Game 11: Ducks @ Blue Jackets 10.30.11

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 11: Ducks vs. Canucks 10.30.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 2
PERIOD 2: 4 - 2
PERIOD 3: 7 - 2





OPINION:
This game probably had most Ducks fans fooled only 5 minutes into the game. In those 5 minutes the Canucks had already tallied 2 goals and most likely had the orange and gold jersey wearing fans doing some face palms and groans. "It's going to be another one of THOSE nights, again" was my reaction. However, the Ducks players didn't feel that way because they cut the lead in half towards the end of the 1st, and never looked back after that. A total of 7 goals were racked up tonight in favor of the Ducks. George Parros (1), Mike Brown (1), Bobby Ryan (2), and Corey Perry (2) each tallied a goal. Most surprising though, was one credited to Lupul near the end of the game. The puck took a wicked bounce off the boards and shocked everyone when it found its way into the net. So while the first 5 minutes of the game drew a ton of eye rolls and "oh crap"s, it was all Ducks after those 5 minutes.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"There is a collective sigh of relief, that is for sure," Ryan said. "A lot of games we’ve gotten down and then we’ve gotten out. Tonight, we just found a way to stick with it and battle through. We did the things that we need to do to score goals and it was a nice night for it. Guys came out and answered the bell when we needed it."

"They got a two-goal lead on us and we were wondering what the heck was going on," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We stayed with it. We changed our mindset, got better going through the neutral ice and recovered more pucks on the dumps."

"It was a good line goal," Parros said. "Mike Brown got in hard on the forecheck. I followed up with a hit, causing the puck to get to Carter. He just put it to the net, the puck bounced to my stick and I was able to put it in."

"Any time that your energy line can make a contribution on the offensive side plus play their normal energy game, it’s a huge boost for your group" Carlyle said. "They played with energy most of the night. They were our best line early in staying with the structure that we’re trying to create."

"The most important thing for our mental psyche going forward," Carlyle said, "is it’s a starting point for our group."


Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 30: Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal with the bench against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at the Honda Center on October 30, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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.
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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."