Game 13: Ducks @ Rangers 11.3.11

Game 13: Ducks vs. Lightning 11.3.10

OPINION:
I wasn't sure what to expect from playing Tampa Bay tonight. I've been keeping my eye on them this year because I have a certain Stamkos fellow on my Yahoo Fantasy Team and I knew they're pretty legit. They're especially good in the 3rd period, which I thought the Ducks might have some trouble with. They found a way though. Selanne was on a mission tonight, he had bountiful scoring opportunities tonight. I counted 6 goals he should have had, only 1 went in though. And then there is Kyle Palmieri who was called up yesterday. What's he going to do in his very first NHL game? He's going to score a huge game-tying goal with just minutes left to spare, that's what he's going to do! It was a huge goal that forced an overtime, where the Selanne on a mission zipped, or rather FLEW, up the ice and fed a beautiful pass to Getzlaf who potted that sucker into the back of the net. A thing of pure beauty.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"It was a big game for us," Getzlaf said. "It felt like we played pretty well tonight for the most part. We were able to come back at the end. The kid (Palmieri) scored a big goal in his first game and that is exciting."

"It was unbelievable," said a grinning Palmieri, the former Notre Damer, who had an AHL-leading seven goals with Syracuse before his recall. "I was so excited. The whole play seemed like it was slow developing. I saw the puck come across from Bobby. It squirted around to my stick. He banked it off me. I didn’t have to do much. It was unbelievable. To explain, I really don’t have any words right now. It hasn’t really sunk in. Right now, I’m just excited."

"It was a dream come true," Palmieri said. "Even just being there and out on the ice, it was an honor. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid playing hockey back in New Jersey."

"We played against a hockey club that could really skate and is playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We’ve had our fair share of turmoil and lack of consistency. Tonight was one of our more inspired games. Overall, our effort was way up there. We should feel good about ourselves."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Kyle Palmieri #51 of the Anaheim Ducks receives high fives from the bench after scoring his first NHL goal in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Honda Center on November 3, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Lightning 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 13: Ducks vs. Penguins 11.3.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 0
PERIOD 2: 2 - 2
PERIOD 3: 3 - 4





OPINION:
Now if there is any way to lose I guess this would be the way. In the 3rd period it was anyone's game and there are a lot of positives to be had even though the end result is a loss. The Ducks are finally getting their groove going and playing some consistent hockey. The pucks are finding their way to the net, and largely thanks to Perry who has been absolutely on fire. There were opportunities tonight they did not capitalize on, but they were there. You can really tell they have been working on putting out a full 60 minute effort. They don't have that down pat yet, but tonight was pretty darn close. The past 3 games have had tremendous effort and it's a shame only 1 of them resulted in a win. They have deserved the W for these past 3 games but luck just isn't on their side right now. To quote Jonas Hiller from last season's playoffs "sometimes you have to be a little lucky". It will come, in time.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We put in a good effort, but it’s still a loss," Perry said. "If we keep playing like we did in the third period, bounces have to come for us. We’re playing a little stronger and trying to put 60 minutes together. It’s something that we’re preaching every day in practice. "

"I have to do a better job finding the puck on those goals," Hiller admitted. "I lost it on its way. I have to look at it again and see who was screening me, if it was our guy or their guy."

"We had lost of chances and there was lots of frustration coming to the bench," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "The emotion that we displayed at the end was consistent through the game, so it wasn’t like we were not in the hockey game."

"They don’t win a championship with two guys," Perry said. "It takes 23 guys in that dressing room. They all played well tonight. Fleury played well. He stood on his head a couple of times. When they have everybody going, they are a pretty tough team to beat."

"If we continue to play with that level of emotion and just raise our execution a little bit," Carlyle said, "then we will see a lot of positive signs."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Scott Niedermayer #27, Corey Perry #10, Bobby Ryan #9, Sheldon Brookbank #21 and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Perry's second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Honda Center on November 3, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 13: Ducks vs. Flames 11.2.08

Ducks Win 3-2!

Period 1: 1 - 0
Period 2: 3 - 1
Period 3: 3 - 2
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GAME DAY QUOTES:
DUCKS:
"That’s more our type of game," Giguere said. "These are the types of games that we need to play consistently. It’s what it’s going to take for us to win until the end of the season."

"We were up 3-0 and it seems that after that, we sat back on our heels and watched them play a little bit," Giguere said. "All around it was a good effort, but I think we need to get comfortable playing with that kind of lead."

"Last game was a roller coaster ride, and that is definitely not the hockey that we want to play throughout the year." said Ryan Getzlaf, who had the first goal of the game. "Tonight was a good hard-fought battle. It’s nice to get that lead early and be able to maintain it."

"These are games that your emotions are running, highs and lows, through the game," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "For us, the most important thing is we found a way to gut it out and we won the hockey game. We know that there is areas of improvement that are required for our group to continue to have success, but we’re going to take the two points."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com