew exactly what they needed to do to get those goals that the Ducks desperately needed. The Ducks gained their lead back in the 3rd and still had a hefty amount of time afterward to try to hold on to that lead or improve it. Well, they didn't improve it, but they did manage to hang on long enough to protect it. And with that, the Ducks marched on with their first victory of the 2010-11 season, and fans were able to walk away saying "about damn time" (ok that was just me...) Fans were able to walk away thinking ... maybe it's not that bad afterall. It really was only 3 games. And now, it's only been 4.

This brief sigh of relief and contentment can only be held onto for so long. The Ducks are back at it again at Honda Center on Friday the 15th, to take on the Atlanta Thrashers. They, and us fans, will be looking to stay in the winning column of stats.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"It was nice to be able to calm things down and play hockey," Getzlaf said. "It didn’t matter what the score was. We’re coming home where we’re comfortable. We love this building. The fans and everybody showed us what it’s going to be like all year. We’re excited about it."

"It was time for it," Getzlaf said of the production of his line. "We have been working hard the last few games. We knew it was just those one or two bounces that we needed our way. We were lucky enough to get them tonight. When our line is effective, we slow that game down and are able to play with the puck more."

"When they scored, I thought to myself, Something good has to happen here," Ryan said. "Something had to break because in the past it hadn’t. It finally did."

"It wasn’t pretty," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "I don’t think we’re going to frame that one and say that is the way we want to play every night. But at least it’s a starting point for us. It’s been difficult for us over the first three games that we started on the road. We got our game going as this game went on. Our players are to be credited because they were frustrated."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 13: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates a game tying goal in the third period against the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center on October 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 3: Ducks @ Blues 10.11.10

OPINION:
My opinion is likely along the same lines as your opinion. I'm just going to point out the obvious and move on with life:
A. We need defense, badly. An 18 year old is outshining everyone else. Cam Fowler, you're doing great bud. I wish the rest of the team was on board with you.

B. We also appear to need offense. On paper, you wouldn't think that at all. On ice, we've got 2 goals. 2 goals from Saku Koivu. The top line that has 3 players combining for just above $15 million in payroll, yeah that top line isn't doing a thing. Thank you Saku for at least trying.

C. Somehow we've got a great penalty kill. That was 100% today, and if you saw the game, you know that's no small feat. But it managed to be at 100%. Even with that awesomeness, there were still 5 goals not in our favor. Hiller got pulled after 4. He has a sound 4.0 GAA. And a 4.0 only looks good if it's your GPA. I'm not saying all of them are Hiller's fault, but he does need to be better.

D. Maybe it's time for a new coach. I'll give RC a few more games before I jump on that bandwagon. But I usually end up on it at some point during the season, he just never gets the boot. This year might be his year...to go.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Obviously, the sun is going to come up tomorrow - we hope," [Carlyle] said. "What you have to do is take a self-analysis of what we can do better. There's lots of areas for us to improve in as a team."

"It's only three games," Perry said. "There's 79 more to go. But it's tough to start the season 0-3. "They had 50-some shots today, too, and that doesn't help. The puck's going the other way. We just need to get some of those on our stick and get the garbage goal we need to get us going."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

St. Louis Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak, of Slovakia, makes a save on a shot by Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, in St. Louis.Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports