Ducks at Pittsburg, vs. Penguins

This game had been touted as a meeting of the big little boys. Rookies, that is. As I understand it, Sidney Crosby was the very first NHL draft pick by the Penguins in 2005. The Ducks, having the second draft pick, took Bobby Ryan. Crosby went on to be one of the highest point earners in the league. And Bobby, as you know, has just recently shown his potential.

Tonight's game between the Penguins and Ducks would have been the first time Crosby and Bobby would face each other on the ice. Unfortunately, the anticipation will have to continue. Crosby won't be playing tonight, thanks to a knee injury he sustained a few games ago.

I'm sure the Ducks don't mind too much. I know I don't!

Apparently, the Penguins have been facing quite a few men out with injuries. The Ducks know what that's like, adding Brett Festerling to the long list of injuries. Matt Belesky was sent back to Iowa in exchange for Troy Bodie, making his NHL debut in tonight's game.

Even with Crosby out, the Ducks couldn't pull it together on this one. At the end of the 1st period, the Penguin's Cooke scored despite J.S. Giguere's best attempts, and scored again early on in the 2nd. Giguere blocked a lot of hard shots, but I guess nobody's perfect.

Finally, on a power play near the end of the 2nd, Bobby sped the puck down the ice, making a speedy pass to Ryan Getzlaf right in front of the goal. Beautiful pass, beautiful goal. That's what we want to see, boys!

The third period saw many infuriating shots on goal for the Ducks, but no shots on net. Our Ducks just could not even this one out! And then, in the last five minutes, the Pens score a lucky shot from the face off. Leading three to one now, the Pens sat back into defense mode, protecting their lead. Try as they might, the Ducks couldn't get any more goals.

ANOTHER disappointing defeat, 1-3.