Phoenix Coyotes (27-35-3, 14th in west) at Anaheim Ducks (39-17-11, 3rd in west)
I am drunk, tired, stupid, and out of town (not in that order, though; ‘tired’ should be first), so this will be a quick one.
Since the lockout, the Phoenix Coyotes have played the somewhat-Mighty Ducks 14 times. Once they managed to beat Anaheim in regulation, once they managed to beat Anaheim in overtime, once they managed to lose to Anaheim in overtime, and eleven times they have been beaten in regulation. 5 measly points in 14 games.
Who in the west has less points against the Ducks in their matchups since the lockout? Two teams—Vancouver only has picked up 4 points in 7 regular season matchups, and Chicago has only picked up 4 points in 6 regular season matchups, so should either team lose the next 7 or 8 Duck games in regulation, they will be sub-Phoenixian (but we won’t be able to declare this for at least two years).
Without a lot of fanfare, though, the Ducks secretly have gone 6-1-3 in their last 10. Two fun facts, since it appears all-but-certain that Anaheim will have a postseason:
Prediction: Ducks 5, Coyotes 3. Goals by Getzlaf, Perry, Pahlsson, Beauchemin, and Thornton.
p.s. Lone dog blogger One Fan’s Perspective has an excellent Behind-The-Blog post at BTJ.
[Edit from the airport: first off, Pronger seems to have hurt his toe in the two-week variety, so Beauchemin's spleen and Giguere's groin are now on high alert. Secondly, MOTHERFUCKER!!! Remember the days when a 2 1/2 hour flight didn't take ALL FUCKING DAY?!!!!]
I am drunk, tired, stupid, and out of town (not in that order, though; ‘tired’ should be first), so this will be a quick one.Since the lockout, the Phoenix Coyotes have played the somewhat-Mighty Ducks 14 times. Once they managed to beat Anaheim in regulation, once they managed to beat Anaheim in overtime, once they managed to lose to Anaheim in overtime, and eleven times they have been beaten in regulation. 5 measly points in 14 games.
Who in the west has less points against the Ducks in their matchups since the lockout? Two teams—Vancouver only has picked up 4 points in 7 regular season matchups, and Chicago has only picked up 4 points in 6 regular season matchups, so should either team lose the next 7 or 8 Duck games in regulation, they will be sub-Phoenixian (but we won’t be able to declare this for at least two years).
Without a lot of fanfare, though, the Ducks secretly have gone 6-1-3 in their last 10. Two fun facts, since it appears all-but-certain that Anaheim will have a postseason:
- This (so far) is the first time in Anaheim history that the Ducks have qualified for the postseason in consecutive seasons.
- Randy Carlyle (so far) is the first head coach in Anaheim history to stay with the team long enough to have a second playoff run with the team.
Prediction: Ducks 5, Coyotes 3. Goals by Getzlaf, Perry, Pahlsson, Beauchemin, and Thornton.
p.s. Lone dog blogger One Fan’s Perspective has an excellent Behind-The-Blog post at BTJ.
[Edit from the airport: first off, Pronger seems to have hurt his toe in the two-week variety, so Beauchemin's spleen and Giguere's groin are now on high alert. Secondly, MOTHERFUCKER!!! Remember the days when a 2 1/2 hour flight didn't take ALL FUCKING DAY?!!!!]