Game 66: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets 3.9.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
I held a funeral for my playoff hopes after the last game. Then this game happened, and I put those hopes under ground. They are not mathematically eliminated (yet) and of course the fan inside of my wants to hope that a miracle will happen, but then there's the realistic side of me that knows it's just not in the cards. I knew early in the season that the Ducks had likely shot themselves in the foot for the playoffs with the poor start they had. I remember how hard they had to fight just to make it in last year and I figured the chances of them pulling that off again this year were slim to none. But that was the beginning of the season and I really did hold out hope that I was wrong. That they'd make it in and I'd get to enjoy playoff fever once again. Now with one month left the reality is they're not making it. They, as a team, are not playing like the want to make it (as they did last year). There's the handful that have the drive to play hard every game -- Niedermayer, Marchant, Selanne, Sexton, Brown, and the like. And then there's the ego's that haven't missed the playoffs EVER in their career (I'm looking at you Getzlaf and Perry).

I think that by them missing out this year will be just the kick in the butt they need. I'm just severely disappointed it had to be this year which is likely the last for Niedermayer and Selanne (I am in denial about Selanne but I'm fairly certain Niedermayer wont want to put up with this crap again next season). Selanne missed this game with flu-like symptoms. I can't blame him. The way they've been playing lately has me sick to my stomach too.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We seemed to be a very flat hockey club," said coach Randy Carlyle. "For whatever reason, we didn’t seem to be able to provide any energy for any extended period of time. Our execution level left a lot to be desired. Those are things that cost you in the hockey game in the end."

"You can’t come out of a break looking for a playoff run and then drop four straight," said Bobby Ryan. "It’s unacceptable. They were missing a couple of big guy in their lineup. It’s a missed opportunity is the best way to put it. It’s embarrassing."

"I wish I had an explanation," Getzlaf said. "We have to have a starting point. We’re going to start tomorrow in practice. It’s going to be on us and our responsibility as a group. We’re going to come to work tomorrow and get ready to go. We’re in a do-or-die situation. We definitely have to get things rolling and get playing the way we want to. We’ve all been in situations where we’ve lost a few in a row here and there. The easy thing is to give up and get down. That is what we’re trying to stop now and get our momentum going back the other way."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 09: Anton Stralman #6 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and his teammates celebrate the third-period goal of Antoine Vermette #50 as Scott Niedermayer #27 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during their NHL game at the Honda Center on March 9, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Blue Jackets defeated the Ducks 5-2.(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Game 32: Ducks @ Blue Jackets 12.12.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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






OPINION:
I'm not quite sure if the Blue Jackets looking flat had to do with them not putting out a full effort, or if they looked flat because the Ducks made them look flat but in either scenerio I will take it. Ducks had the upper hand of this game for most of the game. There were a few spots where the Blue Jackets put on some pressure, but for the most part, this one was pretty good for the Ducks.

Ever since he has been called up due to Teemu's injury, this rookie has impressed the world of Ducks fans time and time again. I'm talking about Dan Sexton. He had another goal tonight (the first one of the night) which gives him his 4th since being called up...his 4th of all time. He's proving to be pretty damn consistent. Each and every night he goes out and plays his heart out and does whatever he can to put the puck in the net. His linemate Bobby Ryan has been a huge factor in this as well. The line of Koivu-Sexton-Ryan has been superb so far. They're really getting things done, and it's nice to have some secondary scoring.

In the third period I think many Ducks fans were hoping they wouldn't lose their lead, as they typically like to do. And they didn't. Instead, they opted for the other option of adding to their lead. Corey Perry slammed one into the net on a power play and sealed the deal of the game. Ducks win 3 to 1.

Which happens to be their 1st road win since October 11th...

POST GAME QUOTES:
"If you would have told me by the end of the weekend I would have accomplished what I have ... I'd have a pretty hard time believing it," said Sexton, an undrafted free agent who played college hockey just a couple of hours away at Bowling Green."I just wanted to come in and play my hardest and contribute. But, to get some good bounces and play with some great players, contribute the way I have, it has been a special week for sure."

"We tried to take on the attitude that we were going to build off of last night's third period," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We couldn't let that type of thing happen to our hockey club tonight."

"(Killing) that 5-on-3 was huge for us," Perry said. "If we killed that off, we were in a great situation. Then we get the power play right after that, get the goal. It was a great pass from Whit. I just got enough wood on it."

"We had a great chance last night to win the game but we gave it away in the third," said Hiller, who watched Jean-Sebastien Giguere in goal against the Red Wings. "We were able to keep going in the third (tonight) and didn't get any goals against. That was huge. Also, for the confidence of the team."

"Playing back-to-back games on the road is life in the NHL," Carlyle said. "We're not really proud of our road record (3-5-5) yet. Those things are all things that you use to motivate people. In the end the players laid it on the line. Was it a perfect road game? No. But we did what we had to do to win the hockey game."

Source for Quotes:ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Dan Sexton (42) scores a goal past Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason (1) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. Anaheim's Bobby Ryan (9) looks on. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

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)

Game 9: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets 10.24.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 0
PERIOD 2: 2 - 4
PERIOD 3: 4 - 6




POST GAME QUOTES:
"It’s a frustrating time right now with the way things are going," said Ryan Getzlaf, who assisted on three Anaheim goals. "We came out and had a good effort in the first period. We had that lead and let it slip away. It’s a hard thing to figure out, but we have to do it and do it quick."

"We came out and played better," Lupul said, "but I didn’t really like the way we responded to some tough bounces. That stuff is going to happen. Those are things we have to be able to recover from. They got a couple of lucky goals. But we have to be able to respond better. After they got the first one, they really took it to us for awhile there."

Added Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, "When you go through stretches like we’re going through right now, it seems like when something has a chance to go wrong, it’s going wrong. You have to persevere, put your head down, not get too frustrated with the situation, go back to work and take the positives out of the game. We did score enough goals to win. Now, the other side is we have to be better defensively."

"It’s a mental game," Getzlaf said. "It’s part of our job and part of our job as a group. Everybody is professional here. I’ve never been part of a team with a losing mentality and it’s not going to start now. We’re going to work tomorrow, the next day and get ready for the next match."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 24: Joffrey Lupul #14 of the Anaheim Ducks shoots and scores a goal in the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Honda Center on October 24, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)