Has Giguere jumped the shark?

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.

Rangers 4, Ducks 2.

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.” »

Ducks 3, Wild 0.

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.” »

Ducks won’t face Crosby tonight.

PITTSBURGH (AP)–Pittsburgh PenguinscaptainSidney Crosbyruled 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.”

Brendan Shanahan joins the New Jersey devils.

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.

On Bobby Ryan’s hat trick last night…

Last night in Los Angeles, right wingBobby Ryanbecame 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 byTeemu Selanneon 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’sRay Whitneyon 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)