January 2009 Archives
One question: Who do you like in the Super Bowl?
Continue reading Who does your favorite Duck like in the Super Bowl?.
After gaining the official "Mr. Duck" title early, Teemu Selanne scored the game-winner late on - get this - an even-strength goal. Selanne hadn't scored an even-strength goal since Oct. 14 against the Kings, before cramming the puck past Avs goalie Peter Budaj in a scramble at 5:07 of the third period Saturday.
Continue reading Ducks 4, Avalanche 3..
Teemu Selanne is playing for the Ducks right now against the Colorado Avalanche, thus making it official: He has passed Steve Rucchin for most games played for the Anaheim (617) franchise. Selanne also is the Ducks' career leader in goals (339), assists (377), points (716), plus-minus rating (+109), power-play points (130), game-winning goals (56), game-tying goals (9).
Remember Brandon Bochenski?
He was the second-line forward briefly employed by the Ducks last season before Teemu Selanne un-retired and took his place in the lineup for the remainder of the year. Bochenski was dealt last Feb. 26 to the Nashville Predators for "future considerations" -- no telling if Bob Murray is done considering Bochenski's value -- and the forward has spent the entire 2008-09 season in the AHL.
Continue reading Carlyle, Ebbett on second-line shuffle..
Forward Todd Marchant will see a hand specialist to have a pin removed from his left little finger Monday, and hopes to play shortly thereafter. "Keep your fingers crossed," he said, noting the irony, after Friday's practice.
"I'm able to do pretty much whatever I can right now. I'm able to skate every day, stay in shape. I haven't missed a day since ... two days after the surgery. I don't anticipate it being much longer after the pin's removed."
Marchant hasn't played since January 8, and underwent surgery to place the pin four days later. Without him in the lineup, the Ducks are 3-6.
Added Randy Carlyle: "If he can bear through the pain, he'll play. ... They feel that it'll be a matter of taping the fingers together, making the configuration of his glove a little different."
Teemu Selanne admitted that he wasn't at 100 percent when he returned to the lineup Wednesday night against Chicago after missing about a month with a lacerated quadriceps tendon. Which begs the question, if the Ducks' playoff hopes weren't so perilous, would he have waited to come back to the lineup?
Continue reading Teemu says he wasn't rushed back..
Watching Jean-Sebastien Giguere surrender goals in practice isn't painful; these things happen and besides, it's just practice. Watching Giguere react to each goal he allowed this morning was like pulling teeth.
"I don't like having pucks in my net. I don't know if you ever noticed that, but there's never going to be a puck in my net when I'm in there," he said - and sure enough, Giguere found himself looking back and swiping more than a few wayward pucks out from behind. Often, this was after he took a few seconds to lean down and collect his thoughts, possibly even to regain his composure.
Continue reading Jiggy talks about his struggles..
The Ducks and enforcer George Parros agreed today to a three-year contract extension worth $875,000 per year. Parros gets a raise of $325,000, and his status as a fan favorite makes him worth arguably more to the franchise. It's helped that he has showed skills beyond fighting this season, with a career-high three goals and eight points through 45 games.
"It feels great," Parros said. "I'm really happy that they wanted to, that they were interested in talking early. This is where I wanted to play, that's why we got a deal done before the deadline. I think we're both thrilled."
Continue reading Parros is coming back, back, back. Updated w/quotes..
Travis Moen
We came out and knew what we had to do, throw lots of rubber at the goalie, get in front of him and try to screen him. We just needed a few more bounces. I thought we worked extremely hard tonight. We just didn't quite get the win.
It's frustrating any time you lose. We went to
Teemu Selanne
I really believe that if we can keep this effort, we are going to win a lot of games. The third period was totally ours. That is a good sign. It's something that we have to build on.
On returning to the lineup
Continue reading Ducks postgame quotes..
Another to throw into the shoulda-would-coulda pile; a narrow loss that could have gone either way but didn't. The Ducks never led, and if you believe in momentum you can take solace that the Ducks at least had that on their side the entire third period of a one-goal game. But it never translated to that critical equalizer.
Continue reading 'Hawks 3, Ducks 2..
Teemu Selanne took part in a pregame skate for the first time since that fateful December day in Edmonton when his skate blade poked a hole in his quadricep ... and joined the bench to start the game.
He is on the second line with Bobby Ryan and Brendan Morrison.
The other lines are the same as last night:
Perry-Getzlaf-Kunitz
Moen-Pahlsson-R.Niedemayer
Parros-Carter-Miller
S.Niedermayer-Festerling
Pronger-Mikkelson
Montador-Hedican
In the most recent battle for the underhyped title of who-should-the-Ducks-have-kept-as-their-backup-goalie, both Jonas Hiller and Ilya Bryzgalov looked very disinterested in claiming bragging rights.
Ten goals, 63 shots on goal, and clearly the message to the Ducks' skaters got through. With Bob Murray putting his team on notice over the weekend that he's willing to shake up the roster if they can't play themselves into contention, maybe every man (finally) played this game as if he could be on the trading block. (Clearly, Hiller wasn't bothered by this prospect).
Continue reading Ducks 7, Coyotes 3. Updated with quotes..
This latest example of the Ducks making a difference in the community is more for the female set, but I'm throwing it out there for any Francois Beauchemin and Bobby Ryan fans out there...
Continue reading Ducks/CHOC Fashion Show..
It only took a couple days ... here is the video of the on-ice attack that put Ducks prospect Steve Kampfer in the hospital:
No surprise here - the Ducks brought back Drew Miller and Brendan Mikkelson from Iowa. They'll be on the roster for tomorrow's game in Phoenix.
Miller has scored 0-2=2 points with a +1 rating and seven penalty minutes in eight games with the Ducks this season. Mikkelson is scoreless with eight PIM in 11 games with Anaheim this season.
Asked about the Chris Pronger-to-the-Maple Leafs rumour begun in the Ottawa Sun, Ducks GM Bob Murray had this to say: "Brian and I have emailed
each other today about 7 times and not once was there any talk of a trade. It
was about one of our former draft picks who got hurt in a game, Steve Kampfer. That's
what got talked about."
Continue reading Steve Kampfer update..
Defenseman Kent Huskins underwent surgery today on his fractured right foot at the Kerlan-Jobe Center in Los Angeles. Huskins, who hasn't played since Dec. 31, will miss an additional 4-6 weeks. Team doctors didn't expect Huskins to require surgery initially, but apparently the bone wasn't healing as hoped for. Huskins had surgery to stabilize the fracture by inserting two screws into the ankle. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ken Jung.
This would appear to leave an opening for a defenseman (probably Brendan Mikkelson) to come up from Iowa, but no moves are expected today.
The NHL players won't be striking anytime soon. Its Players' Association announced this morning it will not terminate the Collective Bargaining Agreement ratified after the 2004-05 lockout, an option they had written into the CBA when it was ratified in '05. There was healthy speculation that they would.
The full text of today's announcement from Jonathan Weatherdon of the NHLPA:
Continue reading NHLPA won't terminate CBA..
Perhaps to get them more playing time in the minors -- or in anticipation that Todd Marchant, Teemu Selanne and Kent Huskins are going to be ready to play in the next six days -- the Ducks sent Drew Miller, Troy Bodie and Brendan Mikkelson back to Iowa.
Miller had two assists in eight games, Bodie was scoreless in a brief three-game stint, and Mikkelson was scoreless in an otherwise fairly productive 11 NHL games. With the all-star break beginning, the Ducks don't play again until Jan. 27 in Phoenix, so there was no use keeping any of the three up, regardless of whether or not they'll be coming back. Which they might. Stay tuned.
The difference in this game was the aforementioned performance of J-S Giguere; if you exclude the two goals he allowed in the first period (on the Islanders' first seven shots), this is a spectacular goalie duel between Jonas Hiller and Jann Danis.
Instead, it's the Ducks' second straight loss and their sixth in their last eight games heading into the All-Star break. The Islanders were riding an 8-game losing streak of their own coming into this one.
Continue reading Islanders 2, Ducks 1..
Mark it down: At 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time in Uniondale, New York, Jean-Sebastien Giguere became the Ducks' No. 2 goaltender.
The Islanders' Kurtis McLean, playing his second NHL game, wound up a one-timer and fired it past Giguere to give New York a 2-0 lead. The first period wasn't quite over yet, and it was only the Isles' seventh shot of the game. Randy Carlyle pointed to Jonas Hiller, Giguere skated to the bench, then smashed his stick repeatedly against the bench - nearly maiming Brett Festerling in the process. (Festerling, to his credit, has already learned how to get out of the way quickly during his rookie season).
We'll keep you posted on the proceedings from The Couch.
A typical Ducks loss in New York City -- they kept a good team close, but were never in control. Markus Naslund made it 1-0 with a power play goal in the first period, but Bobby Ryan answered with a power-play goal of his own a minute later. Sjostrom scored short-handed early in the second to make it 2-1, but Corey Perry scored at even-strength late in the period to tie it up.
Six seconds after a Ducks power play expired in the third period, Samuel Pahlsson was hit with interference and Scott Gomez scored the eventual game-winner on the ensuing power play, beating Jonas Hiller backdoor. That was made possible by Markus Nasland digging both his skates into the crease (check out the video here, it was blatant) then dishing a very short pass to Gomez.
An empty-netter by Blair Betts sealed the deal after the Ducks couldn't take advantage of a 6-on-4 advantage late.
Continue reading Rangers 4, Ducks 2..
On another light day for Ducks news, the San Jose Sharks have recalled 43-year-old Claude Lemieux from their AHL affiliate today, the AP reports.
Fantasy ice boxing enthusiasts who have dreamed of a Claude Lemieux-George Parros bout may well get their wish...
On a light day of Ducks news, here's an interesting story about a panel discussion among doctors and former players (including Eric Lindros) about the harmful effects of concussions. Among the ideas proposed to combat concussions: switching from 5-on-5 to 4-on-4 matches.
The Ducks snapped out of their funk in a major way at the Xcel Energy Center, notching their first shutout since January 4 and their second win in their last six outings.
This one was the handiwork of Jonas Hiller, who got the start after Jean-Sebastien Giguere absorbed the loss a day earlier in Pittsburgh. Although some of the Ducks' deficiencies against the Penguins (who outhit them and took advantage of several giveaways) were still evident, Hiller atoned for them.
Continue reading Ducks 3, Wild 0..
Both Randy Carlyle and Jean-Sebastien Giguere said the Ducks "found a way to lose" their last home game, 4-3 to Detroit on Wednesday.
They just did it again in Pittsburgh, losing 3-1 to a Penguins team that was missing Sidney Crosby and had lost 8 of its last 10 games.
Continue reading Penguins 3, Ducks 1..
PITTSBURGH (AP)--Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby ruled himself out of Friday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks because of an apparent left knee injury.
Crosby was hurt late in the Penguins' 6-3 loss to Washington on Wednesday. He did not try to skate Thursday but said he hoped to play against the Ducks.
When he got onto the ice during Friday's pre-game skate, he realized that wouldn't be possible.
"I don't feel comfortable enough to play," Crosby said. "It didn't feel good."
Ducks rookie winger Bobby Ryan was named the second star of the week today by the NHL. The full list:
Continue reading Bobby Ryan is NHL's 2nd star of the week..
Seems like just yesterday, doesn't it, that Mats Sundin joined the Vancouver Canucks a day before they were set to play the Ducks.
Tonight, the Kings are playing the Devils, the team that drafted the great Brendan Shanahan No. 2 overall in 1987, one the same day that Shanahan agrees in prinicple to sign with New Jersey. The Devils visit the Ducks tomorrow but (reading between the lines of Lou Lamoriello's comment that "he certainly will not be rushed into anything") Shanahan won't be in uniform this weekend.
Be sure to wave to the hype train as it passes through Southern California.
Last night in Los Angeles, right wing Bobby Ryan became the first rookie in Ducks history to record a hat trick...his three goals in a 2:21 span (which tied score 3-3) were the fastest three goals scored by a Ducks player in club history, besting the 12:18 mark held by Teemu Selanne on Nov. 10, 1997 vs. San Jose....it marked the fastest three goals by an NHL rookie since 1938 (Detroit's Carl Liscombe, vs. Chicago on 3/13/38, 1:52) and the third fastest overall by a rookie in league history (record held by Boston's Harry Oliver, vs. Chicago on 1/11/27, 1:25)...the last time any player in the NHL scored three goals faster was CAR's Ray Whitney on Feb. 8, 2007...in addition, it was only the third natural hat trick overall by a Ducks player (last: Selanne, 11/26/99 at Dallas)...Ryan became the ninth different Duck to record a hat trick - which was the 27th overall in club history.
(historical research courtesy Elias Sports Bureau)
It's the first trade between the Ducks and Brian Burke's Maple Leafs and (sorry, Toronto) it didn't involve Ryan Getzlaf going to Toronto. Instead, Brad May is gone in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2010 entry draft, which becomes the Ducks' if May re-signs with the Leafs.
Continue reading Brad May dealt to Toronto..
The NHL suspended the star forward four games without pay
for elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux during the third period
of the Ducks' 4-3 shootout loss Friday. Perry was second on the team with 34
points, including a goal and an assist against the Flyers.
"I didn't know what to expect, but that's what they came
down with," Perry said. "I didn't mean to hurt him, but I have to live with it.
It's a tough situation and I know they're trying to crack down on that kind of
thing. So, I guess they gave me what I deserve."
According to a statement released by the NHL, Perry will forfeit $114,516.12 to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
The Ducks recalled Drew Miller from Iowa today. They had one extra roster spot available, and Miller -- who was leading the Chops in goals (16) and was second in points (27) at the time of his recall -- gets it. It's the third straight season he's dropped by Anaheim.
"I'm sure there's a lot of people from there that voted for me, I guess," Jean-Sebastien Giguere said when I asked him about the possible Montreal voting contingent that elected the Ducks' goalie to his first all-star game on Saturday. That's right -- Jiggy has never made an NHL all-star game either as a starter or as a backup. But if he's healthy come Jan. 25, he'll be between the pipes to start the game for the Western Conference in his native Montreal.
Continue reading Giguere, S.Niedermayer, Getzlaf are all-stars..
From the unofficial ranking department: Sports Illustrated has named Ducks color analyst Brian Hayward the best in the NHL. Check it out here (Vin Scully fans -- you won't be disappointed, either).
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
Recent Comments
johntmeyer on On the third day, the Ducks rest.: Did my com
johntmeyer on On the third day, the Ducks rest.: Hi JP, My
johnmartinmaher on Ducks prospect Macenauer out 'quite a length of time.': Great work
iain on Agent's interview sparks Niedermayers-to-Vancouver rumor: You wanted
dirtmover on Ducks 2, Sharks 0.: What a gre
Mitleid on Ott's suspension is up.: A lot of p
Tinky Winky on What $1.99 buys you nowadays.: 1.99 can b
Jacob Pomrenke on Who are you, and what are you doing here?: At least y
Jeff Gluck on My Motocross cherry is broken.: Did you wa