Game 34: Ducks @ Sharks 12.17.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net






OPINION:
I didn't go into watching this game with high expectations because I realize that the Sharks are a very dominant team (in the regular season) and the Ducks... they just aren't. Not this year. I wanted a win, every fan wants a win. I just didn't expect one. I could throw out excuses like it was the 2nd night of a back to back, it was a tough Sharks team, the Ducks were tired, etc. In fact I did just throw those out, but I wont hide behind them.

In a game that was 0 - 0 for what seemed like forever the Sharks broke through and rolled full steam ahead. The Ducks didn't get on the board until very early in the 3rd period while on a power play but it was all Sharks after. The 4-1 score is a little deceiving but it still remains a 4-1 score. In what's become characteristic for the Ducks they had a breakdown in the 3rd. I don't like that characteristic but it's theirs this season.

Once again, how unfortunate. I'm naming this season "The Unfortunate Season".

POST GAME QUOTES:
"When you play back to back games, sometimes energy can be a question," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "I don't think it was the energy issue. I didn't think we were emotionally involved in the game until later."

"I don't want to get in trouble or anything but I just finished my hit," Whitney said. "I didn't elbow him or hit him in the head. I didn't trip him, I didn't do anything and I get a roughing. I was pretty amazed at that call."

"We drew a power play and then we get taken out of a power play on a pretty difficult call to swallow," Carlyle said. "As a coach, when you're watching it on the replay, the penalty on a Whitney, that's just taking the body on a player behind the net. The other penalties were deserved."

Source for Quotes:OC Register

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere dives on the puck to save a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, in San Jose, Calif.(PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Game 33: Ducks @ Canucks 12.16.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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






OPINION:
I don't have a huge opinion on this game because I didn't SEE most of it. I was listening to it while trying to finish up my final project for one of my classes so I was a wee bit distracted. From what I could gather the Ducks had a strong first and second period. In the 3rd they were on their heels for a bit but Koivu knocked in the game winner and the win was ours! And thankfully without a stupid 3-point game. 2 solid points and a goose egg (points wise) for Vancouver. Just the way I like it.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"In this situation we're in right now, every win is important," said Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, who made 28 saves and came up big late. "We need to be able to win on the road especially."

"I think we were able to get some good work behind their net there," Koivu said. "I thought the defense was a little bit too aggressive. And then Sexton made a great play across the ice to Calder. "I don't know how he saw me on the back door there. And from there it was a fairly easy tap-in for me to get that goal."

"It's Teemu who?" Ducks coach Randy Carlyle cracked, talking about Sexton. "That's what I said to him the other day in practice. "If you saw the play on the power play, our big unit didn't really get much going and we got kind of frustrated on the bench. And they went out and delivered."

Source for Quotes:OC Register

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler, left, skates away as Anaheim Ducks, from left, Saku Koivu, of Finland, Dan Sexton and Bobby Ryan celebrate Ryan's goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.(PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

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 31: Ducks @ Red Wings 12.11.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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







OPINION:
I'm not going to go off on a long overly-winded rant about how much the ref's blew this game. I won't. I will just say that if the Ducks had 10 power play opportunities they would likely win the game too, and they probably wouldn't have to go to overtime to do it either. That's all I will say. 10 yes, I'd say half were legit, the other half were bogus. The ref that helped Detroit win it was his 2nd NHL game. He should not survive to his 3rd. Ridiculous.

On top of that this was yet ANOTHER 3 point game. (And looky there, Sharks and Dallas had ANOTHER 3 point game too...) The Ducks actually looked quite strong in the first two periods in spite of 6 penalty calls against them. They left the 2nd up 2 goals. The 3rd is another story. Detroit got to go on another power play and finally on their 7th opportunity they got one past Jiggy. Then they got ANOTHER opportunity and just as the penalty expired they scored. The game went to overtime with, yeah you guessed it, Detroit on the power play. That's where they converged for the game winner.

The Ducks meanwhile, had a whole 4 tries on the PP. 4.


POST GAME QUOTES:
"We had a 2-0 lead going into the third period and in the first two minutes we take an offensive zone penalty 200 feet from our net," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "And then take an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. How can you have a 2-0 lead with those kind of penalties? Just self-destructed."

"We took way too many penalties the entire game," Sexton said. "Five-on-five we had them pretty good."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks center Saku Koivu (11), of Finland, celebrates his goal with teammates next to Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Pick His NHL Team!

If you have a twitter, you must now go there and tweet @johntmeyer and let him know he should choose the Ducks as his NHL team.

If you don't have a twitter, you must now go to his website Pick My NHL Team and enter comments letting him know he should be a Ducks fan, and you can even include why if you want!

Both on Twitter and on his site, you can enter as many tweets/comments as you want and they all count as a vote.

Ducks were off to an early and large lead, but now the Oiler fans have started to catch up.

WHY are we trying to get him to be a Ducks fan? Here's the 411:


I need a favorite NHL team, so pick one for me!

Every comment on this blog, tweet to @johntmeyer, post on Facebook, and message on YouTube scores a vote for your team. Make your voice heard if you want your NHL team to win.

Game 30: Ducks vs. Stars 12.8.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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







OPINION:
Oy another 3 point game! But wow how this one showed up. Towards the end of the 3rd, when the score was still 3-2 in Dallas' favor, I was sitting in my seat and thinking to myself. My thoughts were along the lines of "come on this can happen, the Ducks CAN tie this game to send it to OT. They have had it happen to THEM so many times this season, if anyone knows how it can happen it's them! They CAN do this".

No less than a minute after those hopeful thoughts crossed my mind Sexton scored the game-tying goal. Sexton, who I favored since training camp not only because he reminded me of Andy Mac, but also because he hails from Apple Valley, MN. It's not my hometown, but it's close to my hometown of Eagan, MN. The closest a player on the Ducks has come to my hometown. I favor my MN boys. I also hold a soft spot for Carter for the same reason. I digress... anywho.. Sexton had his first NHL goal tonight, it was the goal that put the Ducks in the 3-2 position. He also had his 2nd NHL goal tonight, which was the saving grace for the Ducks.

Once they tied the game for overtime I was satisfied. Overtime could have been a win or loss, but they managed to get there after being down 3 to ZIP. But Koivu grabbed the 2nd point and then I became overly satisfied. And just so I don't feel like I'm leaving Lupul out, he deserves a nod too, since he grabbed the 1st Ducks goal when he stepped out of the penalty box. A great pass from Getzlaf sent Lupul on the breakaway where he not only managed to put the puck in the net, but he also got Turco in there too.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"This is unbelievable,” Sexton said to a TV reporter immediately after the game, barely heard above the roar of the Honda Center crowd. "We never stopped fighting and never got down on ourselves. To get the result feels great. It was super exciting.”

“I felt like I was dreaming,” Sexton said.

"Take my coolest previous feeling and multiple it by 10, if not more," Sexton said. "That is what it was. I thought we were due to score, but once it actually happens, you’re in shock. To get another one after that, it just felt like a dream. It was unbelievable."

"It felt great," Koivu said. "For my line and myself, there have been some chances in the last couple of games, but the puck hasn’t gone in. We were down early in the game and battled back. Getting the winner in OT, there is a lot of stuff you can build on and hopefully bring into the next game."

"The first two games I played here we lost in a shootout," Sexton said of losses to Minnesota and Ottawa over the weekend. "To win the game in overtime here, it’s just great. Our team has been working hard. Like Coach said, we came out a little flat in the first period. But to be able to respond from the three-goal deficit, especially after losing the last two games in heartbreaking shootouts, it just says a lot about your team. It’s something we can really build on."

"There have been a number of games where we felt that we played well enough to win games," Koivu said. "For some reason, we’ve been able to lose those points and those games. Now, coming back from behind and a big goal in the end by Sexton, those are huge things. Hopefully, this is a turning point and we can get a streak going."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Nick Boynton, left, greets Dan Sexton after his fist NHL goal in the third period against the Dallas Stars in a hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. The Ducks won 4-3 in overtime. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Game 29: Ducks vs. Senators 12.6.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 2 - 2
PERIOD 2: 2 - 2
PERIOD 3: 3 - 3
OVERTIME: 3 - 3
SHOOTOUT: 3 - 4






OPINION:
Still not a fan of the 3 point games but if it's the only way the Ducks are going to "earn" points this season-- no wait, yeah, I hate 3 point games. Ottawa would be first to strike tonight and the Ducks quickly answered. In fact, every goal Ottawa would score the Ducks would quickly answer, but the Ducks would never have a lead. That brought them to the shootout and in an interesting twist, Getzlaf (Yes, Getzlaf!) would be the only Duck to score while Alfredsson and Kovalev would score for Ottawa securing them the 2 points. *sigh* Another loss. Even if a point was gained, it still stings. Up next: Dallas.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We had a good game and some good chances," said Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. "I like the fact that every time they scored, we stood up and answered back right away. There are more positives than negatives."

"It’s hard to stay positive some times when things are not going your way," Giguere said. "The reality is we’re not that far off. We’re right there. It’s a turnover here, a bad goal here, one play in one game that makes a difference. We just have to make them go our way."

"The shootout can go either way," Perry said. "It’s a tough thing. If you win, it’s an extra point, but if you lose you don’t gain that point. We have to come back, be ready for tomorrow’s practice and be ready for Tuesday."

"It’s desperation for us right now," Perry said of a Ducks team that plays Tuesday at home against Dallas before heading out for four straight on the road. "We’re at the 30-game mark. We have to put something together and go on a run here or we’re going to be out of it pretty soon. Everybody has to come together and be a team in here. That is how we have to play."

Added Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, "It’s tough on everybody. You can’t live and die by every thing that goes against you. That is what the frustrating part is for your group. We battled back, had chances and then we don’t get it done in the shootout. We had our opportunities in the hockey game and didn’t get the job done. We lost a point in the shootout. These are the tough ones when you have to pick the group back up tomorrow morning and get ready for Dallas."

Source for Quotes: ducks.nhl.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Ottawa Senators defenseman Filip Kuba, left, of Czech Republic, steals the puck from Anaheim Ducks right wing Joffrey Lupul during the second period. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Game 28: Ducks @ Wild 12.4.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

PERIOD 1: 1 - 0
PERIOD 2: 2 - 1
PERIOD 3: 4 - 4
OVERTIME: 4 - 4
SHOOTOUT: 4 - 5






OPINION:
Furious. The Ducks had a 2 goal lead with less than 5 minutes left in the game and they blew it. Again. Remember the MN Wild game early in the season where they blew the 3-0 lead? This time they had a 2 goal lead with LESS THAN 5 minutes remaining and they BLEW IT. It speaks volumes when your fans can't feel safe when you have a 2 goal lead and blow it with less than 5 minutes left, it speaks even bigger volumes when you prove your fans were justified in feeling that way. Disgusting.

The Ducks had 2 players with 2 goals. Lupul (Welcome back, buddy) and Bobby Ryan.

POST GAME QUOTES:
“We’re missing opportunities to close out a team, like we’re missing a 4-on-3 in overtime,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “You can’t miss those opportunities to seize the extra point. It’s that simple.”

“It’s not the first one,” Anaheim captain Scott Niedermayer said. “It’s getting old, that’s for sure. You have yourself the lead late in the third, you should be able to get the win and two points in pretty much all of those cases. Once in a while, maybe not.”

Source for Quotes: sports.yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry, left, screens Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, right, of Finland, as the puck slides past Backstrom off a shot by the Ducks' Joeffrey Lupul during the third period. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Game 27: Ducks @ Stars 12.3.09

Graphic Credit: BuckyHermit @ duckscentral.net

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






OPINION:
Ducks got off to an early lead of 1-0 on a Koivu goal and.... not much else happened after. See, a lot of folks like their team to score first. Not I. Not this year anyway. The Ducks record is pretty much garbage when they score first, but that's not saying much since their record is garbage in any sense of anything. Anyway, they win more games than lose when the other team scores first, even if that winning isn't happening much. When the Ducks get off to a lead they go into an automatic defensive shell that they are not very good at. I don't see the point in defensive shells if you can't defend particularly well. But that's what the Ducks do.

On another note, I'm getting sick of the injury bug. It has plagued teams all over the league and it's had it's sights set on Anaheim for a while now. Lupul, Carter, Calder, and now you can add Teemu Selanne to the list. In tonight's game, where he was even questionable to play due to flu symptoms, Selanne got nailed by a slapshot in the hand and as a result, has a fracture and will be out 4 to 6 weeks. Gravy. He should have stayed in bed then we'd have only missed him for 1 game instead of 4-6 weeks worth of games, but that's the sport of hockey. Nobody could predict he'd get nailed by the puck. It's unfortunate. This season is unfortunate.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"They should feel like thieves right now to steal two points like that," Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski said.

"In the course of a career, you get all kinds of weird goals," Giguere said solemly. "That's one that ...it's a different goal for sure. I don't think it's anybody's fault. We're trying to do the right thing here, Wiz and I, and it just ..."

Source for Quotes:ocregister.com

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks center Saku Koivu (11) hugs right winger Evgeny Artyukhin (24) after a first-period goal in an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, in Dallas. (PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo Sports)

Out with the old, in with the new...

When things aren't going well for a team, changes start being made. After losing last night to the Kings, Ducks fans woke up to some movement in Ducks land.

For starters: The Ducks acquired center Kyle Chipchura (try to say that one three times fast) from Montreal in exchange for a 4th round draft pick in 2011.

Next: Brendan Mikkelson got sent down with Brett Festerling being called up.

And then: Erik Christensen was claimed off of waivers by the New York Rangers.

All this movement happened before the clock even struck 12pm.

In a bit of good news, Joffrey Lupul, who has been out with some pretty crazy back spasms, skated a full hour of practice today over at Anaheim Ice.

“It was nice to be back out there with the guys,” Lupul said. “A week ago, there was no chance I could be out on the ice. A lot of will depend on how I feel tomorrow. I have to see how my body reacts. I have my fingers crossed. I really want to be back as soon as possible. This is a critical time of the year for us.”

Phwew, that's enough moving for one day. The Ducks are back in action tomorrow in Dallas at 5:30pm.

The source for all of this information: ducks.nhl.com