Ducks vs Phoenix Coyotes, preseason opener

What a sight for sore eyes! The Ponda!

There was a feeling of calm familiarity as I walked across the North Ponda Parking Lot. In the distance, an old friend. I was home!

I know I wasn't the only Duck fan anticipating the return to the Ponda for Wednesday night's preseason opener against the Phoenix Coyotes. The offseason was much too long for us, we were more than ready for our hockey fix, even if only a preseason game.

Preseason games aren't about winning and losing. They are an opportunity for rookies and new acquisitions to prove to their new teams that they belong on the opening night roster. Coaches get a chance to see the players in action, to try out different lines of forwards, different defense pairings, and to test what works and what doesn't. The preseason is also an opportunity for the players to get a feel for each other, to develop the chemistry and communication necessary to make them formidable competitors once the season actually starts and the games count.

Notables like Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, and Jonas Hiller wouldn't be playing tonight, but would be stationed at various areas of the Ponda to mingle with fans. Personally, I love that they do this! It's so amusing to watch how ticket holders will order their pizzas and beers without even recognizing the young man behind the counter without his game jersey.

The diehard fans know who those nicely-dressed boys are and we made a point of taking advantage of their accessibility before the game.


Hiller signing autographs and selling Kids Club kits.


Troy Bodie serving chicken.


Fan: Hey, can we get sushi here?
Brookbank: Aw man, I don't even remember how to make my roll!


Corey Perry behind the Oggi's pizza counter.


Ryan Getzlaf sold us a pepsi and a pretzel. I also congratulated him on his recent nuptials.


Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu signing autographs at the fan relations desk.

The game itself wasn't a good one for the Ducks overall. Granted, we had a lot of our less-seasoned players on the ice, I think the coaches learned a good deal about what works and what doesn't. Bobby Ryan was the lone scorer (on the power play), looking comfortable in his new position as center. I saw Bobby set up a number of plays, trying to feed the puck to wingers near the net. Unfortunately, none of them were able to convert.


I miss Andrew Ebbett. He's a Yote now, and scored a goal against his former team. Mixed feelings there.

Our defense didn't seem to have a lot going for them either. They allowed way too much space between themselves and the oncoming Yote forwards, and paid the price. I felt they were also much too soft with how they held up the blue line. Of course then, the Coyotes had some of their best forwards out there, so that didn't help matters.

It looked a lot like the guys were playing too individually, not focusing on how to work together as a team. They were trying too hard to be the guy that wins the day, and in the end, the Ducks appeared sloppy and disjointed.

The Coyotes, on the other hand, played a more cooperative, seamless game. Being my boyfriend team, I also enjoyed seeing my Yotes back on the ice. Scottie Upshall hasn't laced up since the middle of last season, after going out with ACL/MCL injuries. I think I can safely say the knee isn't much of an issue now. It was also nice seeing Paul Bissonette, Petr Prucha, and Sami Lepisto again.

Keep in mind, it's a preseason game so winning and losing don't mean much. Even so, I'll be looking forward to tomorrow night's game, when our Ducks will have more seasoned guys like Getzlaf and Perry (and Hiller in net) to help out our rookies.

Heck, I'm just happy to see my boys back on the ice!

2nd Annual Anaheim Ducks in a Roll

One of my most favorite Ducks events from last season was the "Ducks in a Roll" sushi rolling contest for charity. I was more than excited to find that my Ducks were reprising the event for this season AND that it was going to be held on an evening I wasn't scheduled for work.


Fans of the Anaheim Ducks and sushi alike waiting for the event to begin

On hand this year, Ducks defenseman Sheldon Brookbank, and forwards Corey Perry and Troy Bodie. Ryan Getzlaf was originally scheduled to attend, but he didn't show. Todd Marchant minimally filled in, introducing the roll, but not getting his hands rice-covered in the process.

He left that to the sushi chef who made Getzy's roll sans Duck.


Setting up

I noticed big differences between this year's event and last year's, most notably the lack of any seating! There were considerably more people in attendance too, and standing room only appeared to be the rule of the evening.

For once, I arrived early, and was glad I did. My friends and I had one of the few tables.

There also wasn't a roped off "lane" at the sushi bar which, last year, had allowed the fans to taste along a moving line of sushi roll samples. This time, the area in front of each player was open and you could talk to him and watch him roll.


Troy Bodie receiving instructions on how to make his roll, The "Bodie"licious Roll


Sheldon Brookbank learning the technique behind his roll, The "Bank" Roll




Corey Perry named his creation The "Perry"dise Roll


Kent French returned this year as Master of Ceremonies

As before, purchased rolls donated $2 to the Anaheim Ducks Foundation and a vote towards that player for his creation as the "fan-favorite." My boyfriend ordered one of each roll early on in the competition, so we were one of the first tables to get our food. The ensuing attention from reporters and cameras was a little startling!


The "Perry"dise Roll


The Great "Getz"by Roll

I decided to pester the players.




Brookbank adding what I thought was his tastiest ingredient, wasabi tobiko. (That's wasabi-infused fish roe)

According to Brooksie, Getzy was MIA because he was recovering from wisdom teeth extraction. I think the boys were just trying to eliminate some competition.


Brooksie proudly showing off his completed masterpiece


Troy Bodie pretending to taste his ingredients


A finished "Bodie"licious Roll


Tim Marchant (he wants to be called Tim instead of Timmy) collecting a sample of "Perry"dise for the Team Marchant judges


Perry scooping spicy crab meat on top of his roll

Me, as I took a bite of "Perry"dise: Wait, did you spit in this?
Perry, with a smirk: No, not that one.



In my opinion, Getzy's roll was best. But that's because I'm not a fan of jalapenos and spicy sushi. Every roll had some sort of spiciness to it, but Getzy's was easily altered. Brookbank's roll was also really good, and it was the most pleasing to the eye.


The judging panel


Brookbank's roll sold the most, winning him the fan-favorite vote


But it was Bodie's roll that got the most votes from the judges. It will be available on RA Sushi's menu for the rest of the season


Corey Perry: "Whaddya mean I got the least votes?!"

Actually, Getzy's roll had the least votes, but I think that might have had something to do with the fact that he wasn't even there! People tend to like food more when it comes with a personality.

I said it last year and I'll say it again, if you didn't get a chance to go to this incredible event, make sure you do next year!

Ducks at Calgary, vs Flames

There are two more games for our boys before the Olympic break. And of course, they're a back-to-back over the weekend. Our boys are in Calgary tonight, and then in Edmonton tomorrow. It would be nice to nab a playoff spot prior to the Olympic break... I'm just saying.

Starting in the first period, our boys come out of the gates with good energy, but one quickly notices that Calgary is controlling the puck a lot more.

Towards the middle of the first, our boys are awarded a few scoring chances. But keep in mind, it's Miikka Kiprusoff in the Calgary net. His game is downright phenomenal tonight. Honestly, you can't give Kipper all of the credit. The Flames defense is spot on, it's as if there's a forcefield that forms below the circles every time our Ducks enter the zone. Not to mention, our hometown heroes must have left their forecheck in Anaheim. There's simply not enough pressure on the Flames, and they take advantage.

Ducks do get a goal, but the lamp didn't light. Upon further review, it's noted that a shot from Scott Niedermayer at the blue line gets deflected by Troy Bodie, flies into the net shortside, hits the camera, and pops out. It happened so quickly nobody notices... but it's deemed a good goal.

Unfortunately, the Flames tie it up before the end of the period.

Starting the second, I'm hoping our boys will find some energy... but I'm wondering if maybe their minds are on the Olympics and that's why they look a bit hesitant and unfocused?

The boys do have more bite in the second, but not until after the Flames score again. And that one stung as it came right on the heels of an open net opportunity for Ryan Carter, who fanned on the shot.

After a fruitless Duck power play, Bodie takes on Pardy and it's a good tussle.

It's starting to get a bit frustrating, watching our boys have their chances, but not be able to get one past Kipper. I'm sure the frustration is felt on the ice as well... our boys are playing hard, but just not getting the job done.

Passing starts to get sloppy, shots on goal start to get aimless, and that puck posession problem only worsens. Duck players grab the puck only to quickly turn it over or pass to the wrong guy.

Kudos to Saku Koivu, he had a number of good shots on goal. Would've loved to see him get one. Kudos to Steve Eminger as well, doing what he can against blocked shots and keeping the crease clean.

And then Iginla scores again...

Ducks go into the third trailing 1-3. Matt Beleskey bravely takes on Curtis Glencross about five minutes in, and Koivu follows up the energy boost with a puck to the plumbing behind Kipper.

Our hometown heroes manage to stop the bleeding, keeping the Flames from scoring again in the third, but they just can't get their cycle game going. Calgary takes this one, 3-1.

Ducks at Los Angeles, vs Kings

It's no secret that yours truly isn't exactly fond of Los Angeles Kings fans. Granted, they aren't as bad as Red Wings fans, and any half-knowledgeable Duck fan can always rebuke by pointing out that the Kings still have yet to win the Cup, but they're still nasty.

So by default, yours truly also isn't too hot about traveling 2+ hours in traffic to the proverbial lion's den to get heckled by Kings fans on their home turf.

However, a Duck friend offered a free ticket to tonight's contest and who am I to turn down free Ducks hockey?

John T. Meyer, of www.pickmyNHLteam.com fame, was also coming along to witness an away game with a small group of Ducks fans.

The game did not have the outcome I'd wanted, but it was encouraging to see the Ducks rally to tie things up in the third, 4-4, and for a while they managed to silence those pesky Kings fans. Unfortunately, victory would not be theirs, and Ducks would fall 4-6 in regulation. Despite the outcome, and despite the heckling, yours truly did get a number of excellent pictures.

So let's just focus on those.


Kings home ice


Warmups


Davis Gaines sings the national anthem


Jonas Hiller did well between the pipes. I believe our D could've done more to help him out.

I will give kudos to Brett Festerling, who played a gritty, hard-hitting game. Festerling was out there on every shift, hitting anything that moved. It was impressive.


Newcomer Jason Blake would pot his first goal as a Duck during the first period


George Parros engages in a long-winded fight with Ivanans in the first


A very loud Ducks fan (standing) in the next section over thoroughly annoyed all of the Kings fans around him with never-ending cries of "Let's go Ducks!" Priceless


Troy Bodie skating by the bench for high-fives after putting away his third NHL career goal


Ryan Carter (pictured) and Matt Beleskey would also score for the Ducks tonight


Staples Center crew replacing a pane of glass that fell after Ryan Getzlaf placed a huge hit on Matt Greene against the boards

Our hometown heroes will try to take some much-needed Western Conference points away from the Kings again Monday night. This time, our boys will be on home ice. And this time, they won't be playing the second of a back to back.

I'm hoping it'll make a difference.

Ducks vs Buffalo Sabres

Tonight's game is huge. It's the last home game until February for our hometown heroes, kicking off a six-game road trip. Of course, every game is another opportunity to get another two points in the standings, but yours truly tends to breathe a little easier when the opponent is an Eastern Conference team.

It's debatable whether the Eastern Conference is weaker this season than the Western, I've heard arguments favoring either side, but at least, when our opponent isn't a conference rival, winning in OT doesn't adversely affect the standings. Personally, I can't stand that a team losing in OT still gets a point. A loss should be a loss.

But it's not, which seems to be one of the big reasons why the Western Conference standings are so tight. I feel that time rather than ability is going to be the major factor in determining playoff berths this season in the West. After the last game of the season is played, whoever happens to be in that top eight will go on. Add another game, and those bottom seeds could look completely different.

But I digress... there's a game tonight.

Our Ducks showed up huge in the first period, absolutely blasting out of the gates. By the middle of the first, Ducks were up 4-0.

Yes, you read that right.


Absolutely unbelieveable!

Credit goes to Ryan Getzlaf, Evgeny Artyukhin, Mike Brown, and my boy Bobby Ryan, in succession. The game started to get really chippy, as it definitely would have if the tables had been turned. Frustrated, the Sabres took undisciplined penalties and made a number of sloppy turnovers during that first period.

I'm glad our boys capitalized, because a team like the Buffalo Sabres aren't going to keep that up for long.


While the fourth Ducks goal was being reviewed, Sabres switched out goalie Lalime for league save percentage leader Ryan Miller

One on hand, yours truly was thrilled to see Miller (who, incidentally, looks a lot like his brother Drew) live on Ponda ice, I also didn't want to see our Team USA number one goaltender worked too hard. It was supposed to be his night off. Of course then, I also knew Duck goals were going to be in very short supply for the rest of this game.

The second period was, unfortunately, not unlike other second periods for our Ducks. Our forechecking presence was all but gone. I think it followed our D out of the rink. Jonas Hiller was also notably out of sorts. Even his good saves would be followed by an unconfident glance towards the net behind him. Sabres clawed their way back with three unanswered goals in the second.

It never fails to surprise me just how huge the attendance always is by the opponent's fans at the Ponda.

Ducks put things together for a better showing in the third, where Troy Bodie would net his second NHL goal. How crazy, to get your second career goal, and the game winner, against none other than Ryan Miller. Major bragging rights there!

Hiller also tightened up the netminding and came up big in the third. Sabres would get one more goal after pulling Miller for the man advantage in the last 60 seconds on regulation, but they couldn't find the equalizer before the final horn.


Our Ducks would extend the home winning streak to eight games, and leave for their road trip on the right foot

Let's check out some pictures!


Bobby's tip-in goal against Lalime, which was deemed good after a lengthy league review for high-sticking. It wasn't actually his stick that touched that puck


Definitely deserving of a game star, Tuuk earned points on an awesome assist to Mikey's tip-in goal, as well as his own goal. It's a pleasure watching this big man skate!


Bobby and Corey Perry sniffing for loose change around Miller


Sabres' Kaleta reacts to a love tap from Nick Boynton in the first


USA! USA! Miller will be teammates with Bobby in less than a month


Dan Sexton jumps over a puck mere nanoseconds before it's gloved by Miller