Oh well, finally back writing after my long hiatus. So sorry about that, hopefully I have more time writing from now on. I'm a positive guy so I think that's going to happen. Also, I still have this 'weird' positive feeling about the Ducks playoff chances this season. I don't honestly know why, but Avs are very young team, as their experience is more on the back-end (Guys like Foote, Salei and Hannan) but up front they are lead by young forwards, who may falter now that the regular season is in it's climax. So let's hope I'm right about this and we will see playoff hockey this season in the Honda Center, okay? :)
So...about this game against the Avs. Needless to say, this is a must win game for the Ducks to keep their slim playoff chances alive. On the other hand, for Colorado, this is a great chance for them to solidify their playoff spot in the Western Conference. I expect tight, physical hockey game which could go either way (wow, that sure sounds like the description of any NHL game). This is the final meeting of these two hockey clubs this season, and so far the Ducks have fared well against the Avs, winning 2 out of 3 so far. Hopefully the Ducks can make it 3-1 tonight.
Few words about the Ducks trade deadline acquisition Aaron Ward. Currently, he's out with bruised foot, after blocking a shot in the game against the Oilers. He might suit up tonight though, as he is with the team on this short road trip. The 37 year old veteran might be looking retirement after this season, like the article says. Personally I feel after watching Ward with the Ducks in these 11 games, I think still has some gas left in the tank and he might be come back next year. Remains to be seen does it happen with the Ducks or somewhere else. I've gotta say, I've been impressed positively (damn, how much optimism a person can have?) with Ward's play. He's making the simple play (always), he's pretty tough around the crease and is playing like a veteran defensive defenceman should play. If he can take a big paycut, I wouldn't mind seeing Ward again next season. Show them old guy!
Anyway, here's to a exciting game and (hopefully) my return to blogging about your favorite hockey team around, the Anaheim Ducks.
GO Ducks & their next to nothing playoff chances, go go GO!
Showing posts with label Preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preview. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Preview: Colorado Avalanche @ Anaheim Ducks (March 3rd 2010, 7:00 PM (PT) @ Honda Center)
So, a lot has happened since the last time I wrote something in here. Canada took gold in the Olympics. And..yeah, that's it. Now back to NHL where the Ducks still try to capture playoff spot in the tight Western Conference after thr Winter Olympics break. Trade Deadline is now ahead of us and I for one, am interested to see how the Ducks GM Bob Murray is going to address the issues on Ducks defence-corps. He has now shipped Boynton to Chicago & Arty back to East to the Atlanta Thrashers. Also, he traded Steven Kampfer to Boston Bruins for a draft pick. This Ducks team still has too many forwards and look for maybe couple of those guys to be traded before the deadline is over. But still, today is first of many important gamedays ahead of us, and pretty much a must win, like always. Hopefully the guys can start a bit of stretch run here, and start building up the W's. Not much else to say about this game, Avs dropped to Detroit (Fuck) 3-2 on their home ice this Monday, their first game after the break and they likely are determined to get a win here today, so they don't fall behind on the Northwest division title race.
Anyhoo, Congrats to Ducks Olympic medalist's, total of 7, which ties the NHL record of most Olympic medals by one team. This it for now, as I've been incredibly busy the last week or so, look for more post's days ahead, when I get my schedule back in order :)
GO Ducks!
Anyhoo, Congrats to Ducks Olympic medalist's, total of 7, which ties the NHL record of most Olympic medals by one team. This it for now, as I've been incredibly busy the last week or so, look for more post's days ahead, when I get my schedule back in order :)
GO Ducks!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Preview: Anaheim Ducks @ Edmonton Oilers (14th February 2010, 4:00 PM (PT) @ Rexall Place)
I only got one wish for this team before some of the players head on to Vancouver's Winter Olympics, and some start to enjoy this rare 2½ week vacation. Play good, solid hockey for the full 60 minutes. That's all i ask. Last year, when the Ducks kind of sucked, (before they made their late season surge) well at then, they still played hard the whole match. They didn't have all the world's skill in their offence, but they still tried their best each and every night. Now, that could be questioned, because i don't know what do tell you after last night's performance in Calgary. I just hope the players, the coaching staff, fuck, even trainers will realize how important these games actually are. It would suck to look at back in June to these games and say "oh man, how the heck they dropped the ball against the Oilers?" So let's just cheer this Ducks team to take the two points tonight, and then just enjoy watching Olympics, sound good? :)
No brainfarts and mental errors on defence, offence hard on the forecheck and along the boards, all while generating quality scoring chances against maybe the worst defensive team in the NHL. Finally Hiller, or maybe Toskala, to give us a solid performance on the net. Those things should be the keys to the game from Anaheim's perspective. Also including the, oh so important, full 60 minutes effort from all of the guys and they should be fine in this game.
Anaheim Ducks (29-25-7, t-11th in the West)
G/G: 2.72
GA/G: 2.98
PP: 19.2
PK: 80.6
Edmonton Oilers (19-35-6, 15th in the West)
G/G: 2.42
GA/G: 3.33
PP: 18.5
PK: 76.6
...from what i saw last night, the Ducks lines were kind of messed up, so i don't want to speculate them at all (probably might want to head off to OC Register for that), just hopefully Getzlaf will be back in action.
GO Ducks!
No brainfarts and mental errors on defence, offence hard on the forecheck and along the boards, all while generating quality scoring chances against maybe the worst defensive team in the NHL. Finally Hiller, or maybe Toskala, to give us a solid performance on the net. Those things should be the keys to the game from Anaheim's perspective. Also including the, oh so important, full 60 minutes effort from all of the guys and they should be fine in this game.
Anaheim Ducks (29-25-7, t-11th in the West)
G/G: 2.72
GA/G: 2.98
PP: 19.2
PK: 80.6
Edmonton Oilers (19-35-6, 15th in the West)
G/G: 2.42
GA/G: 3.33
PP: 18.5
PK: 76.6
...from what i saw last night, the Ducks lines were kind of messed up, so i don't want to speculate them at all (probably might want to head off to OC Register for that), just hopefully Getzlaf will be back in action.
GO Ducks!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Preview: Anaheim Ducks @ Calgary Flames (February 13th 2010, 7:00 PM (PT) @ Pengrowth Saddledome)
The Ducks enter to tonight's game with a 29-24-7 record in 60 games. They have won two straight and are 6-4 in their last 10, however this time, the puck doesn't drop on Honda Center. That's right, after setting a franchise record of 11 game consecutive win streak at home on Wednesday, the Ducks are back on the road with two games in hand, before the olympic break. Tomorrow against the Oilers, and today versus the Flames on Pengrowth Saddledome.
Speaking of Pengrowth Saddledome, have you ever wondered, how the Ducks have in their recent history, fared against the Flames on their home turf? Because we all know about the difficulties the Flames have had against the Ducks in Honda Center. In fact, last time Flames escaped with a win in Honda Center, was January 19, 2004. And they have won only that one match between the two teams on Honda Center, since January 13th on 1999. That's 1(!) win in a 21 game span. But here is the Ducks record on Flames home ice since the lockout:
2-6-0 (1.88 GF/G , 2.88 GA/G)
So in the last few years, Flames certainly haven't either made it easy for the Ducks to win against them outside of Honda Center. By the way, after Dion Phaneuf got traded away from Calgary, there isn't whole lot of Flames player's left from the current roster, who were in the Flames roster after the lockout. But the two notables are the captain Jarome Iginla, and the Vezina Trophy winner from 2005-2006 season, Miikka Kiprusoff. Here are both of their significant stats against the Ducks after the lockout, when the game has been on Flames home ice:
Jarome Iginla --> 7GP 2G 8A 10P +/- +2 24SOG
...and then the outstanding numbers posted by "Kipper"
Miikka Kiprusoff --> 6-1-0, .944SV%, 1.71GAA 2SO
So certainly Ducks better pray to god whenever they take shot on goal tonight, and save their breath, when Iginla makes a tape to tape pass on the offensive zone.
I thought of writing down a bit about Anaheim's road numbers this season, but then again i thought to myself, those stats are pretty depressive enough. No need to make myself even more negative entering tonight's game. But i did grap some good news for tonight's game:
Our defencemen have been quite productive as of late. Scott Niedermayer, James Wisniewski & Ryan Whitney have combined one goal and seven assists over the course of last four games. Also, Corey Perry is riding on a 5-game point streak, which has seen 2G, 4A & 6P. So, that's got to count for something, right?
Flames dropped the ball on their home ice in Thursday night, against the Dallas Stars, the match which they lost 3-1. Jarome Iginla was the only goalscorer for the Flames on that game. So, extremely important game for both these teams. We can probably expect some nervousness from both teams to start the game, but later on, i think the game is going for the heated physical play, with lots of chippiness and scrums after the whistles.
Some key stats for the game:
Calgary Flames
--------------
GF/G: 2.46
GA/G: 2.44
PP%: 17.0
PK%: 83.1
S/G: 28.4
SA/G: 29.1
FO%: 47.7
Anaheim Ducks
-------------
GF/G: 2.75
GA/G: 2.98
PP%: 19.3
PK%: 80.4
S/G: 29.1
SA/G: 33.2
FO%: 48.2
It's still not known whether or not Ryan Getzlf will be dressing for tonight's game. My guess (who cares) would be, that he will not be available tonight.
Also Rene Bourque will not playing for the Flames, as he's still nurturing his shoulder injury.
GO Ducks!
Speaking of Pengrowth Saddledome, have you ever wondered, how the Ducks have in their recent history, fared against the Flames on their home turf? Because we all know about the difficulties the Flames have had against the Ducks in Honda Center. In fact, last time Flames escaped with a win in Honda Center, was January 19, 2004. And they have won only that one match between the two teams on Honda Center, since January 13th on 1999. That's 1(!) win in a 21 game span. But here is the Ducks record on Flames home ice since the lockout:
2-6-0 (1.88 GF/G , 2.88 GA/G)
So in the last few years, Flames certainly haven't either made it easy for the Ducks to win against them outside of Honda Center. By the way, after Dion Phaneuf got traded away from Calgary, there isn't whole lot of Flames player's left from the current roster, who were in the Flames roster after the lockout. But the two notables are the captain Jarome Iginla, and the Vezina Trophy winner from 2005-2006 season, Miikka Kiprusoff. Here are both of their significant stats against the Ducks after the lockout, when the game has been on Flames home ice:
Jarome Iginla --> 7GP 2G 8A 10P +/- +2 24SOG
...and then the outstanding numbers posted by "Kipper"
Miikka Kiprusoff --> 6-1-0, .944SV%, 1.71GAA 2SO
So certainly Ducks better pray to god whenever they take shot on goal tonight, and save their breath, when Iginla makes a tape to tape pass on the offensive zone.
I thought of writing down a bit about Anaheim's road numbers this season, but then again i thought to myself, those stats are pretty depressive enough. No need to make myself even more negative entering tonight's game. But i did grap some good news for tonight's game:
Our defencemen have been quite productive as of late. Scott Niedermayer, James Wisniewski & Ryan Whitney have combined one goal and seven assists over the course of last four games. Also, Corey Perry is riding on a 5-game point streak, which has seen 2G, 4A & 6P. So, that's got to count for something, right?
Flames dropped the ball on their home ice in Thursday night, against the Dallas Stars, the match which they lost 3-1. Jarome Iginla was the only goalscorer for the Flames on that game. So, extremely important game for both these teams. We can probably expect some nervousness from both teams to start the game, but later on, i think the game is going for the heated physical play, with lots of chippiness and scrums after the whistles.
Some key stats for the game:
Calgary Flames
--------------
GF/G: 2.46
GA/G: 2.44
PP%: 17.0
PK%: 83.1
S/G: 28.4
SA/G: 29.1
FO%: 47.7
Anaheim Ducks
-------------
GF/G: 2.75
GA/G: 2.98
PP%: 19.3
PK%: 80.4
S/G: 29.1
SA/G: 33.2
FO%: 48.2
It's still not known whether or not Ryan Getzlf will be dressing for tonight's game. My guess (who cares) would be, that he will not be available tonight.
Also Rene Bourque will not playing for the Flames, as he's still nurturing his shoulder injury.
GO Ducks!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Preview: Edmonton Oilers @ Anaheim Ducks (February 10th 2010, 7:00 PM (PT) @ Honda Center)
We all are probably thinking the same thing here. Oilers suck and that the Ducks absolutely must come up with a way to win. Oilers season didn't start that good, when Ales Hemsky suffered a shoulder injury only 22 games into the season, and they've also have lost more key players to injuries this season. Nikolai Khabibulin and now more recently, Sheldon Souray (who has been officially on the trading block for quite some time), to name a few. So, how bad Edmonton has really sucked since the start of 2010 calendar year? Here is a look at the numbers:
Oilers started the 2009-2010 season by making a 16-21-4 record in 41 games, while averaging 2.78 GF/G and 3.27 GA/G. Then came in the year 2010, and since then Oilers have registered really depressing numbers: 2-13-2 record in 17 games, while averaging 1.82 GF/G and 3.82 GA/G. Their home record is 11-16-4 and their road record stands at 7-18-2. Their Powerplay is clicking at 18.7% and their Penalty Kill stands, as of now at 75.5%. And their overall goal differential in this season is -54, which is league's worst at the moment.
So in conclusion, this is a must win for the Ducks, if they want to climb up the standings and keep their playoff hope's alive. These are the type of games in my books, that the Ducks should win with or without Ryan Getzlaf. Speaking of Getzlaf, it looks like the Ducks have survived by a scare, as he looks to return to the line-up hopefully on the upcoming weekend. It's not yet fully known how serious the injury is, however, or can Getzlaf make it to represent Team Canada in the Winter Olympics.
For now, i'm not going to speculate the Ducks lines to the game, but i will tomorrow update this post, or add another post if i feel there is more things left to be mentioned before the game. Still couple more things to wrap this up:
- Dustin Penner is back in town, and so far, he's been one of the few bright spot's on Oilers this season. Here is a good statistical analysis of Penner's performances in goal-scoring department on this season. (Link leads to a fantastic Oilers Blog at SBN. Check it out if you're interested about the Edmonton Oilers)
- James Wisniewski is apparently not too concerned about the trade rumours surrounding him, as he openly joked to the OC Register Ducks Blog's Eric Stephens about it. Wiz really seems like stand-up guy, but still, with what he have seen from him this season, i figure we all can agree that he isn't going to be worth the raise he's likely to be looking.
- Quite old news already, but i forgot to mention about the fact, that the former Ducks GM Pierre Gauthier has taken over reigns from Bob Gainey, as he was named General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens. We all obviously wish Pierre to succeed and...wait, what? This guy found himself again a GM job? :D
But yeah, that's it. Feel free to post any thought's at all to the 'comments' section :)
GO Ducks!
Oilers started the 2009-2010 season by making a 16-21-4 record in 41 games, while averaging 2.78 GF/G and 3.27 GA/G. Then came in the year 2010, and since then Oilers have registered really depressing numbers: 2-13-2 record in 17 games, while averaging 1.82 GF/G and 3.82 GA/G. Their home record is 11-16-4 and their road record stands at 7-18-2. Their Powerplay is clicking at 18.7% and their Penalty Kill stands, as of now at 75.5%. And their overall goal differential in this season is -54, which is league's worst at the moment.
So in conclusion, this is a must win for the Ducks, if they want to climb up the standings and keep their playoff hope's alive. These are the type of games in my books, that the Ducks should win with or without Ryan Getzlaf. Speaking of Getzlaf, it looks like the Ducks have survived by a scare, as he looks to return to the line-up hopefully on the upcoming weekend. It's not yet fully known how serious the injury is, however, or can Getzlaf make it to represent Team Canada in the Winter Olympics.
For now, i'm not going to speculate the Ducks lines to the game, but i will tomorrow update this post, or add another post if i feel there is more things left to be mentioned before the game. Still couple more things to wrap this up:
- Dustin Penner is back in town, and so far, he's been one of the few bright spot's on Oilers this season. Here is a good statistical analysis of Penner's performances in goal-scoring department on this season. (Link leads to a fantastic Oilers Blog at SBN. Check it out if you're interested about the Edmonton Oilers)
- James Wisniewski is apparently not too concerned about the trade rumours surrounding him, as he openly joked to the OC Register Ducks Blog's Eric Stephens about it. Wiz really seems like stand-up guy, but still, with what he have seen from him this season, i figure we all can agree that he isn't going to be worth the raise he's likely to be looking.
- Quite old news already, but i forgot to mention about the fact, that the former Ducks GM Pierre Gauthier has taken over reigns from Bob Gainey, as he was named General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens. We all obviously wish Pierre to succeed and...wait, what? This guy found himself again a GM job? :D
But yeah, that's it. Feel free to post any thought's at all to the 'comments' section :)
GO Ducks!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Preview: Los Angeles Kings @ Anaheim Ducks (February 8th 2010 , 7 00: PM (PT) @ Honda Center)
Kings won the Ducks last thursday, but tomorrow, it's a new night. Ducks must be hungry for the 2 points, especially when their comeback was spoiled by Kings and Dustin Brown on the final minutes of the 3rd period (Anze Kopitar sealed the deal on the Powerplay, after Ryan Getzlaf got called on tripping).
Anyhow, the way i see this, Ducks really have to get their legs moving from the get go, and they must keep moving their legs the full 60 minutes. Something they've had hard time to do all season long. Also, they must tone down the defensive zone turnovers if they want to win (I'm looking at you, Whitney & Wisniewski).
There was not whole lot of postives on Ducks's game against LA the last time, but one thing however, stood out: There weren't whole lot of negatives either. Hiller played well, of course when a goalie allows six goals, usually goalie hasn't played on top of his game. But still, Hiller played well and lot of the goals weren't really his fault, as they were defensive mistakes. Ducks defencemen inability to clear the net was shown once again this season, and you got a wonder what GM Bob Murray is up to in defence department, because team that has this big of D problem and is desperately trying to make the playoffs, something has to happen. Scott Niedermayer maybe isn't the same defenceman he was a few years ago but even if he was, we'd still have the same problem and in my opinion, it need's to be fixed sooner rather than later.
RPG (Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry) line was put back together on the last game, but despite the dominance along the boards , they failed to generate great offensive chances and thus Coach Carlyle put Ryan in second line with the Wonder Finns and but Rookie Matt Beleskey back together with Getzlaf & Perry. Beleskey scored a goal in that line and i really hope that Carlyle is going to play that line again in tomorrow. Besides, Bobby has shown already he can carry a line whoever the other guys are. And now that Selanne is starting to, albeit slowly, get back in shape we can hope that the Powerplay is going get better and of course more effective. Even though Ducks already tried it earlier in the season and it didn't quite work out back then, i'm thinking they could move Ryan Getzlaf back to the point and let Niedermayer be the rover he always is and put Selanne, Ryan and on the walls and Perry in front of the net.
Also, Vesa Toskala has worked his work-visa problem and has joined the Ducks team and is going to be the back-up to Jonas Hiller in tomorrow's game. So, welcome to the Ducks, Vesa! :)
Beleskey - Getzlaf - Perry
Ryan - Koivu - Selanne
Bodie - Chipchura - Marchant
Blake - Carter - Nokelainen
Niedermayer - Wisniewski
Whitney - Brookbank
Eminger - Festerling
(Those probably ain't going to be lines that the Ducks Head Coach Randy Carlyle plans to use, that's more of a personal thinking from my end. I will post the more probable line-up later)
Also, some stats to tomorrow's game:
Los Angeles Kings (36-19-3) @ Anaheim Ducks (27-24-7)
Goals/Game: 2.93 - 2.72
Goals Against/Game: 2.69 - 3.02
PP%: 19.5 - 18.9
PK%: 80.4 - 79.8
GO DUCKS!
Anyhow, the way i see this, Ducks really have to get their legs moving from the get go, and they must keep moving their legs the full 60 minutes. Something they've had hard time to do all season long. Also, they must tone down the defensive zone turnovers if they want to win (I'm looking at you, Whitney & Wisniewski).
There was not whole lot of postives on Ducks's game against LA the last time, but one thing however, stood out: There weren't whole lot of negatives either. Hiller played well, of course when a goalie allows six goals, usually goalie hasn't played on top of his game. But still, Hiller played well and lot of the goals weren't really his fault, as they were defensive mistakes. Ducks defencemen inability to clear the net was shown once again this season, and you got a wonder what GM Bob Murray is up to in defence department, because team that has this big of D problem and is desperately trying to make the playoffs, something has to happen. Scott Niedermayer maybe isn't the same defenceman he was a few years ago but even if he was, we'd still have the same problem and in my opinion, it need's to be fixed sooner rather than later.
RPG (Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry) line was put back together on the last game, but despite the dominance along the boards , they failed to generate great offensive chances and thus Coach Carlyle put Ryan in second line with the Wonder Finns and but Rookie Matt Beleskey back together with Getzlaf & Perry. Beleskey scored a goal in that line and i really hope that Carlyle is going to play that line again in tomorrow. Besides, Bobby has shown already he can carry a line whoever the other guys are. And now that Selanne is starting to, albeit slowly, get back in shape we can hope that the Powerplay is going get better and of course more effective. Even though Ducks already tried it earlier in the season and it didn't quite work out back then, i'm thinking they could move Ryan Getzlaf back to the point and let Niedermayer be the rover he always is and put Selanne, Ryan and on the walls and Perry in front of the net.
Also, Vesa Toskala has worked his work-visa problem and has joined the Ducks team and is going to be the back-up to Jonas Hiller in tomorrow's game. So, welcome to the Ducks, Vesa! :)
Beleskey - Getzlaf - Perry
Ryan - Koivu - Selanne
Bodie - Chipchura - Marchant
Blake - Carter - Nokelainen
Niedermayer - Wisniewski
Whitney - Brookbank
Eminger - Festerling
(Those probably ain't going to be lines that the Ducks Head Coach Randy Carlyle plans to use, that's more of a personal thinking from my end. I will post the more probable line-up later)
Also, some stats to tomorrow's game:
Los Angeles Kings (36-19-3) @ Anaheim Ducks (27-24-7)
Goals/Game: 2.93 - 2.72
Goals Against/Game: 2.69 - 3.02
PP%: 19.5 - 18.9
PK%: 80.4 - 79.8
GO DUCKS!
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