Game 26: Ducks vs. Kings 11.29.10

OPINION:
Well, as a Ducks fan nothing makes me happier than watching the Ducks shutout the Kings. Their bandwagon made its way into Honda Center and nobody would be the wiser because the Ducks gave them absolutely nothing to cheer about. They say silence is golden, and when it comes to keeping Kings fans quiet, it really is. Hiller was absolutely on fire, and completely robbed Kopitar at the end for what I consider the game winning save. The entire 2nd line was beastly and a force to be reckoned with, and Cam Fowler (Still can't believe we got him in the 12th round when he was projected to go as fast as 3rd!) had his best game in a Ducks uni, in my opinion. Absolute great game.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We didn’t play too well the last few games at home, and we wanted to show we could play better," Hiller said. "Everybody played quite well tonight. If we play like that every night, we’ll always have a good chance."

"He (Hiller) played outstanding and made some great, timely saves," Blake said. "In the first period, they came out with more energy and established their game plan. He bailed us out."

"I just stepped on the ice and the puck came to me," Blake said. "We had some great opportunities in the second period and the third. I was just fortunate that it went in."

"That’s the type of game our hockey club has to play night in and night out," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "It was a good one for us. We had an effort from every member of our group. That is what is important. The true display was at the end of the game, when people that were on the ice were sacrificing their bodies to block shots and get into shooting lanes to protect that shutout for Jonas Hiller."

"We found a way and didn’t back off," Hiller said. "We can be happy with this win and it’s something we can build on."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Teemu Selanne #8 and Jason Blake #33 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Blake's third period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at the Honda Center on November 29, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Kings 2-0. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 26: Ducks vs. Kings 12.1.09 (7:30 PM START TIME)

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net
NOTE: Game starts at 7:30 instead of the usual 7:05.

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






OPINION:
I was not a big fan of Randy Carlyle putting Hiller in the net tonight. It has nothing to do with Hiller himself, it has more to do with Giguere has been the recent hot hand and he is a big factor as to why the Ducks were in a good process of clawing their way out of the cellar in the West. But Carlyle clung to his "win and you're in" method and because Giguere got a loss in overtime he's out, and in goes Hiller. Hiller did not win tonight so Giguere should be in for the Dallas game on Thursday.

As for the Kings-- I never thought I would live to see the day, but I have to give kudos where they are due, and the Kings played some pretty solid hockey tonight. They are where they are in the standings for good reason. They played really well. Could they make the playoffs? Considering the Ducks being a total dud so far, they could. But I don't think they'll make it far. Not enough playoff experience as a team (...none, actually) for them to do anything spectacular (unless they go for that whole "Cinderella Story" type of thing...).

I'm getting ahead of myself, they could still have a total collapse during the regular season. They would need to collapse and the Ducks would need to go full speed ahead for the situation to turn around, but the hockey season is funny that way... it really could happen.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We had lots of chances with the goaltender out and the power play, but we just couldn’t find a way to put one across the line," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle.

"I thought I had him," Ryan said. "He didn’t go down into that butterfly stance that he normally does. I was trying to shoot for that far corner. I had it, it was going there and he got his shoulder in the way. It seemed like it was going to fall right to the side of him, but it just fell beyond the goal line. We had a lot of shots that seemed like they were that close tonight."

"It was hard because we pulled even," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. "But if you look at the game as a whole, we gave them a start there and had to battle back. You can’t count on coming back and winning the game in a shootout or overtime. We were there and had that opportunity, but it didn’t go our way. We have to get back to playing the way we were prior to these last couple of games."

"We gave ourselves a chance," Ryan said. "Todd Marchant goes out and gets us a goal that was a huge emotional boost for us. They came right down and scored not too long afterwards. We’ve done that numerous times this year. It’s something we’ve addressed and gone over a number of times, but it seems to keep happening."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick watches Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ryan Whitney's goal in the second period of a NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Game 26: Ducks @ Red Wings 12.1.08

Ducks Lose 2-1

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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"We tried to stay patient. We were, I think, all over them and we outshoot them," Hossa said. "It was just a matter of time when the one squeezed in and it squeezed in and tight game. We did lots of more shots."

"Decided after two periods that he had seen enough rubber for one game and not take a chance," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. [on removing Giguere after two periods]

"Clears (Dan Cleary) had the puck and I just tried to wait for him and I knew it was a matter of time when he was going to make the pass to me," Hossa said. "Basically I just tried to shoot at the net and I think it surprised the goalie by the five-hole."

"I was expecting one-timer and I was already down," Hiller said.

"It was good to get that first one past him (Giguere)," Franzen said. "It usually takes a goal like that, a redirection, an ugly goal. He was playing real good."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com