Archive for the 'Stanley Cup Finals' Category

07
Jun

Wow, What A Season

By Daniel 1 Comment
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Blog, Ducks, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

ducks_cup

From the fans singing the National Anthem to Selanne raising the cup high above his head, you have to be proud to be a Ducks fan today. After all the years of hearing the Disney jokes, the Mighty Ducks cartoon, Wild Wing, the “eggplant” in the jersey, being from California and not being a real fan base or deserving market, it finally ends in amazing fashion. Today it feels good to be from Southern California, the crowd singing the National Anthem was spine tingling and I wasn’t even in the building. I know it happens a lot in Canada, passing a huge Canadian flag around the arena is awesome too, but that was very touching to hear that come from Orange County. It will save you from me bashing the OC for the rest of the week, I promise.

The series played out exactly how I figured it would, the Ducks made quick work of the Senators. Ottawa thought it wasn’t going to be close, you were right, but oh so wrong. Game five was the final stamp on a season you know was going to be special, I guess you had to be a real Ducks fan to know that. The up’s and down’s during injuries were nerve racking, the Detroit series was shameful at times but the finals showed everyone who the best team was.

I will have some more posts coming later today and later in the week, but we are having DNS issues at work so I have to deal with that. I have some great things in the wings and it will be a great offseason. I am going to come back with a new domain, a new site structure and what should easily be the most interactive Ducks site, if not hockey fan site on the internet. I was going to close up shop a couple times this season, but got inspired during the playoffs, go figure. Thanks to all the bloggers, especially those from Detroit, you guys were a riot.

I even called the own goal, that is scary!

06
Jun

Put Me In Coach

By Daniel 3 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Hockey, Players, Pre-Game and Stanley Cup Finals

To have one’s name engraved on the Stanley Cup certain requirements must be met. A player must have at least 41 games played with the club or one game played in the Stanley Cup Finals. However, in 1994 a stipulation was added to allow a team to petition the Commissioner for permission to have players’ names put on the Cup if extenuating circumstances prevented them from being available to play. - NHL Fun Facts

parros_cup I have already stated in the previous post that I believe the Ducks will close it out tonight, so no assumption. Now, to get to what really bites ass, George Parros will not get his name on the Stanley Cup if he does not play tonight. He has played in 34 regular season games and only 5 playoff games this year. He still travels with the team, skates in practice and drills but that wont really matter. Sure, the team can petition Gary Bettman, but I think he will just shoot it down. Not being a particularly good hockey player is not an “extenuating circumstance” for not playing.

I don’t really like Parros all that much, I get the whole “fans love him” thing, he is a fighter and he has a unique look. Put aside my own thoughts on his hockey skills, this guy is a draw for the team. They even sell mustaches at the arena, that is some real fan appreciation with a hint of keen marketing. When Snoop supports you, you know you got a role on the team. His teammates seem to love him too. How can you not love someone who’s job is make sure your safe in your workplace? So the fan support is there, the team support is there, but will the commissioner care?

That means Joe Motzko, Ryan Carter and Drew Miller get their names on the cup after playing 4 games combined in the finals? Ryan Shannon will also get his name inscribed after he played 53 games in the regular season. It seems very crappy that Parros will miss out. Randy Carlyle is a take-no-shit kind of coach and he doesn’t care about things like this, in my eyes at least. Which is a great asset for a coach, that means he wants the team to win first, correct. I personally think George Parros sits in the locker for game five, which really sucks for George Parros, but is a good thing for his team. You can’t take a spot from a player who can at least contribute. But if he did get the chance to dress, you know the Honda Center would erupt, about as loud as when the final horn blows tonight. Bench the balloon and put Parros out for a shift, I personally think he deserves it.

Ducks: 50 - Ottawa: -3 (3 own goals that will count as negatives)

PS: If Randy Carlyle does this, it is a mistake and might backfire by hyping the Senators up. Then again, they really shouldn’t need to be hyped up, this an elimination game and all.

05
Jun

You Got One, Now You’re Done

By Daniel 2 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Game Reviews, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

You know what this series reminds me of? The WCF of the NBA playoffs between San Antonio and Utah. Why? Well because Utah had no business being in the series. One of the ESPN analysts said it best when he said the series would go to five games. The Spurs would abuse the Jazz at home to go up 2-0, then Utah would play an inspired game three at home, then come back down and lose to a superior team. The Ducks lose game five on Wednesday when hell freezes over. Ottawa will see the best Ducks team game it has seen in the series, zero doubt!

emery_dive Ottawa pegged the hell out of Giguere in the first period on Monday night, but as usual, could not finish. Sure they got one with 0.3 seconds in the first, then followed that up by showing up flat in the second. Ottawa had a whole bunch of calls go their way as well. Chris Neil is a pansy, Emery deserves some kind of acting award and Alfredsson will be lucky to survive game five to shake hands at the end.

Ottawa laid a huge egg and has no business being on the ice tomorrow. What were they thinking after the first, did they really think Anaheim wasn’t going to give everything they had? It was the biggest game of their lives, at home with the Canadian drowd, no Pronger. It was like a perfect storm of bad for the Ducks and good for the Senators. Good teams step up when they are faced with adversity, the Ducks are that team.

penner_gwg As for Chris Pronger, his presence was missed on the powerplay and in the corners. The Senators were banging Huskins and DiPenta around, jarring pucks loose and forcing them to make perfect passes to Ottawa’s point men. The forecheck also made Ric Jackman look downright scary, how many times did he hand the puck off? Does the coach bench him on Wednesday in favor of the defensive minded DiPenta who really didn’t look all that bad last night? Tough call, but I say you do it, because he doesn’t usually make those kind of mistakes in his own end and wont shoot enough from the point to get shots blocked like Jackman did. Plus, Joe D. has been on the team from the start of all this and simply deserves to be on the ice.

Another player who deserves to be on the ice for game five is Shawn Thornton. Why was he scratched for game four? Motzko and Carter? I am all for playing the right guys in a game, but I think that Thornton should be on the ice when the Ducks clinch. He has been a nice depth forward all season and has played his best hockey of the year in these finals, that fourth line was out of their mind in the first two games.

Come on boys, end this so we can stick it right up in the Kings face!

02
Jun

Pitter Patter - They Got One

By Daniel 10 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Game Reviews, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

First off, Chris Pronger shouldn’t be suspended. This hit by Alfredsson was more vicious then Pronger’s “elbow”, but I don’t expect anyone to agree with that. Did Pronger even extend his arm or did the guy just duck and run into it? Jesus, Ottawa fans are such babies. I don’t want to start to get a Sen’s fan complex, but if you want something to be looked at, how about some of those penalties called on the Ducks in the third, talk about larceny. It is unfortunate that he went down like he did, but it was hardly an infraction, quit being such tools, you won the game. A more obvious head shot was Neal on McDonald, though I am sure you all happened to turn your head right as he went in, surprisingly there was no call as well.

As for the game, sure the Senators played better and had a little bit more fire, but face it, that was the best Ottawa had to offer. On the flip side, that was hardly the Ducks best effort and still had a whole lot of chances, Emery (and the post) to the rescue. The right call was made on the Alfredsson goal, it hit his skate and went in, he swung his foot well after it was away from him, good goal. Another off of Pronger’s foot, another deflection, some throw-it-to-the-net goals.

Now about the Ducks goals. Emery better clean up his act, because all three of those were his fault. He is really bad at controlling rebounds, Getzlaf’s goal cements that. My bet, this only pisses off the Ducks players. They didn’t play a great game, took some bad penalties and for the most part were matching Ottawa from the drop of the puck. They won five games in a row, linking back to the previous series against Detroit. They will look at this as one that got away after leading and they let it go with poor sixty minute intensity. Time to start another streak of wins, two to be exact.

Congratulations to Ottawa, they deserved the win tonight, they wanted it more then the Ducks did. Should be a different team on Monday, I am willing to bet the team that shows up will be the cocky team that thinks it can tie a game up with only :30 seconds left in the third. Good luck in game four Senators and your fans, I think you are really going to need it.

PS: Bone head move for dressing Kunitz, I don’t care what a doctor says, he wasn’t healed. He wasted a bench spot for someone who could have played the entire game. What was wrong with sitting him one game, especially if they won tonight, you can afford to lose a game when you are up 3-0, not 2-0. Do you think he is done for the series NOW eh?

31
May

Ottawa, Be Yourself

By Daniel Closed
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Game Reviews, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

I was unable to watch the first period of this game do to unfortunate DVR malfunctions, but I heard it was a really good period, lots of hits and chances. I can talk about the rest of the game though because I watched that live.

You know what, it looked a lot like game one did. Physical from both sides, good chances in front of the net and turnovers from the Senators. Another thing I noticed is how I didn’t notice the Ottawa gunners when the shut down line was on the ice. The contrasting styles between Buffalo and Anaheim are pretty obvious. Team defense can stop a run and gun team, but doesn’t do as good when a team tries to go through you instead of around you.

This season is no different from the 2003 run in the sense of media coverage. I remember the praise that Steve Rucchin was getting for playing the same role Pahlsson is in this year. Even with a Selke nomination, people still couldn’t point out Sammy Pahlsson. I guess all it really takes is a finals appearance to garner some attention. Articles about Joe DiPenta and Kent Huskins were also floating around, Joe D. isn’t even playing. When you see Snoop Dogg in the crowd, you know we know hockey, give us oblivious-to-anything-outside-Orange-County citizens some credit.

This post really has nothing to add, it was a game one clone. My previous post about physicality also relates to this game. Ottawa does not want to get in to that and prove how tough they are, they took bad penalties for that stuff. Not that the Ducks can score on the powerplay though, so if you want to give a guy a two minute rest, tell him to take a penalty. The “faster ice” in Ottawa should help you guys skate more right? Well, then you can really open it up on the Ducks then and use some of that speed and short passing we have been hearing about. Don’t waste your energy proving you can take the bumps, you need that to finish periods or games.

How about this scenario. Ottawa is up by a goal or two with about ten minutes left in the third, but they have been banging with the Ducks all game long. Too tired to mount any kind of physical presence down low, the PPG line cycles the puck for a good minute or so, walks out in front of the net and pounds away until they chip one over a sprawling Emery. Your hearts sink and your will to continue playing are all but lost. Stick to skating and standing up for yourselves, don’t initiate anything. Did being really physical get you guys to this point or was it skating and scoring?

30
May

Feels Like the First Time

By Daniel 3 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Game Reviews, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

This doesn’t look good for all those people picking Ottawa in six, hell, even seven. Much like the previous series the Ducks have played in, the opposing goalie has stood on his head to keep his team close, only to break his teams heart when something goes in, like it’s Emery’s fault. The goal was not the best to let in, but he did bail his team out of about nine other times. Sure Ottawa came out and banged some more, the hit on Scott Niedermayer was solid, but you know it only riled the Ducks up. I think Ottawa has this whole thing twisted, they aren’t really playing their tempo and then they try to match the Ducks. Cute. You don’t bang with this team, it does not work like that. The Senators were tired at the end of the second and third and it was easy to see. Goes to show you how rolling four tired lines doesn’t match up well against a team that takes away your will and actually wants to go in to corners to get pucks when it counts.

On to Saturday, where we can have some real ice and then stop all these complaints about how bad it is in Anaheim and that is why Ottawa can’t get going. And the refs, yea they were absolutely horrible. Both sides of the ice fellahs. Score on the 5 on 3, then you have nothing to complain about.

30
May

Whine & Cheese - More of the Same

By Daniel 1 Comment
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Hockey, Players and Stanley Cup Finals

I think there were a couple of times last night where Ray Emery had the puck covered and there were two or three extra hacks at him… - Brian Murray

You know how you stop a player from sniffing around your net, poking your goalie? The same way you teach a cat to not claw your furniture or piss on your carpet, you smack it on the nose and give a stern NO! It is no different in this situation, if you want the Ducks to stop crashing the net, smack them on the nose, make it uncomfortable for them to be there. The referees will let you pound someone a little more in front of the net after the whistle or during a scramble for a loose puck. 

   

Where is the puck? Pahlsson and Niedermayer are both roaming around the net without a stick across their hands or a glove in their face. How many Senators does it take to not clear a puck? You leave Andy McDonald, all 5-11, 185lbs of him, untouched in front of the net. A guy can not score a goal if he is planted in the ice or has a glove in his face. If anyone comes around the Ducks net, they learn very quickly that they are not welcome and it will not be tolerated. Either you are going to sit in there and take the punishment or you are going to move. Tomas Holmstrom gave the Ducks fits in front of the net, that guy has some balls to stand in and take that, he was always causing a problem. That is a good example of what needs to be done.

The Senators were regularly out of position in game one, the Ducks seemed to always be behind them when it came to crease mayhem. What exactly were the Senators doing for eleven days? This was no secret in the three previous rounds, every goalie complained and commented on the traffic as did the coaches. The game plan is simple every time, get shots through and clean up anything that needs to be cleaned up. While none of the Ducks goals in game one were of this variety, you know it is coming some time down the line. Though Mike Comrie did get a goal like this, kind of, standing off to the side of the net.

We’re going hard to the net and we’re going to go try and score goals, we’re definitely not trying to do anything to provoke him or injure him, by any means. - Ryan Getzlaf

Why do I envision a smirk on Getzlaf’s face when he said that? I don’t think they are trying to injure anyone, but provoke, yes. You know that is part of the plan, to take the goalie out of his comfort zone, to make him think traffic is coming and I need to watch out for that. Less than 100% focus on the puck. The Ducks play until the whistle blows, maybe one extra poke or whack. You don’t like it, read the first paragraph. Ottawa doesn’t give it back, maybe they should try it out. Then again, we all saw what happened when you take a slapshot after the whistle blows. Either play tougher or turn the other cheek, but being bullied around figures to only help the Ducks. Seven more hours…

28
May

Same Old Song And Dance

By Daniel 5 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Game Reviews, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

Bad penalties, a couple power play goals, nothing 5-on-5, 5-on-3 chance, just enough goals to win. The Honda Center was rocking and game one was a damn good matchup. I was suprised to see how good the Senators were, but it wasn’t enough to win on this night.

The Ducks had seven penalties, one or two weren’t all that bad, but some were just plain stupid. Getzlaf’s cross-checking penalty that helped the Senators get the lead was plain useless. He got away with all of them except the last one, but he kept pounding away and that is what happens. The Jackman “clothesline” on Comrie was a stupid penalty as well, but Mike sure went limp pretty easily. And how about that 5-on-3? They sure make it interesting huh?

The Ducks shutdown line erased “those three” guys from the stats, only Alfredson had a point. They were also held without a shot in the first period, despite the first five to seven minute flurry by the Senators. Out scored them by one point and had a -3 to +3 +/- ratio, that isn’t a good stat.

For the Ducks goals, they were created by a turnover, a quick transition game from the Ducks defense and hard work down low with bad slot coverage. Drew Miller created the first goal with a great hit on Redden as he tried to chip the puck over Selanne who gloves the puck and gets it to McDonald for the quick wrist shot. Ric Jackman moved the puck up to Perry at the blueline who hit a gliding Getzlaf and squeked a weak backhander through Emery’s legs. (Why wasn’t he down?) Then the game winner from Travis Moen, from Rob Niedermayer from behind the net, skipping even.

Ottawa was by far the most physical team the Ducks have faced in the playoffs, but it was really only in the first period. The Ducks did the same thing and wore the Senators down as the game went to the third, very visible as Alfredsson and company kept fumbling the puck later in the game. This is what every game will look like for the Senators, the Ducks wont change their style no matter what the situation is and finishing checks is one of their keys

The PPG line was as advertised in this game, proving to be too much for Ottawa down low and the fourth line was as good as any line for the Ducks and played the best game of the season perhaps, Brad May actually contributed! Ryan Getzlaf is primed to take off in this series, he looks like he wants to shine on the brightest stage and boy do I hope he does.

As I said in one of my comments, I don’t think Anaheim has played its best yet. Tonight was one of their best all around games all year long, every line played great and gave the other team fits. There were only a couple shifts that looked bland and not very physical. Mainly the play of Teemu Selanne who had some odd choices of shots and pressure, but even he played pretty good over all. Once the Ducks can figure out how to slow down the Senators power play, much like they did for Detroit, then we can see how well Ottawa can play with some adversity. There were positives for Ottawa, but when your team combines for a -15 +/-, you have to be worried down the line. Not one Ottawa player was a plus and not one Ducks player was a minus. Can’t wait for Wednesday.

And can’t wait for the excuses…

25
May

Ghosts Pasts

By Daniel 8 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Ducks, Hockey and Stanley Cup Finals

“These guys, they’ve been on a mission all year and I was fortunate to be added late,” said May, a trade deadline-beating acquisition. “You come in here and you couldn’t help but feel the emotion and the sacrifice and see what these guys are willing to go through, and I’m really happy to be a part of it.” - LA Times

That is the team drive and you have heard it all year, since the trade that brought the Ducks in to the forefront, this team has had one binding mission and it is to bring all the hype to hush and prove that they are the best team in the league this year. No chip on their collective shoulders, they have done what it took to win. Detroit lost the the series? I am not so convinced. The more I think about it, the more I replay the end of games four and five on my DVR, the closing minutes were a team that knew what needed to be done. Detroit drove and drove at the end of game six, but couldn’t close, flip that coin and the Ducks got that goal.

I have heard all the talk about Ottawa missing out, being a disappointment these last few years. You would think that losing Chara would have killed them, but here they are, right where that guy couldn’t get them. I think that says a lot about a team’s composure. One of the knocks I have on them is that when you hear about why they made it this year and not in the past, is because Daniel Alfredsson stepped up and truly became the leader. So who is beating the Ducks, Alfredsson or the Senators?

I am willing to bet if you could measure desire and determination, the Ducks would have this one in the bag. Listen to Ryan Getzlaf speak in interviews about the team, he speaks as a born leader and he is 22, so many generals in a locker room. I don’t think the Ducks have even peaked yet, they haven’t played their best game and i’ll bet those who watch the Ducks with a passion could agree with that. If this team is on, you won’t beat them. Brad May is a dick, but those are some true words above, from someone who has seen these playoffs many times. Can’t help but feel good about the Ducks.

23
May

Ducks vs Senators - The Blog Wars

By Daniel 2 Comments
Categories: 07 Playoffs, Blog, Ducks, Hockey, Misc and Stanley Cup Finals

                                        Chris Pronger                                                                             Danny Heatley

             VS           

Playoff Beard.com

Oh man, this is going to be a blast. My buddy Dan (–who sent me the team picture on the previous post, happy now?–) asked if the Senator blogger’s were going to be like the Red Wings. Now, I really didn’t seek out anyone last series, I just sit back and do my own thing and let things come to me. But I was curious, so I took a gander at what a Senators blog might be saying, a confident group I must say.

Their first 2 series were forgone conclusions and almost impossible to watch. I thought the Wings lost that series more than the Ducks won it.

Then some argument about how Zetterburg and Datsyuk each had six points and flew around the ice uncontested. They have played better forwards in Buffalo and in Pittsburgh and the Ducks powerplay is mediocre. The Ducks hit early, but not late in games and not for a whole series. And Carlyle is as a good a coach as Niedermayer, Pronger and Giguere.

Objection! - Sustained! - Your honor?!? - What counselor?

The Penguins and Devils weren’t exactly awesome competition either. Detroit’s studs scored on the powerplay for 150% of their points, free roaming I think not. Buffalo may be deeper as far as all around 1-4 lines, but yea right, who has been as talented and as sized as the PPG line? I am not sure what to say about the powerplay line, I think the Senators should take some penalties and test that one out. I wont even talk about the physicality of the Ducks, that was just stupid to say that. As for Randy Carlyle, whatever, that one will be determined when this series is all over and Ottawa got a sniff at winning more then one game.

We have too many days now to sit at our desks or on the couch and bitch at each other about how kick ass our respective teams are and how much the other team sucks. I can not wait to hear the jokes about Disney, cartoons, video games, the movies and the market that the Ducks play in. We already know that California is not a hockey market, we don’t give a damn, that, along with the Coach Bombay jokes are over ten years old. I fell like I am in junior high hearing ‘Yo Momma’ jokes, oh snaps, heard that one before.

Believe this though, the series wont even be close. Ray Emery isn’t half of any of the three goalies the Ducks just roasted.