Game 55: Ducks @ Canucks 2.9.11

OPINION:
What a day today has been for Ducks fans. In the morning news broke that we had traded Joffrey Lupul (with prospect Jake Gardiner, and a conditional draft pick) to Toronto for a familiar face-- Francois Beauchemin. In my own opinion I am sad to see Lupul go (Again) but I'm thrilled that Beauchemin is back home. He hasn't fared well in Toronto but he knows how to play here. Anaheim is where he fits. I think it's a great move. It's just unfortunate that Lupul is gone as he's always been one of my favorites. I've always been intrigued by the fact that you can spell his name forward and backward with the same result. Good luck to you in Toronto Lupul. And I completely understand why you're pretty bitter about it.

Beauchemin flew in to Vancouver today to join the team but he did not suit up for the game. We can expect to see him Friday for the game against Calgary. We DID get to see someone else suit up though. Our Captain Ryan Getzlaf returned to his first game since going out with a facial injury in December. He made his return known in more ways than one. He helped put up points and he got himself involved in what I guess is now a "controversial" hit. I don't see the controversy, it was a clean hit in my opinion, and just unfortunate that Humhuis went down so awkwardly as a result. My sincerest hopes go out that he'll be ok. Injuries are no fun any way you cut the cake.

In this game the Ducks never lost their lead. It was a solid and rare 60 minute effort that got us the W we desperately need to stay in the top 8. And with the Canucks leading the entire league in points it's not like they exactly needed the win, so we'll take it. Up next is a surprisingly red hot Calgary team that had a rough start to their season. They have an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 and have surged their way into 8th place as of tonight. The Ducks sit in 7th. If you have been taking notice of the standings, you'll know it's not exactly safe. One day you're in, the next night you're on the outside looking in. The final stretch is going to be a doozy. The Ducks just need to keep winning.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"It was huge to respond after our line had just been scored on and Burrows pulled them within a goal," Ryan said. "You can respond one of two ways. You can cower and play a tight defensive game or you can go on the attack."

"They are going to charge at you, we know that, but we were guilty of standing around trying to make plays, too," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "We have a tendency to keep things exciting right to the end."

"This building has been a nightmare for a lot of teams, so we've got to feel good," Carlyle said.

"I don't want to hurt anybody out there," said Getzlaf, who also had an assist in his first game back after missing six weeks because of nasal sinus fractures. "I didn't leave my feet, I kept my shoulder down and he was just following through on a pass. It was an unfortunate accident. He turned as he made his pass and he was well aware that I was coming."

"I was the only one in the building that knew that one was coming," Ryan said. "That's why he's one of the best playmakers in the league."

GAME NOTES:
Anaheim was 10-4 without Getzlaf after he took a puck in the face during a game on Dec. 28 game. ... Canucks LW Aaron Volpatti replaced smaller Jeff Tambellini for added grit and toughness on the fourth line. Rookie D Chris Tanev took the place of Ballard, who will be out 3-to-4 weeks.

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

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf, from left, Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne, of Finland, celebrate Ryan's goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday Feb. 9, 2011.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

Game 55: Ducks @ Lightning 12.29.10

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net





OPINION:
For a game that was "pull your hair out, strand by strand" boring, it sure did get a little interesting at the end. Tampa Bay is a team that should be beaten with ease, but knowing the Ducks, they can never make their nights that easy. They had to bring Tampa to OT and a shootout, just to spice things up. They're never one to shy away from the dramatics. And who other than Wisniewski to save the day, again?! He's the new Anaheim shootout Guru. He was also the only one to have a goal for the Ducks in regulation too. Who would have known it? I'm glad he's being so clutch recently because I like him and he's been starting to get some flack for not producing. Well, he's producing now-- and in key moments.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Miracles happen," injured Anaheim right wing Teemu Selanne said while Wisniewski talked with reporters.

"Thanks Teemu," Wisniewski responded. "I would say something else, but you have 595 goals."

"We might have to stick with him," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "The guy won the last one for us, so if it's not broken, don't try and fix it."

"Both teams were playing pretty solid in the defensive zone," Hiller said. "It's fun to play that way. As a goalie, you'd rather have a 1-1 game than like a 7-7 game."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski (34) fires the game-winner past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Antero Nittymaki during a shoot out in an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 in Tampa, Fla.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

Game 55: Ducks @ Predators 2.5.09

Ducks Lose 4-2.

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GAME DAY QUOTES:
"The first goal bounces in off of our defenseman," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "It hits two or three people and then hits our defenseman in the foot and we're down 1-0. But we came back with a big goal. We played with everything we had. You have to like the effort of our hockey club."

"It's nice to go one full game and have some positives to build on," said Giguere, who stopped 30 shots. "I felt my energy was good. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a better second half."

“Especially in the third, I felt really good,” Giguere said. “In the third, it wasn’t a battle in my head. I was just playing and reacting and having fun, really. It felt good to be able to be on the ice and not think, just to play and react. It had been a while.”

Said Randy Carlyle, “Hopefully, it’s a starting point for Jiggy. He made some big stops. He gave us a chance, gave us everything he had. That’s a huge positive. It’s good to see him back in the net.”

“I blame myself probably,” Carlyle said. “I felt I should have called a timeout right when they got the penalty, just to reorganize, make sure everything was the way we wanted it. We had different personnel because Getzlaf was in the box.”

“I’m here to prove that I can stay here,” [Brown] said. “That’s basically where I can start, just playing the way I can play and play more than a hundred percent every game, every shift.”

“We’re close,” Giguere said. “It’s a matter of us battling a little bit harder in our zone not to give that extra goal, going to the net maybe a couple more times and creating a bounce for us. We’re really not that far. We just have to keep with the positives and try to push forward.”

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com and Ducks Blog at ducks.nhl.com