Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the first round casualties of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs! Some are surprising (I'm looking at you Caps! You too, Jersey)... Others, not so surprising (Sup Kings?)
What a first round we all got to see, eh? I believe they labeled this years quarter finals the toughest in NHL history. I'm too lazy to fact check because I'm pretty sure I have read (and I'm also pretty sure I'm lazy, I've been up since 4am) that no other quarter finals has had every single series go tied 1-1 in the beginning. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong, but I'm sure I read that somewhere! (Oh hey Twitter... you're a great source like wikipedia!)
Sorry for this blog not being updated as frequently as normal!! Now that the season is over ( *sadface* ) I will have time to go back and update the older posts and get everything up to date. Life got a little busy, blogging wasn't on the priority list.
Since the Ducks aren't in the playoffs this year, UNFORTUNATELY, I don't know how I will go about updating the playoffs. I might do a weekly update, I might keep everything up to date, I might poke fun at the Kings, we'll see. ;)
As always, GO DUCKS, and it's time to look forward to 5 months from now when the next season gets going. Brace yourselves. It's going to be a long summer!
"It seemed like we were on a roll and playing well," said Todd Marchant of a Ducks team that had won four of its last five to make a last dash for the postseason. "Even tonight, we had a lead. But we just couldn’t keep it. We sat back a little too much and they took advantage of that."
"Today was a game that was very similar to many that we played this year," said Scott Niedermayer. "It was disappointing to let it game away. It’s been tough year. We’re disappointed that we’re in this situation. We’re not happy at all."
Added Perry, "We stopped playing that forechecking game that got us up 4-1. Those things you have to bring every night and stop doing. Maybe we sat back a little bit too much tonight and it hurt us."
"It’s been five years now since some of us have had this feeling, and it’s not a lot of fun," Marchant said. "We gave up too many points and too many games early on in the year. It’s tough. This is an awful feeling. I’ve only had a handful of times in my career. It is definitely a bitter taste that sits in your mouth all summer."
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 03: Saku Koivu #11 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal to tie the score 1-1 in front of Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Staples Center on April 3, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
"It’s a tough way to lose like that in a shootout," said Selanne, who had two goals on the night. "But what are you going to do? We played a pretty good game. A couple mistakes cost us a couple of goals. Overall, we had a chance to win. That is why it is a little hard to swallow this. That is how it goes."
"We came back and played well fighting to the end there," Koivu said "We needed two points, there is no doubt. Calgary won their game, so it’s a tough one. At this point, we have to forget this one as quick as possible."
"I’d rather not pass him and get these points to give us a chance," Selanne said. "What happened earlier in the season put us behind the eight ball. That is why we are where we are. We’ll just keep battling as long as we have a chance and see what happens. It’s tough to lose the one point tonight."
"Before this game, we had won seven out of nine, but the teams in front of us were winning as well," Koivu said. "Tonight was really the first one where we got some help. We’re trying to keep the focus on our game and our situation. We have to be realistic at this point. We can’t lose any points."
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Teemu Sealanne #8, Saku Koivu #11, Corey Perry #10 and Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Selanne's 602nd career goal in the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at the Honda Center on April 2, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
"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.
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)
"It’s incredible," Bonino said of the goal. "I’m happy I did at home and happy we got a win."
"When I get on this ice with Perry, Selanne, Niedermayer and Visnovsky out there, you really can’t do any wrong," Bonino said. "The puck just bounced to me. I was in the right place at the right time."
"He said he stills remembers his first goal," Bonino said of Selanne. "I told him I’d probably remember this one as long as I’m playing and as long as I live too."
Said Selanne, "The first NHL goal is always so memorable. I’m very happy he got it. You can already see what kind of skills he has. He is so calm. What amazes me these days about rookies, they are so ready right away."
"It’s been like this for a long time, chance after chance," Selanne said. "I really wanted to score, more so for Jari. He wanted to come here and see it happen. I was honored that he came. I’m so happy. It’s a long way [from Kurri's home in Finland,] but we’re good buddies."
ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 29: Nick Bonino (R) #63 of the Anaheim Ducks receives high fives from the bench after scoring his first NHL goal in the second period against the Dallas Stars at the Honda Center on March 29, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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This blog contains game day posts with all the details you need to know about the game, it features post game quotes from the players so you can get their point of view from the game, and in the off-season it contains news stories on a need-to-know basis. I might make comments here and there in some posts that should be considered MY opinion and/or point of view and should not be taken as FACT. I am not affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks team, I am just a fan of the game and a fan of the Ducks.
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