Guess Who's Back?

I know, I know. I went MIA on you, and I apologize. And yes, I realize the 2010-11 Anaheim Ducks season ended abruptly on Sunday in an agonizing Game 6 defeat to Nashville. I just want you all to know, I'm still here. And this blog isn't dead yet. On life support, maybe, but it's not dead.

I got caught up in a bunch of traveling toward the end, but kept up with the Ducks myself. Sometimes a blog becomes low on priorities. I promise you all that when the season begins in October (IN FINLAND!) I'll be here with the graphics you know and love, and with as much dedication as I can give to a blog. Until then, let's go over what happened while I was MIA--

Since my last post the Ducks went on an incredible stretch run for the playoffs in only losing 5 more games total, and winning the rest, to finish with 99 points in the season and they leap frogged over Phoenix, LA, and Nashville for the 4th Playoff Spot. Not remarkable? Did I mention it took until the very last game against LA to do so? And took up to the 2nd to last game just to CLINCH a playoff spot? Pretty damn remarkable to me.

They met with Nashville for the 1st time in their Playoff history and ultimately fell to the divers, sorry, I mean Predators in 6 games. Now let's mention how many injuries they were dealing with in doing so-- Both Matt Beleskey and Toni Lydman are set to undergo shoulder surgery soon, and Lubo is plagued with BOTH shoulders being injured and he's unsure of what comes next. Hiller, as we all know went down with Vertigo and is STILL experiencing problems with it. We know Getzlaf and Emery were dealing with "maintenance" issues that stopped them from full practices with the team during the playoffs. Unknown still what they're dealing with.

I have to hand it to the Anaheim Ducks. Nobody thought they would make it to the playoffs before the season started, nobody thought they would make it with the way they started (Horrible!), and they fought until the literal very end to make it in, and not only make it in, but claim home ice advantage while doing so. In retrospect, I sort of wish they had let L.A. take 4th. I don't know what would have happened if we faced San Jose instead, but I know we have beaten them before-- and they had trouble taking L.A. down. Things might have been different. I might be updating about a 2nd round. I might still be bitter that they didn't make it out of the 1st round. One thing I'm not is upset. They exceeded all expectations this year, and gave us a bonus. That in itself, is nothing but a win.

Til next season -- Have a great off-season. And I'll be here, on Teemu Watch. That entry last summer involving Scott Niedermayer killed me. I'd rather not have to do the same with Teemu. I'm hoping my Teemu Watch ends with a "He's Back!" kind of post. We'll see! (A wise man once said, "Good things happen...when you believe") ;)

Games 59 - 62 Catch Up Post

Since ALL these games resulted in the L (and some pretty bad L's at that) I'm not going to waste my time with the fancy game day graphics or put myself through having to re-live them with the post game updates. I'll just post the final scores and say a 5 game losing streak is unacceptable right now. We'll get back on track tonight against Colorado.

Game 58: Ducks vs. Capitals 2.16.11

UPDATE: Hiller has been placed back on IR for at least 3 games (will not play tonight or go on the two game road swing this weekend). He had a reoccurance of dizziness/lightheadedness. Timo Pielmeier has been called up.

Game 57: Ducks @ Oilers 2.13.11

OPINION:
So many positives about this game, where do I even begin? I'll just roll with it. The Ducks got Hiller back from his mysterious injury/sickness and it couldn't have been any better of a game for him to come back for. Instead of facing a team that would pelt him with 40+ shots, he got to ease back into the game with a team that gave him 14 shots. And since it was only 14 shots Hiller earned his 5th shutout of the season.

Another positive is the Ducks played a full 60 minute effort, even against the Oilers. In past games they've been guilty of playing themselves down to the opponent and not taking the weaker teams seriously. And they got burned in doing so. Not this time. This time they went in to play hockey whether the Oilers wanted to play or not. And they got the result they wanted. Bobby Ryan had 2 goals on the night and was looking for his 3rd hat trick of the season. (Is it just me, or are Bobby and Perry in an unsaid competition on who can score the most hat tricks this year? No complaints from me, the more hat tricks the better, I say).

The Ducks sailed through this game and won 4-0 and ironically come home from the road trip a perfect 4-0. I said early in the season that if they could figure out how to win on the road, they would be fine. And ladies and gentlemen, I believe they have figured out how to win on the road. I'm looking forward to the final stretch.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Shot-wise it might have been one of the easiest shutouts of my career," said Hiller, who now has 11 for his career. "But not getting a whole lot of shots, does sometimes make it tougher to stay focused. They did have a couple of chances. There were a couple of odd-man rushes, and things like that, so it wasn't an easy night, but it wasn't a whole lot of work."

"When you score early like that, it really set the tone for us," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said.

"I thought we got guilty of being too cute at times, but then got a big goal and the game started to go in our direction and we were fortunate we caught a tired hockey club tonight," Carlyle said.

GAME NOTES:

• The Ducks outscored their opponents 16-7 on the road trip, which included shutouts at Colorado (Feb. 5) and at Edmonton (Feb. 13)...Anaheim is now tied for the division lead with Dallas (the Stars have one game in hand).


• The Ducks have won six straight games on the road, the longest current streak in the NHL and equaling the third-longest streak in the NHL this season. The streak is the club's longest road win streak since a six-game stretch from Mar. 19 – Apr. 4, 2009 (club record is seven games).


• The Ducks road trip sweep (Colorado/Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton) marked the third time in club history the team has won every game on a road trip of four games or more


• Selanne's goal was the 100th game-winner of his career...he becomes the sixth player in NHL history to achieve the milestone, joining Gordie Howe (121), Phil Esposito (118), Jaromir Jagr (112), Brett Hull (110) and Brendan Shanahan (109).


• The Ducks allowed only 12 shots tonight at Edmonton - the fewest shots allowed in a shutout in club history...the previous low was 14 (Bryzgalov, Oct. 28, 2006 at Chicago, 3-0 win).


• Anaheim has won four straight games overall…the team is 8-2-0 in the last 10 contests, 11-3-0 in the last 14, 14-4-0 in the last 18 and 19-8-1 over the last 28 games.

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

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Saku Koivu (11), Teemu Selanne, center right, and Jason Blake, right, celebrate Selanne's goal against Edmonton Oilers' goaltender Devan Dubnyk (40) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Edmonton.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

Game 56: Ducks @ Flames 2.11.11

OPINION:
These are the kinds of games that show a fan that their team is serious about wanting to win. The Ducks battled back from being behind twice in this game. They fought for every goal. They didn't give up when they went down. The climbed right back into it. These games are the games I love to see. It doesn't only boost the teams confidence to be able to come from behind and battle back to win, it boost the fans confidence in knowing that they can do it. I don't think I was the only one doing a happy dance in the living room when Teemu Selanne scored the tying goal that would send the Ducks to overtime, and I don't think I'm the only one who let out the loudest possible yelp when Cam Fowler (Get in on the #Fowler4Calder hash tag on twitter if you have one, this kid is worth it!) scored the winning goal with just seconds left in overtime. Amazing win by an amazing group of guys. This game has me saying: These Ducks are for real now. They aint playin' around no more. In it to win it.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Luckily it went in," the 19-year-old Fowler said. "I didn't get as much on it as I would have liked and it looked like it fooled him a little bit. They always say that backhanders are the hardest to stop."

"Cam Fowler is an amazing hockey player," said Selanne, who assisted on the winner. "It's unbelievable that young guys like that can come into the league and dominate in pretty much every area. If this guy doesn't win the Norris Trophy one day, it's going to be a crime."

"When we watch guys like Fowler and all the young guys play like that, we feel younger too," Selanne said.

"This was huge for us," Fowler said. "If we drop this one, Calgary jumps ahead of us in the standings and now we bump up to fourth. You can just see the degree of difficulty that's involved in a conference like this. Every game is huge and all the points matter and we're lucky to come out of here with two."

"Curtis has been real strong with us," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "He's had more of an opportunity with us than he had with the Flames because of the situation he's in."

GAME NOTES:
Calgary LW Alex Tanguay (neck) missed his second game ... Selanne's three assists gives him 690 in his career, moving him past Maurice Richard and into 53rd on the NHL's all-time list ... Calgary D Cory Sarich played in career game No. 800 ... Anaheim D Francois Beauchemin was in the lineup for the first time since Wednesday's trade with Toronto. Beauchemin spent four seasons with the Ducks before signing with Toronto as a free agent in July 2009. ... The Flames play in Vancouver against the Northwest Division-leading Canucks on Saturday night.

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

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne, right, from Finland, and Saku Koivu, from Finland, celebrate the team's win over the Calgary Flames during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. The Ducks won 5-4.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

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 54: Ducks @ Avalanche 2.5.11

OPINION:
Corey Perry. Corey Perry. Corey Perry. He single handedly won this game for the Ducks notching all 3 goals for his 2nd hat trick of the season and 2nd of his NHL career. Honorable mention to Curtis McElhinney who stood his ground minding the net for the Ducks for his 2nd shutout of the season and 2nd shutout for his NHL career. It was a good day for seconds and a great start to the road trip the Ducks will be on for 2 weeks.

POST GAME QUOTES:
"Unselfish," Perry said. "That's how we're continuing our success, unselfish play." [On Marchant giving up the opportunity to get his 1st goal of the season by passing to Perry so he could notch the hat trick with the empty net]

"We keep pushing, and guys are all getting together," said Perry, who has 28 goals and 28 assists in 54 games this season.

"The goaltending on our hockey club has been one of our strongest suits," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "Today is another example of proving that."

"I feel good right now. I feel comfortable," said McElhinney.

GAME NOTES:
Avs F Peter Mueller has resumed skating again. He has been sidelined by a concussion all season. ... Anaheim was the last Western Conference team to play Colorado this season. ... The Ducks have won eight of nine against Colorado. ... This was Anaheim's first shutout in Colorado since December 1998.

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

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks center Saku Koivu, left, of Finland, congratulates right wing Corey Perry, right, after a hat trick by Perry to win an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, in Denver . The Ducks won 3-0.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

Game 53: Ducks vs. Sharks 2.2.11

OPINION:
Well. 14 seconds was all it took. All it took to show Ducks fans that the Ducks thought they were still on break. Sorry Ducks, break is over. They figured that out by the 2nd period and almost fought back, but almost isn't good enough. A loss to another division rival and this one stings. It was enough for the Sharks to tie the Ducks in the standings while still having a game in hand. All we can do now is hope they lose that game in hand, and then lose some more, and hope the Ducks play just a smidge better and get back to winning.

It's no secret in Anaheim. The Ducks always, and I mean always, come out flat after the all-star break. They really don't do well with extended rest periods. Take last year's olympic break... it completely broke the momentum the Ducks were gaining and it resulted in an extended summer.

I always hate having to update the blog after a loss and it's not because I'm a sore loser. I actually try to employ Randy Carlyle's rule he has for his players. The 10 minute rule. I try to be over a loss within those 10 minutes and then focus on the next game, and then I come here and rehash the game and get upset all over again. Anywho... On to the next one...

POST GAME QUOTES:
"We were lethargic to start the game," Ryan said, "and going down 3-0 to a division rival is a tough hole to crawl out of."

Rookie Cam Fowler, who had a second period goal in the Ducks' comeback attempt, added, " I’m not sure if we were a little rusty after the break, but there are no excuses. We can’t have a start like that, especially in our own building. I thought our guys did a good job of battling back, but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough."

"When we scored there in the third, the whole momentum shifted," Ryan said. "We controlled the play for the better part of the third. They did a good job. They held onto a lead that they should have."

"We haven’t played that type of hockey in a long time," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. "But those are the things that you have to deal with. We’ll come to work tomorrow and prepare for the next one because we can’t do anything about the one that just went by."

GAME NOTES:
- Koivu's assist on the Ducks 2nd goal gave him his 500th career assist.

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

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Anaheim Ducks right wing Joffrey Lupul(notes) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011.(Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)

2011 NHL All-Star Game

2011 NHL Superskills Competition 1.29.11