Ducks vs Minnesota Wild

It appears my VCR didn't catch the Ducks/Stars game on Friday. Considering everything that can go wrong programming a VCR, I guess I'm surprised I haven't biffed more recordings.

Anyway, we'll move on.

Tonight's game opens with Chris Pronger accepting an award for playing his 1000th NHL game. I don't know about you, but I'm secretely very proud to have him reach that milestone as a Duck.

Yes siree.

So, this is the first game I get to actually watch where there's tons of new guys wearing Ducks' jerseys. More faces and numbers to remember, and it's kind of saddening to think that I've seen the last of Travis Moen, Steve Montador, Sammy Pahlsson, and Kent Huskins in Anaheim colors. I'm also not used to seeing my boy Bobby Ryan donning the number 9. Ryan Getzlaf is skating visor-less, finally, and I'm hoping we'll see more action from him. Things have been rather quiet from the Getz camp.

Just about a minute after the game starts, the Wild catches a rebound off Jonas Hiller in a one-knee-down stance and tap the puck into the goal. Damn, again?!?

Our second line is still doing really well. They have a number of scoring chances in this first period, but are continually denied by the Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom in an awkward snow angel position. Bobby is the second Duck rookie to reach 20 goals and 20 assists in a season, he leads NHL rookies with 23 goals right now... and remember, Bobby wasn't even with the team at the beginning of the season. I need to do a little something in the side bar to keep track of this boy's goals.

I'm also still liking Mike Brown's performance on the ice. The guy is energetic and he plays with confidence. He's aggressive as both a defenseman blocking shooting and passing lanes, and when he's driving with the puck towards the net. That's a good man.

Corey Perry and Getzlaf are playing with newcomer Erik Christensen on their frontline. They aren't as fast as they usually are, probably because they're still measuring out how Christensen is as a player. I keep thinking he's Pahlsson, with that big 26 on his back. In the second half of the first period, the Wild gets their first power play opportunity as new guy Jimmy Wisniewski lands himself in the box with a high sticking penalty. Before it's over, the Ducks get a power play off an interference call, but can't capitalize with the extra man.

Apparently, Wisniewski's got a good record. He scored his first goal as a Duck in the Dallas game on Friday. Unfortunately, no goals for him in the first period of tonight's game. Ducks head into the first intermission trailing, 0-1.

After a mild start to the second period, Wild hitter (and irritator, if that's a word) Clutterbuck makes good with his second sneaky hit of the game. Perry is the recipient, and he lays winded on the ice for a good couple of seconds before the whistle is blown. Pronger, who saw what happened, confronts Clutterbuck and gets penalized, giving the Wild a power play.

On the penalty kill, Todd Marchant goes in for a one-man forecheck and catches Backstrom outside of his net as he strips the puck away from the Wild defender, wraps it around, and into the net for a goal. The crowd, booing less than a minute ago, is now cheering and finally, our boys are back in the game.

And then a hooking penalty against the Wild. C'mon guys, here's where you can take the lead. They fail, but the period has become a scramble, the puck traveling up and down the length of the ice, fallen players strewn about in its wake. Perry lands himself a tripping call and the Wild go on the power play. The Ducks kill it off with some great saves by Hiller.

Shortly thereafter, Christensen misses a pass in the neutral zone and Veilleux grabs the turnover, speeds it down the ice, and rips it over Hiller's glove. Argh. Two goals now for Veilleux, 2-1 on the scoreboard. That's not cool, especially when it's public knowledge that the Wild specialize in turnover goals.

They're doing a little interview feature on Hiller during the intermissions. Personally, I'm glad to see it. I like Hiller a lot and I like learning more about a guy who's a great player, yet is a little on the quiet side, staying out of the limelight. He sounds like a humble, down-to-earth guy, probably a pleasure to meet in person.

Carlyle has put Bobby on the first line, with Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks get a much needed power play, but can't make good on it. The Wild have a tremendously effective penalty kill team. And then, Perry gets his second minor of the game, this time for slashing. Luckily, the Ducks follow suit with their penalty kill.

Our Ducks make a fatal mistake with eight minutes left in the game. Both Sheldon Brookbank and Brett Festerling leave their defensive positions near the net to chase after a puck during a scramble to the left of Hiller. The Wild capitalize, getting the puck quickly to Brunette who has nothing but empty net stretched out in front of him. There's nothing Hiller can do. It's an easy goal... and incredibly frustrating for us Duck fans to watch.

We're in some serious trouble here, folks. Down by two, our boys need to pull it together. Hiller is doing a phenomenal job, otherwise it'd be a lot more than two goals between the teams. Of course, the Wild's MO is to protect their lead at this point. They're clearing the puck at every attempt.

With less than two minutes left in the game, Ducks call a timeout and Hiller abandons the net. And then, with only 21 seconds left, the puck is pushed into a scramble in front of the Wild net and the Captain manages to push it through. There's only 6.5 seconds left for the equalizer, but this isn't a completely impossible situation. However, for the Ducks, it is. They take a disappointing loss against a team they should have beat, 2-3.