Stanley Cup Finals

You have no idea how happy I am that I didn't have to put the Sharks logo on there.
Then again, if you're a Ducks fan, you probably do.

Game 69: Ducks vs. Blackhawks 3.17.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 46: Ducks @ Blackhawks 1.10.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






POST GAME QUOTES:
"Hillsie stole the game for us, simple as that," Anaheim's Corey Perry said about goalie after the Ducks won 3-1 on Sunday night despite being outshot 43-12. "Quality scoring chances ... they probably had 15 to 20. He came up huge for us."

"We've developed something the last few games," Hiller said. "That's what we need to do to get back to the playoffs. If we keep playing like we did tonight, we have a real good chance."

"You don't ask (one player) to win you the game, but [Hiller] went above that and won the hockey game for us," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "This isn't an easy to building to come into. They have a very good club and the shot total proved it."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

CHICAGO - JANUARY 10: Jonas Hiller(notes) #1 of the Anaheim Ducks is congratulated by teammate Scott Niedermayer(notes) #27 after a win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on January 10, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Ducks defeated the Blackhawks 3-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Game 42: Ducks @ Blackhawks 1.3.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net





OPINION:
So really, honestly, I don't want to have this SAME weekend all over again NEXT weekend. Seriously?? We have the same exact trip next weekend. Saturday and Nashville, AGAIN. And Sunday in Chicago AGAIN. I like that they can get revenge so close together, but I don't think they'll be getting revenge. It just doesn't seem very fair. Ughhh. 2010 is looking worse and worse for the Ducks. Next is the RED WINGS. You gotta be kidding me. They're plagued with injuries and could probably still kill us. I'm not looking forward to it. This is what I'm being drawn to... not looking forward to games. It's not supposed to be that way! I want to believe that they will get healthy from their stupid injuries and go on this massive tear, but they haven't given me any reason to really believe that. I want to believe they'll be in a playoff spot in April, but so far they're just giving me a heads up that it'll be a long summer for Ducks fans. I want to think this was just a bad start to the season but they're half way through this. *Big Sigh* I need to sleep off this anger and disappointment.


POST GAME QUOTES:
"We had our fair share of chances," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "We had 2-on-1s, hit the posts and had scoring opportunities. He (Antii Niemi) made some big stops, but we didn't do enough to force him."

"I know he's been playing unbelievable," Nokelainen said. "He's a good goalie and a great story. He's like any other big guy these days, they cover so much of the net."

"He stopped me a couple of times in the first," Nokelainen said. "I have to bear down and bury those chances early. When it's a 5-0 game, it really doesn't matter much."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

CHICAGO - JANUARY 03: Scott Niedermayer #27 of the Anaheim Ducks skates up the ice chased by Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on January 3, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Game 24: Ducks vs. Blackhawks 11.27.09 (1 PM START TIME)

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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






OPINION:
Before the game started I was beside myself with how to feel. Were we going to finally get a 3rd win in a row? The Blackhawks are a dangerous team, this game decides where the Ducks stand. The Blackhawks are beatable. Or are they? Anyways, the Ducks did much to help out my frame of mind. The Hawks came in with an 8 game win streak and the Ducks snapped it. With a shutout, no less. The Ducks are way more powerful than their standings position implies. They are starting to get their game going, and really going. They finally have consistent goal tending, other lines than the RPG line are scoring. It's coming together, it just took a while and a little bit of patience.

On another note, Corey Perry extended his point streak to 17 games today which also tied him with none other than Teemu Selanne (who had 2 goals today) for the club record. He's in good company. And making a huge statement of how much he deserves to be on Team Canada for the Olympics.

POST GAME QUOTES:
“It feels really good,” said Giguere in a postgame TV interview, forced to pause after he couldn’t be heard over the roar of the remaining crowd. “Right now we’re playing well defensively, scoring some big goals and everybody’s contributing. It was a huge team effort today.”

"You get lucky once in a while," said Boynton, who has 34 goals in 526 career games. "Bobby is great player and made a good play. Lucky for me, the goalie didn’t see it."

"You could tell the guys were really focused today," Giguere said later in the relative quiet of the locker room. "We knew that we had to play a good game to be able to have success against them. It was one of our better games."

Added Boynton, "Everybody was playing well and Jiggy played amazing. When your goalie plays like that, it makes the game real easy.We hadn’t played a full game yet and we are a quarter of the way into the season. Today, it was nice to get a full game in. To beat a team like that, it’s a good feeling and a good confidence boost."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne, center, of Finland, celebrates his goal with teammate Corey Perry, left, as Chicago Blackhawks' John Madden skates off during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports