Ducks vs Minnesota Wild

A lot has happened between the pipes since the last game I attended! For one, check out the new goaltending tandem for the Anaheim Ducks:


Introducing, starter Dan Ellis and backup Ray Emery

Yup, THAT Dan Ellis. And yes, THAT Ray Emery.

With all due respect to former Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney, we need someone who can stop pucks and we need him NOW. There's no timetable as to how long it will be before Jonas Hiller is ready to play again, and the Ducks are steadily losing ground in the playoff race.

Ellis flew in the night before and had maybe two practices at best with his new team on Ponda ice. Nonetheless, he would be starting in tonight's game. Needless to say, lots of Duck faithful would be very curious as to how well he'd do.


You can put a Ducks' jersey on him, but his mask still screams "Tampa Bay Lightning"


Emery remains up from the AHL just in case, but I'd much prefer to see him get more conditioning before he has to take over the net


Also back in tonight's game, new daddy Ryan Getzlaf

Pretty soon, he'll be coming to the rink just to get some rest away from the screaming baby!

Ellis came up big on the first few saves. I started to feel that maybe we'd be okay. A few things I noticed about him. Ellis is much more expressive on the ice. He talks to the defense and directs play. He looks much more comfortable in his puck handling skills. He also rallied the boys a number of times, slapping his stick on the ice for momentum. I'm hoping the team develops a chemistry with him.

I thought our offense played well. The Ducks earned their chances to pepper Wild goalie Jose Theodore.


Rookie Brandon McMillan. Keep an eye on this kid


There was no way defenseman Toni Lydman could stop the bids on net from a 2-on-1 that led to the Wild's first goal early in the first

As it became apparent that Theodore was nothing short of on fire tonight, coach Carlyle started to mix up the lines.


Theodore on "forcefield mode"


Ellis in position

The Wild held the lead for a good 25 minutes of play until finally, Bobby Ryan got one under, and behind, Theodore.


Bobby would score his 100th NHL goal tonight, tying up the game, and becoming (I believe) only the 6th Duck to break the 100-goals mark


Cam Fowler, up close and personal

In the third, the Wild would take the lead again with a little over five minutes left in regulation. As our Ducks put 30, 35, 40 shots on goal, those two points felt like they were slipping away with each passing second.


At the 18:00 mark, Francois Beauchemin netted the equalizer

Fans were treated to five minutes of overtime and, when it looked like we'd get the chance to size up Ellis in the shootout, the Wild stole it all away and brought the game to an abrupt halt. With only six seconds left, a major fumble on the part of the Ducks defense resulted in a puck behind Ellis.

Well, at least we got a point. But more importantly, I do feel that things will improve with a capable goalie between the pipes.

Bring on the Avalanche!

Trade Deadline 2011

A few days ago, I got the opportunity to join a few other Pacific Division fans and share my opinions on the movers and shakers for this season's trade deadline. Big thanks to the folks over at "View From My Seats" for letting me contribute!

Please check out the collaborative post at View From My Seats

Ducks vs San Jose Sharks

Nothing all too remarkable about this game... Ducks didn't show up to play until the 2nd period, after the Sharks had already put three goals on the board. Although, it didn't help matters much that the first Shark goal got past Jonas Hiller only 14 seconds into the game.

Yes, 14 seconds. It was gonna be one of those games.

You could see it too, Hiller wasn't on the ball. He looked slow and sluggish. After the game, the news was released that Hiller wasn't feeling well. Fatigue and dizziness would take him out of the next couple of games.

Luckily, backup Curtis McElhinney was able to stop the bleeding. The Ducks turned up to play, with goals from Joffrey Lupul, Cam Fowler, and Bobby Ryan bringing the Ducks within one. But bringing the equalizer just wasn't in the cards tonight. Our boys would lose this one 3-4.

I'd paid good money for great seats in the lower bowl, so at least I have a few good pictures to show for it!


Jason Blake, Luca Sbisa, and Teemu Selanne waiting for the puck drop


Corey Perry trying to get one past Sharks' netminder Antti Niemi


As center, one of Bobby Ryan's new tasks is facing off against some of the league's best centers at the faceoff dot


Curtis McElhinney, taking over for Jonas Hiller after the 3rd unanswered Shark goal in the 1st


Bobby, Perry, and Andreas Lilja


Joffrey Lupul was credited with the Ducks' first goal of the night


And Cam Fowler got the second

The next time I splurge for awesome seats, I'd really appreciate a win!

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!!!


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