April 2009 Archives

The Ducks have landed in Detroit. Check out these Ducks-Red Wings premature prognostications:

-- SI.com's Allan Muir picks the Wings in 6 here. Reach for the dictionary to find "milquetoast," Ducks fans, then send him a nasty e-mail.

-- Also on SI, NHL editor Kostya Kennedy gives some love to the Ducks' D.

-- NHL.com staff picks Dan Cleary as the potential series-changer here. Sheldon Brookbank might have something to say about that.

-- Bill Beacon (Red Wings) and Chris Johnston (Ducks) split their series picks on the Sporting News' web site.

Game 1: Friday, May 1	at Detroit, 4:00 p.m.	VERSUS, TSN2
Game 2: Sunday, May 3	at Detroit, 11:00 a.m.	NBC, TSN
Game 3: Tuesday, May 5	at Anaheim, 7:30 p.m.	VERSUS, TSN
Game 4: Thursday, May 7	at Anaheim, 7:30 p.m.	VERSUS, TSN
Game 5: *Sunday, May 10	at Detroit, 2:00 p.m.	TSN
Game 6: *Tuesday, May 12	at Anaheim, TBD	VERSUS, TSN
Game 7: *Thursday, May 14	at Detroit, TBD	VERSUS, TSN

 

- Courtesy of NHL.com, which hasn't figured in the possibilities of Game 5 being televised anywhere outside Canada. We'll keep you posted.

NHL.com posted a just-the-facts-ma'am recap of the Red Wings-Ducks regular season series, which as we all know means absolutely nothing come playoff time. Still, for old times' sake: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420471&navid=DL|NHL|Home

The Ducks will play Game 1 of their second-round series against the Detrtoit Red Wings at 4 p.m. Friday at Joe Louis Arena and Game 2 there at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The Ducks announced that tickets for their second-round playoff series vs. the Detroit Red Wings will go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. All three potential home games (Game 3, 4 and 6) will go on sale on Wednesday. Tickets may be purchased online at AnaheimDucks.com, or by phone with Ticketmaster at (714) 703-2545. Tickets may also be purchased at the Honda Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations in Southern California on a first-come, first-served basis.

Individual game tickets for the second round start at $65.50, with all tickets matching 2008 playoff prices. The Ducks will also have playoff strips available to remaining 2009 Stanley Cup Playoff games at Honda Center for those who place a deposit on a 2009-10 ticket plan (full, half or mini-plan). Playoff strip tickets begin at $13.50 per ticket, per game for the second round (total cost for all three potential rounds start at $216 with a full season deposit). The Ducks' Western Conference Semifinal schedule vs. Detroit has not yet been announced by the League.

With tonight's series-clinching win, the Ducks own an all-time record of 11-4 in games in which they can clinch a series, including a 9-0 mark at Honda Center.

Anaheim advances to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history, the third time in the last four years and fourth in the last six NHL seasons.

Tonight's victory improved the Ducks' record in Game 6 contests to 6-1.

The Ducks also improved their lifetime postseason record at Honda Center to 29-15 (.659 win percentage).

Ryan Getzlaf has earned points in four consecutive games (1-5=6). He leads Anaheim and ranks tied for second in the NHL in postseason scoring (2-6=8). He also co-leads the NHL in postseason assists with six.

Corey Perry has a three-game goal streak (3-1=4), which is tied for the NHL postseason lead (also Ryder, Malkin, Ryan, Parise and Ovechkin (active)).

Teemu Selanne scored his 10th career playoff game-winning goal and first since Game 5 of the WCF on May 20, 2007 at Detroit.

Chris Pronger has recorded points in three of the last four games (1-3=4), including two assists tonight.

Scott Niedermayer has earned points in two consecutive games (0-3=3).

Registering a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game -- The Gordie Howe Hat Trick -- is named, of course, for Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. That only made it that much easier for us writer-types to point out the irony of Ryan Getzlaf punching his team's ticket to the Motor City with said feat in the Ducks' series-clinching win over the Sharks.

That's a good question. And a short list. 

Remember just two weeks ago, when a few people out there (though they were in the minority) were actually suggesting that Jean-Sebastien Giguere should be the Ducks' starting goalie to start the playoffs?

How many historical precedents did the Ducks buck Monday?

Game summary here; event summary here; quotes and notes to follow.

At the 6:02 mark of overtime, Patrick Marleau pushed the puck across the line underneath the glove of Jonas Hiller, sending a sold-out HP Pavilion into a frenzy. The goal was upheld upon review, and the series will shift back to Anaheim on Monday with the Ducks leading 3-2.

Game summary here; event summary here.

If the series makes it back to Anaheim on Monday, Game 6 between the Sharks and the Ducks will start at 7:30 p.m. The complete schedule for Game 5-7, as far as we know it...

We'll start with my favorite, from Bobby Ryan, when asked if he felt the earthquake between the first and second period: "Randy was ranting and raving a little bit. That's the only earthquake we heard."

Onto the rest...

• With tonight's win, Anaheim has a lifetime postseason record of 11-5 in the fourth game of a series (16 total playoff series). The Ducks also improved their lifetime postseason record at Honda Center to 28-15 (.651 win percentage).

• Tonight marked the Ducks' first home shutout in the postseason since May 30, 2007 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals vs. Ottawa.

• Bobby Ryan now co-leads the NHL in playoff goal scoring (with Michael Ryder, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel).

• Ryan's two goals tonight marked the second time in franchise history that a rookie has scored multiple goals in a postseason game. Francois Beauchemin also scored two goals in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfianls on April 25, 2006 vs. Calgary. He also has a three-game goal streak (4-0=4), equaling the longest playoff goal streak in the NHL (Ryder, Evgeni Malkin and Zach Parise).

• Ryan Whitney has a four-game point streak (0-4=4), co-leading the NHL for the longest point streak of the postseason (also Ryder, Sidney Crosby, Kessel, Martin and Johan Franzen).

• In his first four career NHL playoff games, Jonas Hiller has stopped 139-of-145 shots for a .959 save and 1.51 goals-against average (6 goals against in 239 minutes). He now leads the NHL in postseason shutouts with two, stopping all 31 shots he faced tonight.

• Ryan Getzlaf has earned points in three of the Ducks' four postseason contests (one goal, four assists), including two assists tonight.

• With two points tonight (goal, assist), Corey Perry matched his single-game playoff high for points in a game.

• Tonight's attendance was 16,830.

... and the Ducks take a 3-1 lead in the series.

...you might remember April Whang. She was recently killed in a drunk driving-related accident, and Anaheim Ice is hosting a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) fundraiser in her honor on April 26, from 1-3 p.m.

But you knew that already, right?

• The Ducks will take on the Sharks in Game 4 on Thursday, Apr. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in San Jose. Anaheim has a lifetime postseason record of 10-5 in the fourth game of a series (over 15 total playoff series).

• Ryan Whitney has a three-game point streak (0-3=3), having earned an assist in each of the Ducks three postseason games.

• James Wisniewski scored his first career playoff goal tonight. He has earned points in two consecutive games (1-1=2).

• Bobby Ryan has a two-game goal streak (2-0=2), with both being scored on the power play.

• Ryan Getzlaf has earned points in two of the Ducks' three postseason contests (1-2=3).

• In his first three career playoff games, Jonas Hiller has stopped 108 of 114 shots for a .947 SV% and 2.01 GAA (6 GA/179 MIN).

• Tonight's attendance was 16,277.

Another great, close game.

The Ducks reported two healthy and happy additions this morning. 

Emily Beauchemin weighed in at  7 lbs, 13 oz and is 19.5 inches long. Congratulations to father Francois, mom Marie Claude and big brother, Samuel. Bradley David Marchant was born at 11:51 a.m.; he weighs 7 lbs, 6 oz and is 20 inches long. Congrats to dad Todd, mom Caroline, big sisters Lillian and Ashley and big brother Timothy.

On playing to the game plan:

I don't know if you can say that it was a perfect hockey game on our part, by any stretch of the imagination. We took far too many penalties, the number one thing. We gave ourselves a taxing even on the penalty kill. We took consecutive penalties, really wore our penalty killers out, some of the players who play that role, specifically it's really tough on your goaltender if you're going to continue to take penalties. A couple of them were in the offensive zone, which were a big no-no. I think we've talked and talked and talked and talked about taking penalties. We're slow learners, I guess.

Game 1 is in the books. Your game summary is here; event summary here; quotes and details to follow.

The Ducks announced today that Game 3 (Apr. 21, 7:30 p.m.) of their first-round series with the San Jose Sharks will be carried on VERSUS and Game 7 (Apr. 29, time TBD) can be seen on Fox Sports WEST. In addition, the radio broadcast for Game 5 has been moved to KTLK AM 1150. Here's the rest of the schedule and, in case you missed it, here's my series preview.

Set your TiVos, Ducks fans ...

Sometime over the course of his 527 games in a Ducks uniform, it became a foregone conclusion that Samuel Pahlsson would be asked to defend the opposing team's best center. So much so that, it was a question you didn't bother asking Randy Carlyle.

Whenever the Ducks played the Sharks, Pahlsson put the Thorn in Joe Thornton. But now he's playing for the Chicago Blackhawks. So who will draw the assignment against San Jose's dangerous center in the Ducks' first-round series against the Sharks?

At Monday's morning practice, Todd Marchant was wearing one of the short-lived "FOCUS" T-shirts that he put together prior to last year's first-round playoff series against Dallas. He was unbothered by the superstitious reprecussion that, just maybe, wearing the shirt he rolled out before an early playoff exit last year might have the same effect this year.

Marchant was also unconcerned with coming up with a new T-shirt for this year, a task which has unofficially fallen upon his torso after what happened during the 2007 playoffs.

Here's how the Ducks and Sharks did in their six regular-season meetings (with a Sharks slant)...

With the Iowa Chops' season dead and done (two points out of the West basement), one-third of the team will join the Ducks for the first round of the playoffs.

Centers Petri Kontiola and Petteri Wirtanen, left wings Josh Green and Matt Beleskey, defensemen Brian Salcido and Brett Festerling, along with goaltender Jean-Philippe Levasseur have all been recalled.

Kontiola was acquired in the Samuel Pahlsson trade from Chicago; Levasseur was up briefly in December but did not appear in a game. Wirtanen, Beleskey, Salcido and Festerling all had cups of coffee with the Ducks recently. Green did not, but has 322 NHL games under his belt, mostly with the Kings.

It's the first-ever Stanley Cup playoff series between two teams in California since 1969 (that classic Seals-Kings matchup). Go figure how it took so long.

...Still undecided.

Bring on the playoffs! (Read: No more shootouts, please).

Scott Niedermayer

We didn't come out and play the way we wanted to in the start. As the game went on, we just got better and better and back to doing the things that we have done in the last stretch here. That is good. Tomorrow night we just need to keep doing that. It's another two big points on the line.

On getting into the playoffs: We've come together to push us into the playoffs and give us an opportunity to see what we can do there. It's always nice to have that opportunity. We've had more consistency and playing the way we need to. You only have success when you play as a team. We're just playing harder as a team.

Francois Beauchemin

On returning from his injury: Overall, I think I felt alright. I got the puck early on a couple of breakouts, offensive zone faceoffs and all that stuff. I didn't run out of breath. Conditioning-wise, I felt actually almost better than ever. The knee had no problems. I hit a couple of guys. I didn't feel a thing tonight. That is good news.

On the reaction from the fans in the first period: It was unbelievable. I really didn't expect it. I had some butterflies. I didn't really want to leave the back of the net. The guys were changing, so I just did the control breakout and then I heard the crowd go. I was looking for a fight somewhere, but there wasn't. That was quite something. I appreciate that.

Randy Carlyle

On getting into the playoffs: We're in. You work all year. You start in September with your group and you have visions of playing in the playoffs. It's a marathon that we just are about to complete with one more game in Phoenix. It again is an important game for us from a standpoint of improving our position. It's amazing that all of these games have had a certain degree of importance. Tomorrow is no different.

On the turning point: We battled. We had a lot of turmoil around our group. It just seemed that for a good period of this year, we were floundering one way or another. We weren't playing very well as a team. More desperation came in and we settled. We knew what our group of players was going to be. There was more of an ability to play together and not worry about any other distractions other than playing for the crest on the front of the sweater. Everybody was an Anaheim Duck. We played well as a team. It's a tribute to the players. They did it. They're the ones that should be commended because they're the ones that put in the work day in and day out.

• With tonight's win, the Ducks have clinched Stanley Cup playoff berth for the fourth consecutive year, a franchise record, and the seventh time overall. The Ducks' first-round opponent and series dates will be announced on Sunday.

 

• The Ducks reached the 90-point mark for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in club history.

 

• The Ducks have won two straight, five of the last six games (5-1-0), 10 of the last 12 (10-2-0) and 11-of-14 (11-3-0).

 

• Tonight's win brought Anaheim's shootout total to 7-2 on the season. The Ducks have won their last four consecutive shootout appearances.

• Andrew Ebbett has earned 3-5=8 points in the last 10 games, including a goal tonight.

 

• With an assist tonight, Teemu Selanne extended his point streak to six games (3-4=7).

• Jonas Hiller has won eight of his last nine starts (8-1-0, one no decision), stopping 42-of-45 shots in his 23rd win of the season. During that span, he has stopped 270-of-293 shots for a .922 save percentage and 2.34 GAA (23 GA/589 min). Hiller has gone 5-1 in the shootout this season.

 

• With an assist tonight, Corey Perry extended his point streak to four games (3-3=6). 

• Scott Niedermayer has earned 2-4=6 points in the last five games. His two points tonight (1-1=2) accounted for his 16th multiple-point game of the season (one multi goal, 11 multi-assist).

• James Wisniewski has collected six assists (0-6=6) over the last eight games.

• Todd Marchant scored his fifth goal of the season and has earned points in consecutive games (1-1=2).

 

• Petteri Nokelainen has earned points in consecutive games (1-1=2).

After fighting back to earn a spot in the West's top 8, the Ducks clinched a playoff berth by backing into it. It's their fourth playoff appearance in as many years, and they'll take it. They clinched once the teams finished tied, 3-3 after three periods. That standings point, combined with Nashville's 8-4 loss to Minnesota earlier in the evening, means the Ducks can finish no worse than eighth in the Western Conference standings.

Ducks fans better hope that Dallas' Mike Ribeiro has used them all up ... or rather, that tonight's game simply doesn't go into a shootout. This between-the-legs floater won the game last night in Colorado:

Ducks GM Bob Murray lives in Chicago, so he won't have to spend too much to ship a bouquet of flowers to the Blackhawks. Their win yesterday over Nashville means the Ducks need just one more win, either Friday against the Dallas Stars or Saturday in Phoenix, to clinch a playoff berth. Anyone hoping to celebrate the occasion in person (or simply hoping to get revenge on Dallas for last season) is rooting for a win Friday.

From http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=417121:

"I met with the doctor Sunday during the game [against San Jose]," Beauchemin said. "We came to the conclusion that I can go hard this week. If there's no soreness or setback, maybe there's a possibly that I play this weekend."

The Ducks have signed right wing Dan Sexton to a two-year entry-level contract.

The Anaheim Ducks announced today changes to the final two games of the 2008-09 regular season broadcast schedule. On Friday, Apr. 10, the club's contest vs. Dallas has been moved to KTLK 1150 AM (7:05 p.m. PDT, KDOC-TV). On Saturday, Apr. 11, the club's contest at Phoenix will now be televised on FS West (5 p.m. PDT). That game will be heard as scheduled on KLAA AM 830.

Even if George Parros doesn't go on to win the NHL's Masterton Trophy, at least one player in the Ducks' system will have been rewarded for his perseverance.

The Anaheim chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' association today officially nominated George Parros for the Masterton Trophy, given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

• The Ducks have won four of the last five games (4-1-0), nine of the last 11 (9-2-0) and 10-of-13 (10-3-0).

• Anaheim extended its power play goal streak to seven consecutive games, going 10-for-27 (37.0%) during that stretch. In the last four contests, the club has gone six-for-eight on the power play for a 75.0% success rate.

• Over the past seven games, the Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry line has earned 15-19=34 points. During that span, Getzlaf has collected 2-11=13 points, Perry with 7-4=11 points and Ryan earning 6-4=10 points.

• Veteran Jeremy Roenick went so far as to say (which needs a nickname, by the way; they figure to be skating together for quite some time) "That line might be one of the best in the National Hockey League, to tell you the truth. They are very difficult to contain. I think Getzlaf, in my opinion, is one of the top five best hockey players in the League, in terms of his grit and ability. It's a challenge for us. You can't say enough about Bobby Ryan. He's had an unbelievable season and so has Perry. "

• With an assist tonight, Ryan Getzlaf extended his point streak to six games (2-11=13). His assist accounted for his 90th point of the campaign (25-65=90), becoming just the third player in franchise history to reach the 90-point mark in one season (also Selanne and Kariya, multiple seasons).

• With his assist tonight, Teemu Selanne moved into a share of 42nd place with Bernie Nicholls on the NHL's all-time scoring list, bringing his career point total to 578-631=1209 in 1130 games. He also extended his point streak to five games, having earned 3-3=6 points during the span.

• Corey Perry has a five-game goal streak at HOME (5-2=7) and extended his overall point streak to three consecutive games (3-2=5).

It's not a question of who is the Ducks' number one goaltender in the mind of Randy Carlyle. It's "1-A and 1-B," an answer repeated so often that the question of who the Ducks' number one is at the moment wasn't even asked last night.

Randy Carlyle confirmed what has been on the mind of Ducks fans since ... well, maybe since the Randy Carlyle era began.

Sharks defenseman Marc-Eduoard Vlasic pushed Ryan Getzlaf into his own goaltender, Brian Boucher, and Getzlaf was assessed a two-minute minor for goalie interference. 

The Ducks recalled hard-hitting forward Troy Bodie from Iowa prior to tonight's game against San Jose at Honda Center. Bodie is not in the lineup against the Sharks.

The Ducks went up 2-0 in the first six minutes, saw it evaporate over the next 20, then scored the game's final three goals to win an incredibly critical game against a possible first-round playoff opponent.

You can call it an "extra" point, but don't call it a "bonus" point. Corey Perry's shootout goal against Roberto Luongo gave the Ducks a point they badly needed, on a night when the St. Louis Blues upset the Detroit Red Wings to tighten up the bottom of the playoff race.

Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne each scored twice, and Perry added a goal in regulation.

Game summary here; event summary here; quotes to follow.