Ducks Gameday—Five games to go, treacherous waters ahead
by Earl Sleek on Apr 2, 2009 7:32 AM PDT
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PrintAnaheim Ducks (bubble) at Vancouver Canucks (above the bubble)
To get baptized in the church of LuonGod, go visit Nucks Misconduct.
Here's a SleekToon representation of the Ducks' upcoming schedule -- a game tonight in Vancouver, then a home-and-home with the Sharks, with both Nashville and St. Louis hot on our tail.
Bird on a Wire
Tonight's foe is the Sundinified Canucks, who haven't allowed a visitor to take a standings point in more than two months (eleven home games)! They've held their last nine visitors to two goals or fewer. The Canucks have plenty of reason to battle tonight, also -- they hold a one-point lead in the Northwest Division over Calgary, and failing that they have a zero-point lead over Chicago for home ice in the first round. They won't be feeling charitable to the points-seeking Ducks, it appears.
Both teams enter tonight's contest having won 8 of their last 10 games. The Canucks outscored their last ten opponents by a 33-19 margin, utilizing a 23.9% power play and a 90.6% penalty kill. The Ducks outscored their last ten opponents by a 36-23 margin with a 32.1% power play and an 82.1% penalty kill.
It looks like it could be an epic game (it may not even be boring -- in the season series so far both teams are scoring 4.33 goals/game), which of course means that real life is requiring that I miss it. Still, feel free to stop by in the comments and see if these late-charging Ducks can pull off another stunner, or if the weight of carrying one's own fate is too much for them (for the western bubble, controlling your own fate is like Hot Potato -- nobody seemingly wants it for very long).
Special side note to Chris Pronger: Please pay special attention to where you set down your skates tonight -- don't want to step in any Keslers like last year!
Prediction: Pronger gets booed.
Go Ducks (and for tonight, go Sharks and Wings)
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Nice work to try to make a blue note look as intimidating as a sabretooth cat, killer whale, and shark.
It was a solid prediction for Tuesday as well…
It’s usually a solid prediction actually.
GO DUCKS!! DUCKSandPUCKS.com
Yeah that seems as evergreen as you can get. I think you can put Avery and Bertuzzi in that same group.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 2, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions
well heres some positivty…the ducks seem to well as “streak busters” so maybe we bust this home winning streak of the nucks..
this is gonna be like fridays edmonton game i bet…
gonnna hit some wine tonite….and the comments later…
p.s. the blue does look menacing…but i think id rather go towads the blue note and take my chances that way….than the fangs of the predator or jumping in the water….that also coiencides with how fearsome the actual teams themselves are…hmmmmm
throw the note to the hungry fish below
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 9:07 AM PDT reply actions
throw the note to the hungry fish below
Then when they’re distracted, stab each of them with one of the Predator’s front teeth.
Problems solved!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
your skipping the problem of getting the predators teeth….i think youll need more than a hockey stick….maybe you hire a poacher to kill the cat and sell u the teeth…..then proceed to stab the fishes to death….or go mobey dick and harpoon those fuckers
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess I was counting on the extinction of the sabretooth species to make things easier. :)
http://www.battleofcali.com/
i was gonna say somthing to that effect….but couldnt figure out how to articulate that…
goonna say….just tell the abretooth cat…hey asshole you dont exist anymore….that sounded stupid then…and it does now…tee-hee
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s a duck!!!!
Why doesn’t he just fly away??
Go Ducks (and for tonight, go Sharks and Wings)
Hell yeah!
I scored two shorthanded goals in my beer league game last night Earl. I think I could be your new Sami Pahlsson. Huh? Huh?
speaking of that..sami scored last nite…
how do u react to that mr sleek?
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions
cause his wings have been clipped
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Hmm, Sammy was an ace PKer, but that rarely translated into SHGs. You’re my Marchant, though, whose heroism on the PK got a half-page spread in the OC Register today.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
He was good on faceoffs too, wasn’t he?
I’m embarassingly bad at them. Consequently, I mostly play defense or left wing. I’m honestly ashamed at how terrible I am at faceoffs.
do the nhl hits style faceoff winning….push the guy and kick back to your teammate….or slip slyly thru your legs….always seemed to work for me….setting yourself on fire…though might be more problematic
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Most guys in my league are suckers for just bumping it behind them and collecting it from there.
UNRELATED: Handel is the most overrated composer ever...
A lot of what we do on my team isn’t even actually winning them back, its hitting it forward and having one of the wingers take off on the faceoff so he’s in position to get it.
This post needs more Star Trek fight music.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
Go Ducks (for tonight too)!
Sharks fan, but need Luongo to lose and Hiller (assuming he’ll start) to win for Fantasy purposes. Great toon too Sleek.
Heh, we’ll do our best — I think it’s a fairly safe bet that Hiller gets the start tonight, but with Carlyle, a “safe bet” is somewhere in the neighborhood of 52% likely.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
According to the title of this OC Register blog post, Hiller indeed is getting the nod tonight.
It does suggest (probably rightly) that Giguere will get the nod for one of the Sharks games this weekend. If you were coach, would you throw Giguere in Saturday in SJ or Sunday in Anaheim (or would you wait to see what happens tonight with Hiller)?
No wrong answers. Except for “start Giguere twice”. :)
http://www.battleofcali.com/
No wrong answers. Except for "start Giguere twice". :)
yes, that would be the wrong answer for sure!
I would start Hiller for the first…with hopes that he kills it…and then think about starting him again the second night.
Although, IF Jiggy has to play in one of the two, it might be better to not have his hometown fans boo-ing him, which I’ve heard has been a trend lately.
GO DUCKS!! DUCKSandPUCKS.com
thats because we dont win when he’s in goal.
but booing him isnt gonna boost his morale.
hooked on quack
but booing him isnt gonna boost his morale
which is why IF we had to play him…it’s probably better he goes first. Although, getting beat IN San Jose wouldn’t do much for the entire teams morale for the second night. ALTHOUGH…them winning could be the cause of too much comfort…
see, it’s a big back and forth battle. I’m glad I’m not the coach!
GO DUCKS!! DUCKSandPUCKS.com
Although, IF Jiggy has to play in one of the two
I don’t know if we should be thinking about this with that much dread. The upside to having a playoff-ready Giguere is unbelievably high, especially if we’re planning on opening in Detroit.
Let’s put it this way. I am less scared of playing Giguere twice this weekend than I am going into the postseason with no hope of playing Giguere.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Well the problem with that is that we’ve been waiting to see Jiggy all season. While yes, I agree his playoff form is much better than regular season…what if he is the same guy we’ve been seeing all year?
With Hiller playing better right now…it’s probably better to be warming him up for the POTENTIAL post season???
GO DUCKS!! DUCKSandPUCKS.com
I guess my point is, if Giguere doesn’t play another minute this season, I don’t think we should be putting him in for the postseason. And that is a killer.
Hiller is definitely the goalie who’s playing better, and he’s definitely got the inside track to start G1 of the playoffs, but he’s never eliminated the Red Wings. Giguere’s 2-for-2 in that regard. To not have him available in the postseason (or at least if his last appearance is 3 saves on 7 shots) probably isn’t ideal.
Remember, no goaltender since the lockout has won 16 postseason games in a playoff year. I’m not holding my breath that Jonas Hiller becomes the first.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I guess my point is, if Giguere doesn’t play another minute this season, I don’t think we should be putting him in for the postseason. And that is a killer.
Lets throw him in against Phoenix then. :)
GO DUCKS!! DUCKSandPUCKS.com
It’s possible. Hard to believe, though, that a goalie who has allowed one goal in more than 250 minutes of playoff overtime can’t get a quality start down the stretch.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
You guys make me sick
Having a goalie who has one of the most clutch playoff performances in league history, giving away a great backup in Bryz, and now you’re trying to get your newest backup a starting job in the playoffs.
Ugh, I wish the Wings had real goalies.
Ugh, I wish the Wings had real goalies.
You might be the only one. Of course, the battle to afford Hossa / Franzen / Hudler would be a lot more interesting next summer if some serious money were being devoted to Detroit’s crease.
But yes, Anaheim fans are definitely goalie-spoiled. Giving Bryzgalov away for free didn’t hurt NEARLY as much as it should have.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I’ll tell you right now, I know that one of them won’t be staying. In fact, it would be pretty good odds that two of them won’t. We’ll be right up against the cap again, and still not have any goaltending. I can’t decide if I’d have rather see a trade of one of the guys we’re going to lose this summer towards a goalie, or just say to hell with it, throw Jimmy Howard in there and tell him to sink or swim, and maybe give Larsson a chance too. I’m kind of curious to see how they deal with the whole situation, it should be interesting.
Fucking figures. 5-4 loss, and Backes gets four goals.
I’m going on a road trip to Anaheim. I’m going to kidnap Jonas Hiller and stick a Wings jersey on him. Then on my way out of town, I’m grabbing Earl and throwing him in the trunk, so I can make him start drawing cartoons to improve the Wings rather drab portion of the blogosphere.
you cant have either!!!…but we love the respect fo sho…we rooting for the wings tonite…(i wanna throw up just writing that)
not too mention…you have our old coach.,…you got enough ex-ducks
you guys are gonna fine..your just bored like the lakers…nothing to play for
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions
eeeeee ooooooo oooooooooo eeeeeeee
bum bumbumbum bum bum bum
Southern California, the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the Anaheim Ducks; their continuing mission: to explore strange new defensive systems, to seek out new hockey fans and new suspensions… to boldly hoist trophies no California team has won before.
BUM BABABA BUM BUM BUM
DADADADADA DUM DUM DADADA DUM
to boldly hoist trophies no California team has won before
where were you in 2007?
GO DUCKS!! DUCKSandPUCKS.com
Yeah, the Ducks hoisted a trophy that no Cali team had hoisted before.
Just like the Enterprise. Only with Europeans instead of aliens (is there a difference?).
I believe aliens have a less complicated transfer agreement with the NHL.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
aliens also use deoderant….dont ask me how i know….
i just want point out euros stink
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
It could be, I guess, if you want to continue winning trophies no California team has won before.
But we all know thats not gonna happen. bahahahaha
Jeez, there’s probably tons of trophies CA has never won. I can’t really think of a Norris winner, a Selke winner, a President’s Trophy, a Jennings Trophy, or a Jack Adams. Correct me if I’m wrong, I guess, or if I’ve missed any.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Rob Blake won the Norris when he was with the Kings back in 1998. And, according to Wikipedia, Bob Pulford won the Jack Adams back in 1975 when coaching the Kings. So, two trophies down.
Unless, of course, we’re not counting the Kings.
if that tune stays in my head all day, I will hunt you down and skin you alive!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
So how about my University of Michigan boy Al Montoya gettin a SO in his first NHL game last night? I was amazed to find out that it was his first actual playing time in the NHL, being a former #6 overall pick in 2004, and he never actually got a chance on the ice.
In NHL 2K8, he was always my backup goaltender, and I would put him in and he was absolutely dominant for some reason, even though he was only like a 77. My roommate was at the game last night, and we were joking after the game that maybe I was on to something there. Gotta love video game heroes that don’t translate as well into real life, huh?
Gotta love video game heroes that don’t translate as well into real life, huh?
Todd Marchant has been a prime example of this in probably the last half-decade of video game titles. Nobody seems able to program in his incredible lack of hands — he’s a goddamn digitized puck-wizard, he is!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Go Ducks (and for tonight, go Sharks andWingsBlues)
Fixed
resident cartoonist @couchtarts.blogspot.com
Seriously. It took me a lot of courage (drinking) to muster up the ability to type those very unnatural and quite unholy words.
But maybe it’s a good sign — Sharks fans want a very big cushion on that President’s Trophy before playing the Ducks twice, it seems.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
They’d crap their pants if it we beat them twice to keep them from getting it.
I figure as long as we don’t go pointless against the Sharks we’ll still be in good position to make the ’offs (thats my new abbreviation).
Nobody cares about your opinion.
woohoo!!!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
O’Brien is saying that the Canucks are a little sacked after their road trip. The start of this game may dictate all.
I hope the Sedins and Burrows are in a duck-hunting mood.
Die Ducks!
all right im in.....and
drunk as fuck…looks like the wine did the trick this time…never fails…
go ducks go!!!
p.s.
expect a lot of mispellings
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 7:05 PM PDT reply actions
gotta make up for sleekster not being here…wassup grace
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions
off of perrys ass…..great start!!!! woot woot
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions
kick his ass brookbank!!!!!
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 7:32 PM PDT reply actions
yo mikalsson…did the canucks pay u to take out hiller?
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I expect a play by play since I’m watching the Sharks game … so speak all at once
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 8:10 PM PDT reply actions
what?!?! it was just 2-2 a moment again on NHL scoreboard thingy
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions
you nailed it tu madre
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
and PK?? they do realize these last few games matter …. right??
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
well other than the ones they play the Sharks that is … :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
damn..me and you are thinking alike today
holy shit is right
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Haha, I was actually taking a drink and almost sputtered it all over my screen/keyboard.
Okay, for the third period, I’m calling 4 goals per side. Then a 20-round shootout. Gets to the point where the goalies have to take shots.
then jiggy and whomever the backup goalie to the nuck takes a shot…after that dave ferrish….etc….till they get to janitor….then they start pulling out radom..fans….its true..i read it no where
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions
the ducks arent…proud of them…for not laying down
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions
give them a chance…they still might
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions
ducks look like they want it….havent seen this is such a long while…..thats some positivty…
damn earl were the fuck are you
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Das lie. :)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 2, 2009 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions
hey we need this game asshole..not you
sorry…passionte ducks fan here
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions
ok u have a good reason to hate us..it take it back
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions
i….i….damn it earl….get a edit button..on this bitch
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions
woohooo!!!!
so now to watch the crazy game going on here!
SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 8:59 PM PDT reply actions
hmmm OT??
granted 5 minutes left … but seems neither wants to leave the game without pts
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions
oops! sorry!!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions
am I off the hook since you didn’t lose in regulation?? :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions
whew!!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Apr 2, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions
we needed that one point….lets hope we get that next
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Man, I hate to say it but, those Sedin brothers play good hockey.
I get nervous when they have the puck.
Let’s go Hiller!
hooked on quack
fuck yea!!!!!!!!
perry….shoot out goal!!!
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 2, 2009 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Sounds pretty awesome. I was sweating it out periodically on my cell phone.
From my post above:
It looks like it could be an epic game (it may not even be boring — in the season series so far both teams are scoring 4.33 goals/game)…
I can’t believe that number actually went up for both teams. Insane.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
okay. clearly i need to never do my madness with the liveblog deal ever again. i should just pop on over here and join the wild party that goes down in the BOC.
--Finny @ www.girlwithapuck.com
Hey, JavaGeek is operational!
And per his latest post, there’s now a 2% likelihood of a Vancouver-Anaheim first round match-up.
Wouldn’t that be a hoot?
http://www.battleofcali.com/
can we be positve yet sleek?
i predict we can at least split these 2 sharks games….
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 3, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Beautiful game recap from Jonas Hiller
From the OC Register:
“It was Halloween last time, and probably a late April Fool’s joke this time.”
Pretty much nails it. Nice use of American holidays, Hiller.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
yea man…where were you?
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 3, 2009 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
im tyrying to avoid getting dragged to a party on saturday….really rather watch the ducks game…so 50-50 if ill be here saturday
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 3, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
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