Ducks at Denver, vs Avalanche

The Ducks are on a four-game winning streak. Can you believe it? That's a first this season. What would be even cooler is a win tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.

It's definitely possible, the Avs have been crippled by a number of players out with injuries. But again, the Ducks are up against a team that has nothing to lose, which means they could have a stellar performance tonight. Nobody can guess, but one thing is for sure. Our boys need to keep stringing those wins along to keep them in playoff contention. It's a very tight race in the Western Conference (in the East as well) and every game counts.

After playing a tough shootout game late last night, our Ducks are undoubtedly tired. Denver has elevation (and hence, oxygenation) issues. But we have two very talented netminders! It'll be Jonas Hiller in net tonight and I, for one, am glad. J.S. Giguere really came through last night, he deserves a night off. I just hope the rest of our boys aren't too fatigued.

The first Duck goal is, shall I say it? a fluke! As our guys head to the bench for a change, Erik Christensen sends the puck towards the net to buy time for the new line. The puck flips over Av netminder Peter Budaj's glove and into the net. Our boys weren't even expecting it, but that's a goal, and the first of the game. It's also Christensen's first goal as a Duck.

Budaj stares behind him at the puck sitting over the line in disbelief. I can't blame him.

Hiller's making some saves, but also leaving a few dangerous rebounds. Maybe that's okay this game, with the Avs lineup filled with rookies, but he can't keep that up.

A third through the first period, my boy Bobby Ryan loses an edge and slams right into the legs of Salei, flipping him over and landing him head first onto the ice. Both players are slow to rise, causing a whistle on the play. Bobby slowly makes his way back to the bench, but Salei needs help.

I'm happy to see Bobby back out on the ice on the next shift. Salei, on the other hand, is out the rest of the game.

As energetic as ever, Mike Brown speeds along with the puck, making huge hits on Av rookies. I gotta say, I'm loving Brown as a Duck.

There have been some sloppy turnovers in the Anaheim zone that have resulted in the Avs getting extra chances on Hiller. Not good. If the Avs had their early season roster, I'm sure they'd have capitalized by now.

Teemu Selanne pulls some pretty puck maneuvering around the Av net and then back out past the circles where he turns and fires on goal. Redirected by Andrew Ebbett in his usual spot in front of the crease, Ducks have their second goal.

Avs then take a penalty for holding, and our boys are on their first power play of the game. Watching the Avs on the penalty kill, they don't put much pressure on the Duck shooters. The defense just sort of stays back and waits while the Duck with the puck tees up. Everyone's taking shots, it's like a shooting gallery. Just as the penalty expires, Christensen tries to chip a bid from James Wisniewski into the net, but it flips over the crease to Corey Perry, who puts it into a wide open net. Third goal of the game, 25th goal for Perry, and a second point for Christensen.

At the first intermission, Ducks lead 3-0.

Andrew Raycroft takes the net for the Avs at the beginning of the second, but he doesn't exactly have a very promising save percentage either.

And then our Ducks get another power play. Again, I'm watching the Av defense let our boys take turns shooting on Raycroft. Perry even takes his time teeing up his shot, advancing towards the net, and letting her rip. The Av defenseman closest to Raycroft moves out of the way at the last minute as the puck zips past the bereft netminder. That's another for Perry, fourth goal of the game for our Ducks.

The offense fares slightly better, they manage to get a few shots on Hiller. Again, Hiller coughs up some dangerous rebounds, but he manages to throw himself in the path of the second shots.

Ryan Getzlaf takes a clean hit from the opposition, followed shortly by a hit on Perry from Av badguy Matt Hendricks which almost throws him into the Avalanche bench. A scrum breaks out with Getzlaf, Perry, and Bobby each partnering off. After the dust settles, we've got Perry in the box for roughing and Hendricks in the box for roughing and interference, so our Ducks get another power play.

The first shot on goal by Wisniewski at the blue line bounces off Ebbett's stick, rolls under Raycroft's feet, and into the goal. All within a mere eight seconds into the power play. That's Ebbett's seventh goal of the season, third point this game. Assists to Wisniewski and Ryan Whitney. Geez, at this point, everyone's adding to their career totals. It's a point grab bag. I almost feel bad for the Avalanche.

Petteri Nokelainen takes a penalty for tripping, and the Avs have their first power play. It's killed off and, right as Nokelainen gets out of the box, he shoots the puck towards the goal. It rebounds off Raycroft to Robbie Niedermayer who shoots it past Raycroft and into the net. Nothing against Robbie, but if he's scoring goals, someone didn't show up to the game. The Av netminder has noticeably had his will to live sucked out of him. I don't think I've ever seen a guy so miserable.

Ducks are leading 6-0. We're only halfway through the game. Sheldon Brookbank gets an interference penalty as he cuts off Hendricks, and then ends up dropping gloves with him. You realize what's happening here. The Avs, undoubtedly frustrated, have decided to up the physical aspect of this game. On the power play however, Avs finally hit paydirt. Hejduk shoots one past Hiller that our goalie never even saw.

So much for the shutout. Guess we can't be too greedy.

Getting back on track, Nokelainen steals the puck away in the neutral zone, speeds it down the ice, avoids a poke check, and shoots it with a snap shot behind Raycroft single-handedly. That's his third goal as a Duck, and the Ducks' seventh goal in this game. This ties up a season high record, with 26 minutes remaining in the game. Maybe they can beat that record.

I think this is done out of respect, but I'm not positive about that. The Ducks are on another power play, this time a 5 on 3, but coach Carlyle has decided to keep his fourth line out on the ice. In any other game, you'd most likely see the high-scoring Getzlaf/Perry/Bobby line out. Oddly enough, no points for Getzlaf, the Captain, Chris Pronger, or Bobby yet in this game. Ducks play the Avs again on home ice next week, so it's probably a good thing not to completely demolish them. Nothing like the smell of sweet revenge to bring a team back from the dead.

At the second intermission, the slaughter continues, 7-1.

So Budaj is back in the net for the third period. He gets to finish what he started. This game is so mental for goaltenders. It's hard to believe more of them haven't cracked under this kind of pressure.

Another penalty dealt to Hendricks for high-sticking Brendan Mikkelson. Hendricks is probably getting used to the inside of that penalty box. Again, Carlyle answers with his third and fourth lines out on the power play. The Avs are putting a little more pressure on our boys this time. No goals.

And now, Avs on the power play off an interference penalty on Brown. Some excellent stops for Hiller, including a three-shot attempt point blank at his crease. They kill the penalty, but the Avs still manage to get a puck into the goal minutes later. 7-2. With a minute left in the game, Getzlaf gets a cross-checking penalty. No matter, it's still a win.

Best of all, the Ducks have launched themselves into the seventh seat in the Western Conference. Can you believe it, we might see Ducks in the playoffs yet!