Game 17: Ducks @ Blue Jackets 11.13.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 1
PERIOD 2: 2 - 2
PERIOD 3: 2 - 2
OVERTIME: 2 - 2
SHOOTOUT: 2 - 3





OPINION:
The Ducks started off on the right foot with this one, but ended on the wrong one. Bobby Ryan helped the Ducks strike first in the game and then Columbus tied it up right before the end of the 1st. In the 2nd Todd Marchant would make the score 2-1 early on, but that wouldn't be enough because Columbus would strike back minutes later. The game got sent into OT where the Ducks found themselves with a 4 on 3 advantage but didn't capitalize. The game went to a shootout where both Getzlaf and Perry missed their chances, and Rick Nash would be the game decider. Since Cheechoo has since gone to the East coast, Rick Nash is now taking over as the official Ducks killer. Without fail, he will score on the Ducks every single game. The Ducks wont have it any easier tomorrow when they face the Detroit Red Wings. Actually, if they play like they did tonight, stick a fork in them because they are already done. They will have to find energy within them somewhere and really go for it. No holding back with the Red Wings, they are a lethal team.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We are desperate for a win on the road," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "I didn't think we played that poor a hockey game. But we will take the point and move on. It's not easy to win on the road."

"We missed a chance in overtime when we had the four-on-three," Carlyle said. "We didn't really create much from it."

"We did a good job staying in this hockey game," Getzlaf said. "We were right there ... unfortunately it didn't come out the way we wanted it to."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Columbus Blue Jackets' Anton Stralman, left, of Sweden, and Anaheim Ducks' Scott Niedermayer fight for a loose puck during overtime of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets defeated the Ducks 3-2 in a shootout. (PHOTO CREDIT: sports.yahoo.com)

NHL Reinstates Samueli

The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that Anaheim Ducks Owner Henry Samueli has been reinstated as an active NHL owner. Co-Owner Susan Samueli, who was abiding by the terms of her husband’s suspension (June 24, 2008), is also returning to her ownership role. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued the following statement:

“We welcome Henry and Susan Samueli back as fully reinstated owners and members of the NHL community,” said Commissioner Bettman.

Henry Samueli will return to his role of Club Governor, with Co-Owner Susan Samueli and Chief Executive Officer Michael Schulman acting as Alternate Governors. Schulman, Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray and Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Tim Ryan will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the club, with Murray and Ryan reporting to Schulman.

“Susan and I are very happy to be returning to work with the Ducks,” said Henry Samueli. “We are thankful to have had great leadership in place that successfully operated the team during this time and look forward to reestablishing contact with the organization. Our goal remains the same – to be a championship-caliber organization both on and off the ice. We are also pleased to be able to return to a more active role in the many philanthropic efforts that the Ducks have undertaken throughout the Southern California community.”

Henry and Susan Samueli purchased the club on June 20, 2005. The Ducks became the first California-based club to win the Stanley Cup (2007) and have qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. The club has won more playoff games since 2005-06 (34) than any other team in the NHL with the exception of Detroit (43 wins) and has played to Honda Center crowds at 95.2% of capacity during that time.

SOURCE FOR ARTICLE: ducks.nhl.com

Game 16: Ducks @ Devils 11.11.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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





OPINION:
Special teams? It didn't appear like the Ducks had their power play unit with them for this game. 6 chances with a man-advantage (a.k.a. power play) and nothing? The whole game was a little bit of a snooze fest to be honest. I don't know if it was jet leg playing it's part but whatever it was, it was evident in the game. No energy, no urgency, nothing. They appeared to be just going through the motions with this game. Problem is they're not exactly in a position to be so complacent with themselves. They NEED the urgency and energy, they NEED these points to catch up with the rest of the Pacific Division crew. Hopefully they can get back onto the right tracks with their game at Columbus on Friday. We'll have to wait and see.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We didn't win any of those loose-puck battles on the power play," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said after his team went 0 for 6 with the advantage. "We didn't create much until the last one when we started to shoot the puck more. When you've got an opportunity, you've got to take the most of it. Giving up the short-handed goal took a lot of momentum away from us."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Whitney (19) gets hit by New Jersey Devils' Dainius Zubrus (8), of Lithuania, as they battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. The Devils defeated the Ducks 3-1.(Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com)

Game 15: Ducks vs. Coyotes 11.7.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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





OPINION:
For most of the game the Ducks held their own. Most being the key word. Going into the third period I think most Ducks fans were thinking "hey, Hiller is moving towards his second shutout in a row, wouldn't that be great" and then into the third that turned into "Holy crap! What's going on here? Please don't have a Minnesota Wild (See Game 3 of the season) repeat." Getzlaf happened to make a huge error by passing directly to another player. It was a great pass, mind you, it was to the wrong team. That pass resulted in a goal, and that goal resulted in a breakdown by the Ducks and a surge for the Coyotes who went on to score two more goals to make the game interesting at 4-3. A far cry from what the game was in the first two periods. The good news is the Ducks had JUST enough of a cushion in goals to squeak past the Coyotes for the 4-3 win.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Considering how the last few weeks have gone here, it’s good to come out with a couple of wins here at home," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. "Home ice is important and you want to take advantage of it. We haven’t been able to do that, but the last two we have. We’re heading in the right direction right now."

"You have to give [Phoenix] credit," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "They did not go away."

"Some of our losses earlier in the season were bad bounces," said James Wisniewski, who returned after serving a two-game suspension for a hit in that last game in Phoenix "I don’t think we played all that poorly, but sometimes if you don’t get the right breaks at the right time, then you’re not going to win games. Now, with our hard work, dedication and the way we’re playing by keeping it simple, getting pucks in deep and grinding it out, breaks are coming out way."


"In the middle of the third period, we went out and gave them life," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "It was almost like we stood around and watched them skate. That is what happens in these games. The momentum swings back and forth. You can’t critique a win. We won the hockey game. We’ll take the two points and move on."

"We want to get on this road trip now and continue to get better," Niedermayer said. "We are playing better hockey and that is why we’re getting some results now. We have to continue to build on it."

Added Wisniewski, "It’s perfect with us getting two wins in a row at home, where we were struggling. It was surprising because we were at home for such a long time. Now, we go on a tough road trip with four games in six days. It might be a good thing for us because of how well we’re playing. We’ll see what we can do."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry scores a goal against Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (Source:Yahoo Sports)

Game 14: Ducks vs. Predators 11.5.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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





OPINION:
This 4 - 0 shutout of the Nashville Predators was well deserved. Jonas Hiller made it known early on that he was on his game and that nothing would be getting by him. I don't know if any of you have noticed, but when a goalie is going to shutout a team there seems to be a certain aura in the building. A confidence that you as a fan can feel. Selanne (2), Marchant (1), and Ryan (1) were the goal scorers for the night. The first two periods only saw a lone goal from Selanne, but the third period they threw in 3 bombs that would make the final score 4-0. Now we all sit here and cross our fingers that they can use that as the starting point to string together some more wins for an actual winning streak, which they have yet to see this season. Up next is the Phoenix Coyotes which they played just 3 games ago (a week ago exactly tomorrow, when they play) that resulted in a Wisniewski 2-game suspension for his hit on Doan. Wiz will be returning for this game, it could get interesting folks!

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We played pretty solid defensively," Hiller said. "I gave up a couple of rebounds, but our defensemen were doing a great job tonight clearing those. I’m definitely happy about the win. If we play the way we did tonight, we’ll always have a chance to win."

"We have to start building the confidence from little things," Selanne said. "This team can play way better than we did. The good thing is we found a way to win the game and that is all that really matters. Jonas gave us a chance to win and the special teams were good."

"We have had some really good games and so many good chances, but the puck has not gone in," Selanne said of his play with Koivu. "It’s a little frustrating. We have been playing well, but have not been rewarded. I really hope tonight’s game is going to give us the confidence boost we need."

"It was a nip and tuck game until the third period," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "We found a way to score some goals in third period to give us some breathing room."

"We knew we had to do something," Hiller said of Anaheim's penalty kill. "We were struggling a little on it in the beginning of the year. We worked hard at it in practice. Everybody was working hard. We just have to keep it up and do the same job the next game."

"From our standpoint, we did a lot of good things in the hockey game," said Carlyle. "The penalty killing came up large. When you’re penalty killing is shutting the other team’s power play out, usually your goaltender has a good part of the responsibility for that. Jonas stood in there and made some big stops for us at key times."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller stops a shot by the Nashville Predators in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. The Ducks won the game 4-0. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler)

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)

FREE WISNIEWSKI!

Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski has been suspended for two games, without pay, for delivering a forearm blow to the head of Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan on Oct. 31, the National Hockey League announced on Monday.

The Ducks lost the game, 3-2 in a shootout at Jobing.com Arena.

The incident occurred at 7:12 of the first period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Wisniewski will forfeit $28,497.40. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Wisniewski will miss games on Tuesday against Pittsburgh on Thursday against Nashville. He will be eligible to return on Saturday against Phoenix.

The NHL just became a huge joke that obviously stands for "No Hitting League", and the funny thing is I'm NOT laughing. I can't say that I am surprised at the suspension since if you don the Ducks uniform, you can't even so much as look at an opposing player the wrong way or you're toast, but I can say that I am pissed off and really disappointed with the inconsistency throughout the league when it comes to suspensions. Don't look me in the eye and say there isn't anything wrong. With this suspension the NHL is basically allowing other teams to play our guys and give them brain damage, while the Ducks have to stand around and take it because any form of physicality from them and they will be suspended. NHL is one step closer to being basketball on ice. Bettman's dream, I'm sure.

If you are just as outraged, and have a twitter account, I ask that you please add the #FreeWiz hashtag to your tweets.

Game 12: Ducks @ Coyotes 10.31.09

NOTE: KDOC has picked up this game. Game WILL be aired on KDOC.
Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 0 - 1
PERIOD 2: 1 - 1
PERIOD 3: 2 - 2
OVERTIME: 2 - 2
SHOOTOUT: 2 - 3





OPINION:
Can't be hating on this loss too much. Here's why: They got a point out of it by going to the overtime & the shootout, and they actually put effort into this one. I don't mind losing when there is effort involved. They controlled most of the game even though the final score says otherwise. Bryz always seems to be on his A-game when facing his former team. He's an absolute wall in shootouts, as he was when he was a Duck. With the Ducks gaining a point it is better than how they normally seem to fair in back-to-back games, so overall, I really can't come away from this loss too disappointed. Losses suck, don't get me wrong, but they suck a little less when they looked like they tried and it just wasn't enough.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Right now, we're taking one shift at a time and small steps," center Todd Marchant said. "We just need to keep moving forward. I thought we played a solid road game, and can take positives from the effort."

"We had a strong second period and overall sound effort," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We can't too excited about a good road point, or down too low. We need to keep an even keel."

Source for Quotes:nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

In the halloween spirit, I choose to share with you the pumpkin I carved this afternoon. Sorry it's not a game photo, but I'm really proud of this pumpkin. (Photo Credit: Anaheim Ducks Fan Zone)

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 10: Ducks vs. Maple Leafs 10.26.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 2
PERIOD 2: 2 - 3
PERIOD 3: 3 - 6





OPINION:
This is rock bottom. This game. If you didn't know what rock bottom looked like before, now you know. It's this. Losing to the team that came into our building winless and averaging 2 goals in their games, to leaving our building with a win and 6 goals. Yes. That's what our Ducks practically gift wrapped for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Most commonly known as the Toronto Maple Laughs to other teams, they came here and gave us absolutely nothing to laugh about. Nope. Instead the Ducks took on that honor and they are now the ones being laughed it. A game where it is as close to a "GIMMIE" as you can get and you get squished like a bug by a team that held a huge total of 1 point before they played tonight. Well now, ladies and sirs, that team has improved to 3 points, and we can thank our Ducks for that. Embarrassing doesn't even adequately cover the first inch of how a Ducks fan is feeling right now. Is there a word out there that tops embarrassing?

POST GAME QUOTES:
"It’s terrible," said Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, who gave up all six Toronto scores. "We wish we knew what the problem is. Right now, we’re struggling and we can’t find a way to get out. I don’t know what it is. We have to go back to the basics. Everybody can play better, me included. I know I can play better. I hope everybody does. That is the only way we can go from here."

"We shouldn’t have taken the penalties if we were focused on our game and what we needed to do to win," Niedermayer said. "We did it to ourselves and that is the result. Momentum works both ways. You see breaks that happen and when you’re on this side of it, they go one way."

"Once we feel like we’re going, we take the next goal against and we’re back in the hole again," Hiller said. "I wish I had the solution. Hockey is a game of confidence and trusting each other. I don’t think that’s what we’re doing right now."

"Frustration is a key word in tonight’s hockey game," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "Obviously, when you take the number of penalties that we took, whether we felt they were warranted or not, really changed the whole flow of the hockey game against us. You can’t do that. When things aren’t going your way, those are the times when you mentally have to bite your lip and forge ahead."

Carlyle noted that so many of the Anaheim penalties were roughing calls during post-whistle altercations, possibly a reaction by the team to its struggles the last few games. "The frustration level goes with the lack of success we’ve been having," he said. "When you start to see players like Koivu, Scott Niedermayer – those players in reaction mode, then you start to question if we putting ourselves in a can’t win situation. Was our attitude and frustration getting the better part of us? I’d have to say yes in some of those instances."


Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Referees try to break up a fight between Anaheim Ducks center Todd Marchant, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs center Matt Stajan, right, in the first period of a NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.
[Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com]