Game 77: Ducks vs. Canucks 4.2.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net





POST GAME QUOTES:

"It’s a tough way to lose like that in a shootout," said Selanne, who had two goals on the night. "But what are you going to do? We played a pretty good game. A couple mistakes cost us a couple of goals. Overall, we had a chance to win. That is why it is a little hard to swallow this. That is how it goes."

"We came back and played well fighting to the end there," Koivu said "We needed two points, there is no doubt. Calgary won their game, so it’s a tough one. At this point, we have to forget this one as quick as possible."

"I’d rather not pass him and get these points to give us a chance," Selanne said. "What happened earlier in the season put us behind the eight ball. That is why we are where we are. We’ll just keep battling as long as we have a chance and see what happens. It’s tough to lose the one point tonight."

"Before this game, we had won seven out of nine, but the teams in front of us were winning as well," Koivu said. "Tonight was really the first one where we got some help. We’re trying to keep the focus on our game and our situation. We have to be realistic at this point. We can’t lose any points."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Teemu Sealanne #8, Saku Koivu #11, Corey Perry #10 and Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Selanne's 602nd career goal in the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at the Honda Center on April 2, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 73: Ducks @ Canucks 3.24.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 33: Ducks @ Canucks 12.16.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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






OPINION:
I don't have a huge opinion on this game because I didn't SEE most of it. I was listening to it while trying to finish up my final project for one of my classes so I was a wee bit distracted. From what I could gather the Ducks had a strong first and second period. In the 3rd they were on their heels for a bit but Koivu knocked in the game winner and the win was ours! And thankfully without a stupid 3-point game. 2 solid points and a goose egg (points wise) for Vancouver. Just the way I like it.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"In this situation we're in right now, every win is important," said Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, who made 28 saves and came up big late. "We need to be able to win on the road especially."

"I think we were able to get some good work behind their net there," Koivu said. "I thought the defense was a little bit too aggressive. And then Sexton made a great play across the ice to Calder. "I don't know how he saw me on the back door there. And from there it was a fairly easy tap-in for me to get that goal."

"It's Teemu who?" Ducks coach Randy Carlyle cracked, talking about Sexton. "That's what I said to him the other day in practice. "If you saw the play on the power play, our big unit didn't really get much going and we got kind of frustrated on the bench. And they went out and delivered."

Source for Quotes:OC Register

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler, left, skates away as Anaheim Ducks, from left, Saku Koivu, of Finland, Dan Sexton and Bobby Ryan celebrate Ryan's goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.(PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

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)