Is this a "do or die" homestand for the Ducks?
by jamestobrien on Nov 17, 2009 3:26 PM PST
17 comments
(I figured putting this up as a Fanpost would allow me to avoid stepping on Sleek's toes? Maybe? Nah, just the fact that I barely research such points will be the best antidote.)
So last year I leaned very heavily on team schedules while "handicapping" the Western Conference playoff bubble. My thought was: all these teams are separated by such a narrow margin that merely whom they play and where they play those games would probably make the difference once the lower seeds were decided. That proved to be (fairly) accurate.
My ears perked up when I heard something on NHL on the Fly last night: the Ducks might be in Chinese Fire Drill Panic Mode right now, but they have one thing going for them: a gigantic seven game home stand starting Thursday.
Here's their schedule, copy-pasted lazily from the Ducks' page:
| THU NOV 19, 2009 | LIGHTNING | DUCKS |
7:00 PM | PRIME(HD) | TICKETS | ||
| SAT NOV 21, 2009 | SHARKS | DUCKS |
7:00 PM | PRIME(HD) | TICKETS | ||
| MON NOV 23, 2009 | FLAMES | DUCKS |
7:00 PM | KDOC | TICKETS | ||
| WED NOV 25, 2009 | HURRICANES | DUCKS |
7:00 PM | PRIME(HD) | TICKETS | ||
| FRI NOV 27, 2009 | BLACKHAWKS | DUCKS |
1:00 PM | PRIME(HD) | TICKETS | ||
| SUN NOV 29, 2009 | COYOTES | DUCKS |
5:00 PM | TICKETS | |||
| DECEMBER 2009 | |||||||
| DATE | VISITOR | HOME | TIME (PT) | TV NETWORK/RESULTS | |||
| TUE DEC 1, 2009 | KINGS | DUCKS |
7:30 PM | PRIME(HD) | TICKETS  |
||
Is it that ridiculous to say that this might be the moment that makes or breaks the Ducks as a playoff team?
Beyond playing seven straight games at home, none of them are back-to-back games for Anaheim. Now, some of you might be half-pissed that this trip is coming now. After all, the Ducks are playing obscenely bad hockey right now and this might be the exact time for them to crap themselves when they could collect points in big greedy handfuls.
Granted, at 4-6, the Ducks aren't exactly "protecting their house" like some jacked up dude wearing overpriced underwear but based on their horrific roadtrip (gaining 1 point in 4 games, being outscored 18-9, but you knew that already right?) it couldn't get much worse.
Three games against Pacific opponents, two games against some of the weakest teams in the Eastern Conference ... there's a lot to like about the Ducks' upcoming run.
Just some food for thought, kids.
(Oh, and since you insist on knowing about CLS, the blog's moved to bloguin. But we can still be friends, right?)
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hey im always down for positivity
make or break sounds about right though
Ducks blow old goats right now but....GO DUCKS!!! for shits and giggles!!
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Nov 17, 2009 3:28 PM PST reply actions
also suck you wont be joining us for drunkfest 2009…wont be the same without your antics..you will be sorely missed my friend
Ducks blow old goats right now but....GO DUCKS!!! for shits and giggles!!
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Nov 17, 2009 3:29 PM PST reply actions
I might not be there for drunkfest 2009, but if two or more Cali teams make the playoffs this year (and the stars align money and other stuff wise) I’ll probably be down for another trip. Actually, my first real whiff of Cali left me considering a move at some point … so who knows?
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
Is it that ridiculous to say that this might be the moment that makes or breaks the Ducks as a playoff team?
Nope, the only part that may be incorrect is that the Ducks may have been broken well before this homestand — a failure here would just be an extension of the old failures.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Yeah, you’d think they couldn’t dig themselves a bigger hole than they did last season but that apparently was just an appetizer.
Question: can any of this be blamed even slightly on coaching? It seems like the Ducks are often sloppy and while that’s probably as much to do with personnel as it is with preparation … I cannot help but wonder.
Of course, we could all just blame Ryan Whitney.
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
by jamestobrien on Nov 17, 2009 3:53 PM PST up reply actions
anaheim calling blames barstool bob murray…
me not sure…earl needs to do one of his phscyo anyalsis…of course everyone has to bear some of the blame…but i bet some our more to blame than others…
Ducks blow old goats right now but....GO DUCKS!!! for shits and giggles!!
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Nov 17, 2009 3:58 PM PST up reply actions
I think we’re about to pull off a 20-game win streak, except by “streak” I mean “season”.
Lol, just kidding. This post was a complete lie.
by brokenyard on Nov 18, 2009 4:46 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
This is in no way a “do or die” homestand. I think the Ducks have already made it quite clear that they have chosen to just die a slow and painful death.
While you’re most likely right, things didn’t look too great for them last year and somehow they woke up right in time. They could make up some serious ground at home.
Do I think it will be enough? Eh …
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
by jamestobrien on Nov 19, 2009 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
things didn’t look too great for them last year and somehow they woke up right in time.
Last year’s team never had playoff odds in the single digits. They kept with the pack, and were never in danger of dropping to 15th.
Plus that team had Pronger. Night and day.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I hear you Sleek and CO. Just saying, if they have any prayer it’s by cleaning up on this home stand.
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
by jamestobrien on Nov 21, 2009 7:19 PM PST up reply actions
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