Game 76: Ducks @ Avalanche 3.31.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net





POST GAME QUOTES:

"Six hundred was bigger for me, but 601 is huge, too, because Jari was my idol. I feel very honored," said Selanne.

"The good thing for us is we're not even worried about who we're playing right now," Blake said. "We're just worried about ourselves. If we keep playing the way we're playing, and the goaltending has been great, it's giving us a chance every night."

"Obviously, that was a huge game for them, but at the same time, it was a game that for us, by winning, we still have a chance," said Koivu, who had a goal and three assists in the game. "There's still a couple teams between us and them, so it's going to be a battle to the end and we just have to keep pushing it and see what happens."

"Obviously, that was a big break for us and it took a little momentum from their side," Koivu said of the disallowed goal.

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Colorado Avalanche left winger TJ Galiardi(notes), left, has his shot stopped by Anaheim Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney(notes) in the third period of the Ducks' 5-2 victory in an NHL hockey game in Denver on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.(Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com)

Game 71: Ducks vs. Avalanche 3.21.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

Game 63: Ducks vs. Avalanche 3.3.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
Olympic Hangover? Brain Fart? Too much time off from the NHL? No. A temporarily depleted defense I think is what caused this loss. The Ducks picked up a great defenseman from Edmonton, Visnovski, in exchange for Whitney (cue the hallelujah music). Unfortunately he was unable to arrive in time for the game, so the Ducks played 5 d-man and it didn't work out so well. They managed to blow their 2-0 lead and it is what it is. A loss. The first home loss since 2010 started. Bummer. Not how any Ducks fan expected to start the NHL back up after the two week hiatus.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We played one period of hockey," said a disappointed Ducks coach Randy Caryle. "We didn’t play very well after the first period. They turned it up. We stopped doing what we needed to do and started getting quick. We played too soft around the puck and some individuals had bad nights."

"We were skating and taking care of the puck in the first period," Niedermayer said. "In the second, they came at us different and we started to turn it over. It just all the sudden seemed to their way. It’s disappointing when you come out like that and it comes out this way."

"Right now every game is important and the most important one was tonight," Hiller said. "It’s tough. We were close .We had a 2-0 lead and gave the game away. We have 19 games left and still have a lot of chances. We have to believe and play better next game."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 03: Teemu Selanne(notes) #8 of the Anaheim Ducks fends off John-Michael Liles(notes) #4 of the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Honda Center on March 3, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Avalanche defeated the Ducks 4-3. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Game 36: Ducks @ Avalanche 12.22.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
KDOC was having technical issues for the majority of the game but for those of us die-hards who refuse to believe the game isn't showing we got the game finally toward the end of the 2nd period. The first 2 periods were an apparent wash, the Ducks were down 2-0 and a shutout looked imminent but then came the 3rd period. Actually not even that. Then came the last half of the 3rd period and something happened. The Ducks got 1 through.... then they got another one through. In a span lasting less than 8 minutes (7:34 if you want to be precise), the Ducks got 4 goals and absolutely stole the 2 points that were almost certain to go to Colorado. It's a good lesson for those who give up on them before the game is over, it's a positive reinforcement for those who don't. It was a great comeback win and now those 2 points belong to the Ducks, and leave them currently ONLY 4 points out of the 8th spot. Only 4! With the way this season has gone you couldn't get me to believe that a month ago. They have a chance to be only 2 out tomorrow. They're right back at it again, against Phoenix (again).

POST GAME QUOTES:
"When you're down 2-0 with 8 minutes left, you think things are almost wrapped up," said Getzlaf, who scored a goal for the fourth straight game. "It's a situation where we battled pretty hard and got a few bounces and were able to get back on the board."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer, left, congratulates center Ryan Getzlaf after he scored the go-ahad goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period of the Ducks' 4-2 victory in an NHL hockey game in Denver on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)