Ducks vs Montreal Canadiens

In regards to this monumental game signalling the return of Saku Koivu to Montreal, I was lucky enough to write an article for All Habs. Please check it out at the following link!

http://www.allhabs.net/feature/koivu-the-heros-return-a-west-coast-perspective/

Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers

Author's note: Scroll down to the end of this post for an announcement from USC Hockey

Finishing off the January homestand, I was hoping tonight's contest against the Edmonton Oilers would go better than the last time they were here.

We don't even want to think about that game.

The festivities started with a nice tribute to analyst Brian Hayward for broadcasting his 1000th game.

With Ryan Getzlaf still out, I'm liking the combination of Matt Beleskey and Corey Perry on that top line centered by Bobby Ryan.


Top line doing just fine

Energized, and hopefully determined to not repeat the heinousness that was the previous night's game (a dreadful 2-5 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes), the Ducks have good speed and forechecking tonight. They are rewarded with two goals before the end of the first, including Luca Sbisa's 2nd NHL career goal, and yet another milestone for Teemu Selanne.


Huge moment for number 8

Things get hairy in the 2nd period. There are a couple of Ducks penalties, and a bad moment for goaltender Curtis McElhinney in which he receives a cut to the face/neck off Maxim Lapierre's skate. Jonas Hiller, who was supposed to be resting for this game, is called upon to take over.

Further bids on net by the Ducks are somehow blocked and denied, but our boys keep trying. A few minutes after he'd left, McElhinney (plus stitches to the neck) returns to his net amongst cheers and whistles from the crowd.


Selanne does it again, 2nd goal of the night as he tips in a feed from Lubomir Visnovsky

Maybe the 3-0 score angered the hockey gods, or just the Edmonton Oilers. In a span of less than 30 seconds, they manage to get two past McElhinney.

Ducks go into the 2nd intermission clinging to a one-goal lead.


Corey Perry snow-shower

The 3rd period was stressful enough to give me and every other Ducks fan an ulcer. Oilers poured it on. Ducks struggled to get another goal. Both goaltenders stood on their heads. As the final minutes ticked off the clock, Ducks found themselves in a horrible 6 on 3 situation for 20 seconds. Two Ducks in the box, and an Oilers goalie on the bench, there were far too many Oilers in our end.


Moment of truth penalty kill

Somehow, SOMEHOW, Ducks pull this one from away. Kudos to Todd Marchant and Andy Sutton on our penalty kill, and to McElhinney too, for being able to stand up tall in those final moments despite the injury and despite letting in two quick goals.


With two goals and practically everyone on the Ducks bench feeding him for the hattie, Teemu Selanne got the first star of the night

For those of you hockey fans that might have seen the USC Hockey rig outside of the Ponda at the Ducks/Oilers game...



- Yes, USC has a hockey team!
- Yes, they play locally at Anaheim Ice!
- Yes, there is a game coming up, this Saturday against UCLA, 7:30pm!
- And YES, you should put on your Ducks gear and come!!!


You can use these coupons. Tell 'em Ducks54 sent ya

Casino Night 2011

After the Anaheim Ducks' decisive win Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues (and Bobby Ryan's first at-home hattie, 2nd of the season and 3rd of his NHL career), Ponda crews started the transformation of the hockey rink into the country fair-themed extravaganza that was this season's Casino Night.


Wait, they play hockey here?

With all proceeds benefiting the Orangewood Children's Foundation, Duck fans get a chance to mingle with players in a relaxed atmosphere. There's food, fun, music, and plenty of opportunities for pictures with the guys.

For anyone who wanted to go and couldn't, or if you were there and just want to relive the experience, I went to work with BabyRebel to try to capture this incredible event. Please note, the lighting hasn't been very camera-friendly at Casino Nights past, I wasn't expecting this year's to be any different!


I thought the lasso twirler was kinda cool...


The VIP Barn, which you couldn't enter unless you wore the special VIP bracelet


Live country music provided courtesy of Merchants of Moonshine


The infamous Kissing Booth. A $20 donation got you a picture with Duck players in the booth


Free rides on the ferris wheel


Tons of good eats...


... and an enticing dessert table


Kyle Chipchura mingling with fans


Teemu Selanne passed on the generic Ducks' orange plaid shirt and black cowboy hat combo opting for country-themed duds from his own closet


Cam Fowler at the roulette table


Assistant coach Mike Foligno, Andreas Lilja, and Curtis McElhinney trying their luck at the wheel


Maxim Lapierre at the blackjack table


Place your bets, boys!


Toni Lydman: "Got any chips I can borrow?"

At one point, I caught Lilja breaking into a little line dance. Unfortunately, he wouldn't repeat the performance for the camera. Nuts.


Ryan Getzlaf says he's feeling good and appreciates the time he's been able to stay home with pregnant wife Paige. "She's put me to work around the house!"


Brendan McMillan getting the royal rookie hazing treatment from Todd Marchant. He had to stand on the platform and address the crowd for a good 5-10 minutes... or until Marchant let him come down


Bobby Ryan: "Howdy"


Fowler, Jonas Hiller, and Chipchura looking for kisses at the Kissing Booth


I told the boys to smile for the camera. Joffrey Lupul responds by sucker-punching Sheldon Brookbank


Corey Perry and Matt Beleskey trying their luck at craps


Hiller keeping a low profile in the VIP Barn. Mention his invite to the All Star Game and he was nothing but smiles


Lubomir Visnovsky also in the VIP Barn


Luca Sbisa, Beleskey, and Perry entertaining fans at the Kissing Booth


Fowler posing for a picture with a fan


Saku Koivu explained he didn't realize most fans couldn't enter the VIP Barn so he spent the last 30 minutes of the night trying to "talk to as many people as possible"

Again, another fabulous night for Duck fans!

4th Annual Cut For the Kids

Every year, Anaheim Ducks enforcer George Parros goes under the scissors for a good cause: he donates his season-long locks to nonprofits that benefit children with leukemia. Fans are invited to participate as well, and space at the event usually goes quickly as adults and children alike line up to donate their hair for children's wigs.


This year's event was held at the Rinks-Huntington Beach Inline


Stylists from the TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy volunteered their time and skills to provide new do's for the donors

I'd wanted to participate in the event last year, but the job that pays the bills interfered. This year, I had the day off. I was a bit nervous about cutting off most of my hair... it had taken me a year and a half to grow it. But this was a good cause.

And doing it alongside George Parros made it all the more special.


Georgie in the stylist's chair


Ahhh! There it goes...


Sporting his new hairdo, George speaks to Kent French and Element TV


After the cutting, George signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans for a donation to the Childhood Leukemia Foundation

Consider growing your hair out to join George next season at his Cut For the Kids!

Ducks vs San Jose Sharks

Two words, people: JONAS HILLER


Somebody get this boy a steak dinner!

This game, along with its two points, came courtesy of none other than our Shark Killer. Oh, and Bobby Ryan helped by scoring the game's only goal.

Needless to say, it was an incredible game, with playoff-style hockey being played by both teams for all three periods. Our Anaheim Ducks came out full blast for this one, and I'm glad they did because there were wayyyy too many Sharks fans at the Ponda for comfort.

I mean, I suspected it would be bad... a weekend game against a hated division rival whose fans are just itching to visit Southern California. Hey, I don't blame them. We've got Disneyland just down the street. What does San Jose have??

Exactly.


Sections 408 and 409 aka, "The Sardine Can"

These fans were loud as they stomped through the halls of the Ponda pregame. Chanting, "Ducks suck" and "Let's go Sharks" it was pretty annoying. We Duck fans agreed: Our boys had no choice but to win this one and send those fans back on their long bus ride to NorCal crying.


Shark sushi bento box?

To credit Ducks fans, I think we did a pretty good job cheering and keeping the momentum going for our boys. The crowd was loud and in it from the beginning. I'm sure our boys could feel it. They played very well, keeping excellent pressure on the Sharks during the first period.

Exhausted but satisfied, they went to the locker room for the first intermission with a pair of donuts on the scoreboard.


Hiller even managed to keep rookie sensation Logan Couture #39 off the board

Honestly, I was holding my breath through every one of Hiller's saves. He was on fire, catching or blocking puck after puck with his usual Swiss flair, but that doesn't mean the Sharks didn't try to challenge him. The Ducks put not nearly as many shots on the Sharks goaltender, but they were able to string together some good line rushes themselves.


Ducks' star rookie vs Sharks' star rookie

Finally, relief! Over 14 minutes into the 2nd, Bobby Ryan, with the patience of Job, wove the puck around the crease and was able to shoot it past the mess of bodies for the game's first and only goal. I'm not sure if goaltender interference could have been called, but Antti Niemi kept silent.


Ducks mobbing Bobby after his goal

I have to show my boy a little love here and say he has definitely stepped up his game in Ryan Getzlaf's absence. That's his third goal in two games. Ride that hot streak, Bobby!

The rest of the game fed off of pure adrenaline, fan frenzy, and the awesomeness that is Jonas Hiller.



The Ducks penalty kill was put to the test. Two of three were played almost entirely in the Ducks' zone, the full two minutes added to the TOI totals of all penalty killers involved. Kudos to Todd Marchant and Toni Lydman for being simply amazing.




Hiller's secret weapon: spinach instead of gatorade. j/k

As the clock wound down, the Sharks started to get desperate and take a few penalties of their own. Saku Koivu was seen down in the slot after a play, big Joe Thornton sitting on top of him and crosschecking repeatedly. Luckily, the refs saw it too.


That's right, take a seat

No goals would be scored during the two Ducks powerplays, but taking those four minutes off the clock proved fatal.

The Chokes Sharks failed to equalize, Shark fans bolted from the stands, and Hiller got his shutout... and first star of the game.


A fist bump from Wild Wing


Congrats, Hiller, you deserve it!