Ducks Gamedays -- Groundhog Weekend
by Earl Sleek on Jan 9, 2010 11:41 AM PST
244 comments
So in an admittedly lazy 2-for-1 gameday post last weekend, I opened thusly:
Saturday: Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators, 5 pm
On the Forecheck and Anaheim Calling.
Sunday: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks, 4 pm
Second City Hockey and Anaheim Calling.
Funny thing about these NHL schedule-makers: after the Ducks lost both of those games one week ago, they somehow get to do the EXACT SAME THING AGAIN this weekend. It's like a fucking glitch in the Matrix or something -- a chance to redeem past wrongs. It's a straight-out-of-Hollywood "what have we learned?" plot gimmick:
It was inevitable -- at some point I had to do a Bob Murray / Bill Murray crossover.
So sure, the Ducks lost both games last weekend by a collective score of 8-3, with Anaheim producing zero offense outside of the Brown-Nokelainen-Artyukhin line -- never a recipe for success. But now Getzlaf is back; Selanne is back; our boy Beleskey is a top-line contributor -- offensive lines seem balanced again, and it's a chance to do this weekend trip right!
If not, we may be cursed to replay this @NSH-@CHI schedule every weekend for the rest of eternity...
"Phil? Hey, Phil? Phil! Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!"
Man, the Ducks' power play sure is rotten, eh? Over the past nine games, the Ducks have played a total of 51:39 of 5-on-4 hockey and 2:30 of 5-on-3 hockey, and during that near-hour of man "advantage", Anaheim has been outscored two goals to one. Teemu's return is imminent, so that should help immensely, but c'mon, non-Teemus. You can still resemble competence.
Well, this image was originally about semi-retirement, but the power play woes keep it relevant.
Prediction: Ducks show improvement on the zero standings points earned last weekend, escape the Groundhog Weekend curse, and get to continue on with their regular NHL schedule. Teemu scores Anaheim's first power play goal of the new decade.
If plans hold, I should be around for both today and tomorrow's game comments -- both in this thread. Hooray for weekend laziness!
Go Ducks.
[LATE SATURDAY NIGHT EDIT: I'm amending this post to include the questions and answers for my brief interview in The Committed Indian, a fan-driven publication available at Hawks games. Feel free to respond their questions or my answers in the comments.]
First thing we have to ask is we've heard a lot about Scott Niedermayer having a down year, and the -12 certainly suggests that. What's going on? And is that the big reason you're 25th in goals-against?
Well, Scott is a year older and age is starting to show a little, but his +/- problems mainly stem from his new slew of defensive partners. The first half of this season, Scotty has paired up with eight different partners -- Sbisa, Boynton, Eminger, Festerling, Mikkelson, Whitney, Wisniewski, and Brookbank -- none of which were around at the start of last season, many of which are still very new to regular NHL action.
Generally, the quality and quantity of his minutes have been tougher than when he shared them with Pronger, and he's typically had to partner with whichever defenseman needed the most babysitting. The problem isn't that Scotty's skillset is worse than last year; it's that his job description has gotten tougher and even more demanding. He'll still be a valuable asset for Team Canada in Vancouver, though -- I'm confident in that.
This Dan Sexton is almost a point-per-game since he came up. Where did he come from?
To be honest, I had to look it up -- he played at Bowling Green University last year, apparently, and was signed by the Ducks in the summer. This kid is pretty good -- he brings a dogged puck pursuit, decent speed, and a Selanne-like willingness to shoot first. Unfortunately, at BoC we've already nicknamed him the "Registered Sex Offender", which probably isn't going away any time soon (we're jerks), but he's been a great fill-in winger on the second line. I'm not sure how much of his success I can contribute directly to his own talents, though -- linemates Saku Koivu and Bobby Ryan have been outstanding in the games where the Sex Offender has scored.
James Wisniewski was a bit of a false idol around these parts. What do Ducks fans think of him? Or are they still dizzy from the two goals he gave away in Game 7 last year?
It's a bit of a tricky question -- the "Wizard of Niewski" is definitely one of the best defensemen wearing a Ducks uniform this season, but that's not setting the bar very high. I definitely like his willingness to shoot the puck and his overall toughness, but then again there's a downside, too -- quite a few pucks tend to go off Wisneiwski and past our netminder. Ducks fans do appreciate his shot-blocking, but I think a lot of that is theatrics -- the guy seemingly gets injured once a game, but he usually plays on.
It's a tricky thing, trying to really hate Wisniewski -- even his G7 blunders are excusable. After all, the guy was playing after suffering a bloody lung contusion; he was wheeled off on a fucking stretcher in G3. The guy is sloppy heroism at its finest.
How does this Giguere-Hiller problem get solved?
I don't think it does -- nobody's sucker enough to take J.S. Giguere's contract off our books (well, I haven't entirely given up on Brian Burke yet). But his contract runs only one more year, so it's not the worst thing. As for who's the better goaltender, these days it's regularly Jonas Hiller, and it'll be interesting to see what sort of salary the Swissman gets next summer.
I hope it's affordable, because I think the Ducks are in for a season just like the Hawks were in last year -- paying two guys to be #1 goaltenders and waiting out a season to get some of that spending room back. Still, I don't mind sitting on Giguere's $6M cap hit for one more season, even if it's just for karma's sake. Anaheim's two most successful postseasons have occurred in Giguere's last two contract years (2003, 2007) -- maybe we'll get lucky again next season.
How much does the injury to Joffrey Lupul hurt?
I'm sure they've got him medicated to the point where the pain is manageable -- just kidding. :)
The loss of Lupul on its own doesn't hurt the Ducks very much -- an otherwise-healthy Anaheim roster really has enough scoring winger options in Perry, Selanne, Ryan, and now even the Sex Offender; if it were only Lupul hurt, Anaheim could still ice a capable top-six. The problem last weekend was that Anaheim was short Lupul, Selanne, and even Getzlaf -- the forward lines without those three becomes way thinner.
Really, the main problem that resulted from Lupul-and-Selanne's concurrent injuries was that in the follow-up roster-recovery haste, Kyle Calder somehow ended up on Getzlaf-and-Perry's wing on the top line, and he managed to neutralize all their offense. Did Calder really score 85 goals in a Hawks uniform? He didn't score one for the Ducks.
Obviously, the standings don't look pretty right now, but the Ducks were able to crash the party last season after a late-season revival. Can they and will they do it again?
Can they? I suppose, but I question whether the Ducks have enough top blueliners to really get it done. If they could find a way to add a top-three d-man and drop most of their blueliners down a slot, I'd have more confidence -- I do like how the forwards are shaking up and how Hiller has looked in net recently.
Will they? Of course they will -- Positivity! :) Watch your tailfeathers, injuns; Go Ducks.
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the Ducks have played a total of 51:39 of 5-on-4 hockey and 2:30 of 5-on-3 hockey, and during that near-hour of man “advantage”, Anaheim has been outscored two goals to one
wow, that’s absolutely disgusting.
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
Some of it is fluke for sure — during the drought, shots have been ANA 41 – opposition 11, which perhaps isn’t as lopsided as it should be but doesn’t really suggest that they should have been outscored.
But potting some goals with the shot advantage would definitely be nice.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Per ESPN
“A big Bobby Ryan trade could happen, if the Ducks keep faltering.”
Take it for what you will.
I deliver high-quality H2O
Buccigross at it again?
Uh, if it needs to be said, DO NOT trade that kid.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
seriously, I’d probably cry. I’d definitely feel your Pahlsson pain then.
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
I’m not even sure if it’s realistic — does Ducks management really want to piss on their fanbase like that?
Even if the team fails at winning, the Anaheim marketers must have some fucking clue at how frequently the fans like to yell “Bobby! Bobby!” more than almost anything else. It’s become the new “Refs you suck!” chant du jour.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Logan MacMillan FTW!
http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2010/01/09/macmillan-sent-home-following-dui-arrest/27059/
I deliver high-quality H2O
i’d much rather have healthy getzlaf over a good PP.
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
i like the abbreviation nokes..so much easier and faster to type..im stealing that from you
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 6:26 AM PST up reply actions
Seems like a pretty good first period.
Now just to avoid whatever happened last week after the Ducks had a 1-0 first-intermission lead on the strength of a fourth-line goal.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I know it’s still too early in the season to be watching the out-of-town scoreboard, but it’s nice to see Chicago leading Minny 3-1 near the end of the 1st.
That certainly has its upside, but don’t forget the Ducks play the Hawks in some 22 hours or so. Hope the Hawks are getting all the goal scoring out of their system tonight.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
LOL…yea, that was where my “no shit” came from…I should have clarified that a bit more!
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
GameCenter Live isn’t giving me the intermission stuff — I take it there’s been a scoring change? Did Teemu get a stick on the puck?
yea, just a bit…looked like it might have hit the post if it hadn’t hit his stick…
can’t you rewind? :)
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
Heh, yeah, but it takes a while to find the spot. But I found it eventually (after I’d posted, of course).
I have a tendency to answer my own questions after posting too! :) oh damn lack of a delete button!
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
OK, sent off my Chicago Q&A, one less distraction.
Damn, Teemu hit the post too? Whatta guy.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Does this mean that his hand had never healed properly from that surgery at the beginning of the season?
Could be — it’s really my question — hasn’t his hand been broken all year long? He’s been in fights where he couldn’t throw punches.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
well, I was under the impression he had surgery as well
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
Shrug — if I can tolerate it from Ducks fans, I can tolerate it from Preds fans.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Yeah, I know as a Ducks fans, I can’t complain about the behavior of other fan bases, but it still rankles.
rankles
I just have to share…this is one of my new favorite words lately…I actually laughed quite loudly when i read it!
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
Hahaha! Owen Nolan in the shootout and the Wild complete the comeback!
I dunno if this is good for us facing Chicago tomorrow — the 3-pt game doesn’t help — but it was fun to watch.
Plus I’m playing Josh Harding in a goalie-desperate league. Woo hoo!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
by Earl Sleek on Jan 9, 2010 9:14 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
FYI
I’ve amended the post above and added a Q&A that I did with The Committed Indian, a fan publication they sell at Hawks games. They wrote the questions, I provided the answers.
Feel free to criticize me or them here in the comments — how would you respond to their questions?
http://www.battleofcali.com/
How much does the injury to Joffrey Lupul hurt?
I’m sure they’ve got him medicated to the point where the pain is manageable — just kidding. :)
Watch your tailfeathers, injuns; Go Ducks.
You are one funny dude, Earl. And thanks for defending Scotty. Breaks my heart, how this season is shaping up for himdd.
Heh, yeah, in re-reading my responses this morning, I think it turned out pretty good. I do feel a bit sheepish about this section, though:
Unfortunately, at BoC we’ve already nicknamed him the “Registered Sex Offender”, which probably isn’t going away any time soon (we’re jerks)
I like how I sort of dragged the rest of BoC into this with me, but really it should say that I nicknamed him the Sex Offender and I am the jerk who won’t drop it. Sorry to sully everyone else’s good name. :)
http://www.battleofcali.com/
LOL, nah…it makes us feel like we’re all part of some deranged family or something. :)
GO DUCKS!!!
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SKeleven on Twitter
feel like? oh please … we ARE part of this deranged family
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Jan 10, 2010 7:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
i would like to nominate myself
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 6:31 AM PST up reply actions
you definitely deserve one of those titles………but only one.
Also who would be the drunk asshole uncle?
and the hot cousin you would bone if he/she wasn’t related?
this could be funny.
i love tapitio.
well, I think the red headed stepchild, OR the black sheep would have to be Ang. Only because she isn’t a Ducks fan. The drunk asshole uncle is definitely Rudy.
GO DUCKS!!!
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SKeleven on Twitter
The drunk asshole uncle is definitely Rudy
there has never been a more true statement
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 9:24 AM PST up reply actions
ok. so far the BoC family is:
Grandpa is Sleek.
Grandma is Sk.
Red Headed Step child is Ang.
Black sheep is Spade.
Drunk asshole is Rudy
Hot cousin is Grace.
there is many more BoC participants…….the list could go on, with the help of you guys.
i love tapitio.
hahaha
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
but its my family…sniffle sniffle
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
Great answers Sleek……..I would like to see how Hawk fans respond to your answers.
So who do we think is in net?
Hiller hasn’t been all that good in back2backs.
Giguere against a very talented Hawks is scary.
??/
i love tapitio.
I think that the decision was made once Hiller got the start yesterday. I’d be shocked if it wasn’t Giguere in net today.
Hope he has a groundhog breakthrough, too.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
by Earl Sleek on Jan 10, 2010 8:09 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I’d be shocked if it wasn’t Giguere in net today.
are you shocked? I’m not!
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
Yeah, Hiller has stunk regularly in b2b starts. More shocked at Hossa’s absense, though. That helps.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
By the way, Chicago announcers are awesome. I really wish we could trade Hayward/Bad Goatee for Foley/Eddie-O.
Kinda weird — we expected to see the chemistry develop btwn Teemu and Koivu, but Bobby’s really bonded with Koivu. Think Teemu’s feeling jealous?
Well, maybe if Sexton cools off, they’ll put Selanne back there? If Selanne is planning on making this his last season, I’m all for other players developing chemistry without him.
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
Good first period — much better than a week ago. Now let’s see if the Ducks can play with the lead against what should be a pretty pissed Hawks squad.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Hey I tune in and it’s 2-0 ducks against the Hawks!!!!!!!!!
Hiller’s in!!!!!!!!!!
and my fantasy team is ahead this week!!!!!!!!!
something is very odd……….are you guys playing a mean trick on me?
i love tapitio.
Insanely, Eminger has made more than one impressive defensive play this game — I’m warming up to him being a regular.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Call me crazy, but Mike Brown is one of the more impressive fourth line skaters.
"Concentration, not strength." - Gordon Bombay
by Wild Wing on Jan 10, 2010 5:33 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I love watching ducks hockey……but when we are up 2-0 against the Hawks I wish the game ended after 2 periods.
i love tapitio.
heil indeed
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 6:37 AM PST up reply actions
Beleskey may not keep his goal-scoring streak alive, but I think this may have been his best game of the past four — he’s done real well on the PK.
And as I type that — damn, they score. Go clock go.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I don’t like this “playoff” feeling during the middle of the season. This is too much!
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter
That might be one of my favorite empty-netters of all time.
And way to go, clock — you never stopped!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Hiller, you awkward bastard — your sheepishness isn’t Bryzgalov-crazy, but I like it.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
gotta love him…..he was trying so hard not to say “and yeah”, after everything. I think someone told him he did that alot.
i love tapitio.
wow … you guys beat Chicago?? trying to make a run for the playoffs are you?? :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Jan 10, 2010 7:13 PM PST reply actions
they should ….especally it being “hiller” whos playing well
just keep winning boys.you never know what could happen…our D still needs to step up though…hiller cant play like this every nite
would murray possibly try to get a D man somewhere?…theres gotta be a solid “odonell” type vetran somewhere to pluck
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 6:35 AM PST up reply actions
We probably need a few more wins (and a few regulation losses from teams above us) before Murray thinks of buying rather than selling. But from what I gather over at Anaheim Calling, there aren’t a lot of exciting defensemen who will be available as UFAs this summer. Wouldn’t it be great if Murray could pull off a trade for a top-3 D-man to give this team a boost now AND take a step towards replacing Scotty in the off-season?
Course, it’s scary to think what we might have to give up in order to make it happen. And I’m terrible at armchair-GMing. But I do like daydreaming.
just need someone that does not tryt o feebilly swing his stick to stop passes…we ened someone to get there nose dirty and clear suckers out…like odie used to do…he doesnt even need to skate all that great…whats kieth carney doing these days? lol..theres gotta be some guy out there..
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 9:35 AM PST up reply actions
would murray possibly try to get a D man somewhere?…theres gotta be a solid "odonell" type vetran somewhere to pluck
I just read that Sheldon Souray offered to waive his no trade clause if it would help the team and if the trade put him closer to his family. His family lives in Los Angeles.
No clue what we would have to give up to get him. His contract still has 2 years on it and he gets paid 5.4 million a year. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea or not, but I think that fits your veteran D-man bill nicely. =) At 6’4 233 pounds, I would hope that he would fit the grit role as well. I don’t know much about the guy. I’ve only seen him play when the Ducks play against the Oilers.
i just remember he seems to get a fighting major everytime he plays us..and he used to lead the leauge in D points or somthing years ago…yea what would be the cost?…would be nice to have him for 2 years though…since scotty is probally not back…well c…even in our wins our D has been horrible…goaltending is covering that up for now
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
He’s a costly and injurable option, but he’s sure as fuck a pain to play against.
It’s not a long gamble, though — maybe there’d be a way. Do they want Giguere? :)
http://www.battleofcali.com/
i just remember he seems to get a fighting major everytime he plays us
That sounds like it would be excellent for team chemistry. =P
He’s a costly and injurable option, but he’s sure as fuck a pain to play against.
It’s not a long gamble, though — maybe there’d be a way. Do they want Giguere? :)
Kind seems like he would be a duct tape fix for our Pronger syndrome. While that last line made me lol, it kind of makes sense to me. Seems like things aren’t really working out for either of them right now. Maybe they both need a different team to jump start them again.
Anaheim’s win gave head coach Randy Carlyle his 200th career victory behind the bench …
congrats dude.
i love tapitio.
the gorilla head gets his 200th….i shall send him a barrell of bannanas to celebrate
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 6:33 AM PST up reply actions
sleek would be a good luigi…with his green shirt…well paint a mustahce on him
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
thats a great nickname
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 9:44 AM PST up reply actions
Phil? Hey, Phil? Phil! Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!"
i like when he asked phil:
old friend of phil: so what are u doing for dinner this evening?
Phil: Somthing else
muhahahaha…..i wish i could be the big of dick to use that on someone…i would have just lied..
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
Jim Morrison quote
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 11, 2010 10:37 AM PST reply actions
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Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
|
82 | 51 | 20 | 11 | 113 |
|
Phoenix
|
82 | 50 | 25 | 7 | 107 |
|
Los Angeles
|
82 | 46 | 27 | 9 | 101 |
|
Anaheim
|
82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 89 |
|
Dallas
|
82 | 37 | 31 | 14 | 88 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 6:21 AM PDT)
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