Ducks vs Phoenix Coyotes

Here we go again with the Coyotes. This game could go either way. The Coyotes are out of playoff contention, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. In fact, a lot of clubs do really well when they aren't playing under playoff pressure. On the other hand, the 'Yotes completely slaughtered the Vancouver Canucks yesterday. And I mean COMPLETELY. They could be huge on the momentum of that win. Or, the fatigue could be a factor in their game tonight.

It could be a good thing that this is the second time our boys have faced this new and improved Coyote team. They've seen what it's like to be on the receiving end of the Lombardi/Upshaal/Boedker line. They might know how to fire on Ilya Bryzgalov in such a way that he'll drop a fat rebound. But it could also be a bad thing. The Coyotes know who our best players are. They know to look out for Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. They also know just how effective Jonas Hiller is against them.

So, like I said, this game could go either way.

At the beginning of the game, Rob Niedermayer is awarded a few pretty momentos for reaching his 1000th game played milestone.

We've got Jonas HIller in net again, probably a good thing because of Hiller's remarkable 5-0-1 career record against the Coyotes. For the Coyotes, it's ex-Duck Bryz, who has the potential to put our Ducks on their ear.

At two minutes in, Mike Brown and Prust start a tango in the Coyote zone, after Brown put a hit on another Coyote. I see the guy practically dragging Brown by the front of his jersey, trying to get him to fight. Looking at the ref before the fight, he didn't get an instigator call and... well, I don't think you have to do much to get Brown to drop his gloves. Five for fighting all around.

Our Ducks get the first power play when Matthew Lombardi puts a high-stick on my boy Bobby Ryan. First pp of the game and first goal of the game. Bobby and Getzlaf make a perfect screen in front of Bryz. Teemu Selanne sets up Chris Pronger at the point, he fires a slap shot towards the net, and it's redirected in by Captain Scott Niedermayer. Yes! First goal of the game again!

Our boys are skating on the momentum, playing aggressively and keeping their feet moving on the forecheck. Bobby's on the first line again with Getzlaf and Perry. Teemu and Andrew Ebbett are on the second line now with Drew Miller. James Wisniewski with the Captain, Pronger with Ryan Whitney, and Sheldon Brookbank with Brendan Mikkelson make up the defensive pairings.

The Coyotes don't look like the same team our boys played last week. The defense isn't as aggressive and that impressive Lombardi/Upshaal/Boedker line isn't as impressive tonight. Well, this is just the first period, so I don't want to jinx anything. But I'm thinking it's gonna be pretty hard on Bryz. On the other end of the ice, Hiller could probably take a quick nap. During the entire first period, he only has four shots to block.

Our boys can't make anything out of their second power play, Bryz was all over the crease and blocking anything that came near him. But, they came back with a goal once regular play resumed. And was it our superstar first line? Our too hot to handle second line? No... our fourth line! Erik Christensen sped the puck down the ice on the left wing, with Brown keeping pace down the center. As they approach the net, Christensen fires the puck towards Brown and the net, but it passes Brown and is reflected off Bryz's leg pad. The rebound spins to the right and who would expect George Parros to be there? He makes the shot at a sharp angle to the goal line and it's in! Fifth goal of the season for big George. The guys are ecstatic as they pounce on George in celebration behind the Coyote net.

On the replay, nobody's even following George down the ice. And Bryz never saw him coming. He had a big, fat empty net to fire into.

At the end of the first, Ducks lead 2-0.

Early in the second, the Coyotes get a goal off a rebound. Please boys, don't give them any momentum! The Coyotes are notably more lively, giving Hiller multiple reasons to make some really good saves. And then, the first Coyote power play. They make some excellent shots on goal, thank goodness Hiller's on the ball. They're denied.

The next time our big first line is out, they hit paydirt. Bobby takes the puck down the right wing, waiting and timing his pass for when Getzlaf was relatively open. The puck speeds across the slot to Getzlaf and then is quickly turned in front of the net to Perry, who has taken his usual spot in front of the crease. The pass is in the back of the net instantly. It's Perry's 24th goal of the season, tying him with Bobby. And Bobby takes an assist on this one giving him 46 points in the season and making him the all-time rookie point leader in franchise history. Imagine if he'd actually been with the Ducks since the beginning of the season!

Our boys follow up with some unnecessary nailbiting action in their zone thanks to bad defensive play. The Coyotes could have easily closed the gap as it was just Hiller and Duck-killer Shane Doan left with the puck. He didn't score on that play, but he did minutes later, unassisted.

That guy, I swear, will always find a way to score on our Ducks.

A bit annoying, a zebra gets in the way of a perfectly good pass to Bobby, tripping him and sending him flat to the ice. No penalty for the ref, but he calls one less than a minute later against Bobby for holding. I don't know about you, but I didn't see any holding in the replay. I saw a hand on a Coyote back. At least the Coyotes didn't score while Bobby was in the penalty box. The second period ends with the Ducks carrying a smaller lead, 3-2.

We're going to have to see a lot more first period and a lot less second period in this third period. We need to win this one, preferably by more than one goal.

Some tense moments as Todd Marchant and Jovanovski collide and both need to retreat off the ice. At least Marchant is back on the ice on his next shift. More intense play and nailbiters in the creases of both clubs' nets. With eleven minutes left in the game, our boys get another power play. And just 10 seconds in, Pronger passes to Scotty who fires it against Getzlaf's waiting stick and the deflection is in.

Coyotes get a power play opportunity soon after, after Bobby gets called for roughing on what looks to be a clean hit. What's up with my boy and penalties tonight? Hiller makes some more excellent saves in another effective penalty kill. Damn, and then another Ducks penalty against Ebbett for boarding.

Is it just me or does Coyote coach Wayne Gretzky look more evil than usual tonight?

More good saves, more quick pickups from our defense on the rebounds, and no goals for the Coyotes. And then it's the Ducks turn for a power play when Upshaal catches Pronger's face on a high stick and earns himself a double minor. Again, another successful Ducks power play. Scotty to Pronger to Getzlaf and in. Two goals for Getzy, although it seems he was expecting to make a quick pass to Bobby at the crease, not send it in himself. But hey, it's a goal either way.

Our Ducks stay on the power play. Wisniewski fires on the net, Bryz blocks, and the rebound is caught and shot in by Ebbett. Wow. That's four power play goals and all within the first 30 seconds of each power play. With only two minutes remaining, I gotta say it feels nice to actually have a comfortable lead for once in a game!

Ducks take a glorious victory, 6-2.