Game 50: Ducks @ Maple Leafs 1.20.11

OPINION:
Not many teams make it look easy to lose to celler dweller teams. The Ducks do, though. With losses to teams like the Islanders, the Devils, and the Oilers, it seems only natural for them to add the Maple Leafs to that list. It's unexplainable. Except well, we all know what's happening. The Ducks are notorious for lowering their level of play to the opponent. They are notorious from not learning from experience that that kind of thing doesn't work. They are notorious for losing to teams in the basement. I'm not gonna lie, the loss was indeed expected. It doesn't make it hurt any less. Losing to these kinds of teams is what decides if you make the playoffs or if you don't. Come April, this game-- and the Islanders and the Devils-- will really sting.

On the absolute flip side and in a rare moment, you'd be hard pressed to find any Ducks fan that wasn't at least a little bit happy to see none other than John-Sebastian Giguere get the win for the Leafs. I think we all know from experience, he's no slouch. Congratulations Jiggy, we still miss you.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"(The Leafs) got embarrassed last night and they came out pretty good," Ducks forward Teemu Selanne said. "They played better than us."

Added Ducks coach Randy Carlyle: "We played about 12 minutes of hockey tonight. You can't play 12 minutes of hockey and expect to win in the NHL."

"I wanted to just have a strong game," said Giguere, who made 26 saves. "Not because I'm bitter or anything like that. You want to play well against guys you know. It's a fun challenge. Seeing them this morning, you can have a little laugh, but when the game comes they want to score and I want to make a save. Thankfully, I made more saves tonight."

GAME NOTES:
Giguere's only other start against Anaheim came Dec. 29, 1999, when he backstopped Calgary to a 3-1 win. ... Maple Leafs forward Mike Brown served the final game of a three-game suspension. ... Toronto tough guy Colton Orr smacked his face on the ice at the end of a first-period fight with George Parros and didn't return to the game.

Source for Quotes & Game Day Notes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 20: Jean-Sebastien Giguere #35 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates the win against the Anaheim Ducks during game action at the Air Canada Centre January 20, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)