October 2009 Archives
Radim Vrbata scored the only goal in the shootout, and the Ducks left Glendale with a point in the standings following a 3-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Ilya Bryzgalov was perfect in the shootout, and the former Duck engaged Jonas Hiller in a nifty goalies' duel through 65 minutes. Bryzgalov stopped 32 of 34 and Hiller stopped 30 of 32 in his second start in as many nights.
Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne scored for the Ducks. Selanne's goal, with 9:47 left in the third period, gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead that seemed sure to hold up. Then Phoenix's Vernon Fiddler scored a mere 18 seconds later, tapping a rebound past Hiller to re-tie the game at 2.
Evgeny Artyukhin returned to the Ducks' lineup following a three-game suspension, joining Todd Marchant and Petteri Nokelainen on the third line. In another significant lineup move, Bobby Ryan re-joined Perry and Ryan Getzlaf on the top line and stayed there, logging 18:44 of ice time.
Ilya Bryzgalov was perfect in the shootout, and the former Duck engaged Jonas Hiller in a nifty goalies' duel through 65 minutes. Bryzgalov stopped 32 of 34 and Hiller stopped 30 of 32 in his second start in as many nights.
Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne scored for the Ducks. Selanne's goal, with 9:47 left in the third period, gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead that seemed sure to hold up. Then Phoenix's Vernon Fiddler scored a mere 18 seconds later, tapping a rebound past Hiller to re-tie the game at 2.
Evgeny Artyukhin returned to the Ducks' lineup following a three-game suspension, joining Todd Marchant and Petteri Nokelainen on the third line. In another significant lineup move, Bobby Ryan re-joined Perry and Ryan Getzlaf on the top line and stayed there, logging 18:44 of ice time.
And on the sixth day, the Ducks erupted.
Bouncing back from an early deficit -- something they have scarcely done in a young season of disappointment -- the Ducks defeated Vancouver, 7-2 at Honda Center on Friday. Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan scored twice, and Joffrey Lupul, Mike Brown and George Parros scored once, as the Ducks closed out a poor homestand on a high note.
Jonas Hiller allowed two goals, one from long range, in the game's first 4:24, putting the Ducks in a familiar position before at home, where they'd lost four straight on a six-game homestand. But sparked by its top line of Lupul, Ryan Getzlaf and Perry, Anaheim rallied for six straight goals. Perry got things started on a nifty strike in traffic with 3:29 left in the first period.
Energy-liners Parros and Brown joined in the party in the second period. Parros scored his first of the season at 2:29, firing from his backside as he crashed the net. Brown's first goal of the season came with the Ducks short-handed at 16:15, putting the Ducks ahead 3-2.
Perry's second goal of the game, his team-leading seventh of the season, came with the Ducks holding a man advantage at 18:07 of the second period. That was the last of the four goals allowed by Vancouver starter Andrew Raycroft, who faced 22 shots.
Ryan emerged from his season-long slump with two goals of his own in the third period. His first, a one-timer from the left circle at the 3:32 mark, gave the Ducks their second power-play goal in as many chances. His second, at 6:12, went up and over backup Cory Schneider.
Lupul made it 7-2 with 1:13 left in the game.
Jonas Hiller allowed two goals, one from long range, in the game's first 4:24, putting the Ducks in a familiar position before at home, where they'd lost four straight on a six-game homestand. But sparked by its top line of Lupul, Ryan Getzlaf and Perry, Anaheim rallied for six straight goals. Perry got things started on a nifty strike in traffic with 3:29 left in the first period.
Energy-liners Parros and Brown joined in the party in the second period. Parros scored his first of the season at 2:29, firing from his backside as he crashed the net. Brown's first goal of the season came with the Ducks short-handed at 16:15, putting the Ducks ahead 3-2.
Perry's second goal of the game, his team-leading seventh of the season, came with the Ducks holding a man advantage at 18:07 of the second period. That was the last of the four goals allowed by Vancouver starter Andrew Raycroft, who faced 22 shots.
Ryan emerged from his season-long slump with two goals of his own in the third period. His first, a one-timer from the left circle at the 3:32 mark, gave the Ducks their second power-play goal in as many chances. His second, at 6:12, went up and over backup Cory Schneider.
Lupul made it 7-2 with 1:13 left in the game.
Five separate writers (by my count) have asked that question in the past week: one, two, three, four, five.
When a team is considered to be a Cup contender, and finds itself ahead of just three teams in the league standings, it's a question worth asking. What are your thoughts?
Here are some background points to consider:
1. Bob Murray didn't hire Carlyle -- Brian Burke did -- and the general manager is personally responsible for the roster overhaul that's taken place over the last season. In theory, that might give Murray more confidence in the players he put in place than a coach he didn't. But Murray and Carlyle are close; they go back farther than Burke and Carlyle did at the time the coach was hired.
2. I caught an interesting quote by Ryan Getzlaf, doing a one-on-one interview recently for an "Off the Ice" segment on NHL Network. Speaking of Carlyle, he said: "Randy's not the easiest guy to talk to, but you can still talk to him." Ouch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the future team captain.
Here are some background points to consider:
1. Bob Murray didn't hire Carlyle -- Brian Burke did -- and the general manager is personally responsible for the roster overhaul that's taken place over the last season. In theory, that might give Murray more confidence in the players he put in place than a coach he didn't. But Murray and Carlyle are close; they go back farther than Burke and Carlyle did at the time the coach was hired.
2. I caught an interesting quote by Ryan Getzlaf, doing a one-on-one interview recently for an "Off the Ice" segment on NHL Network. Speaking of Carlyle, he said: "Randy's not the easiest guy to talk to, but you can still talk to him." Ouch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the future team captain.
3. Murray was the Chicago Blackhawks' general manager for little more than two years (July 1997 to November 1999), but still managed to fire two head coaches during that timespan. The first, Craig Hartsburg, "sold out his soul to try to get things going," Murray said at the time, but still got the ax; many speculated that the decision ultimately came from Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz. The second was Dirk Graham, Hartsburg's replacement.
As Linda Richman would say, "Discuss."
The Toronto Star reports that Brian Burke met with Congressman John Campbell (R-Newport Beach) privately before Monday night's game between the Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs:
Burke received a congressional citation for his charitable works while working in Anaheim.
"I was flattered to be acknowledged," said Burke on Wednesday. "It was really touching."
Burke was honoured by congressman John Campbell especially for his support of U.S. troops.
"Mr. Burke organized a first-of-its-kind two-day event to support the families of active duty military personnel at the Honda Center in 2008," Campbell read into the congressional record on Oct. 15. "The event, which included Ducks' players and their families, welcomed Operation Homefront - a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, the families they leave behind, and injured soldiers upon their return home.''
Campbell also praised Burke for his involvement in Orange County charities.
USA Hockey is teaming up with the Ducks (and the Kings, Sharks, Ontario Reign and Stockton Thunder) to take hockey to the children of California. It's called "California Hockey Day," and it's free to participate. Some equipment will be provided, if needed.
Check out usahockey.com for a list of participating rinks.
Ryan Carter was back on the ice in practice Wednesday, but Todd Marchant and Jean-Sebastien Giguere weren't, as the door to the trainer's room continues to revolve in Anaheim.
The news was good for Carter, who took part in all aspects of practice for the first time since taking a puck off his foot last Wednesday. The forward will be eligible to come off injured reserve when the Ducks play the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.
There was no update on Giguere, who is still nursing a strained groin, as Justin Pogge remains between the pipes when Jonas Hiller isn't.
Marchant, meanwhile, was left woozy by a Lee Stempniak hit in the second period Monday, the last of several hits that knocked the forward to the ice in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran said he first felt dizzy after being checked to the ice while Petteri Nokelainen ripped a slapshot into the Toronto net in the first period. Marchant was slow to recover from that hit, as well as the Stempniak check, after which he only played one shift.
There was no update on Giguere, who is still nursing a strained groin, as Justin Pogge remains between the pipes when Jonas Hiller isn't.
Marchant, meanwhile, was left woozy by a Lee Stempniak hit in the second period Monday, the last of several hits that knocked the forward to the ice in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran said he first felt dizzy after being checked to the ice while Petteri Nokelainen ripped a slapshot into the Toronto net in the first period. Marchant was slow to recover from that hit, as well as the Stempniak check, after which he only played one shift.
The Ducks signed forward Kyle Calder to a one-year, two-way contract and assigned him to ECHL Bakersfield. Calder will earn $500,000 in the NHL and $105,000 in the minors.
"He's a veteran guy that came in and didn't do anything flashy, but he knows his way around the rink," Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said of Calder. "He's a guy with the shortage of forwards and some positions and whatnot, he's on a reserve list that can be made available to us."
Carlyle said that the players, via the NHLPA Web site, actually found out before he did that Calder had signed. More than sending a message to the team's forwards in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the coach said that signing Calder gives him depth.
"You can read into it whatever you want," Carlyle said. "The more players you have in those positions, the more options you have as management and a coaching staff."
Carlyle said that the players, via the NHLPA Web site, actually found out before he did that Calder had signed. More than sending a message to the team's forwards in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the coach said that signing Calder gives him depth.
"You can read into it whatever you want," Carlyle said. "The more players you have in those positions, the more options you have as management and a coaching staff."
Good news for Brian Salcido, the Ducks defenseman prospect from Hermosa Beach, who returned to the AHL's Manitoba Moose over the weekend after missing six games with a concussion.
From the Winnipeg Sun:
"It was pretty painful sitting out, there were so many games over such a short time," said Salcido, who is one of two Anaheim Ducks prospects on the Moose roster this season. "It was my first concussion as a pro. When you have a concussion, your whole body feels fine and sometimes you don't feel the symptoms but you have to be careful. If you hurt your shoulder, you know how much you can push it. So it was kind of a waiting game.
After the Ducks' 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars last Wednesday, head coach Randy Carlyle promised changes ahead. The subsequent injury that forced center Ryan Carter to IR, as well as right wing Evgeny Artyukhin's three-game suspension, forced the coach's hand on a pair of lineup changes. Petteri Nokelainen has taken Carter's spot in the three games since, and Matt Beleskey has filled in at right wing for Artyukhin.
Carlyle has also alternated Bobby Ryan between the first, second and (at least on Monday) third lines; returned Luca Sbisa to his juniors club in Lethbridge, Alberta; and shuffled Nick Boynton and Sheldon Brookbank in and out of the defensive rotation.
None of it has resulted in a win, however, and the Dallas loss looked downright pretty in comparison to a 6-3 thrashing at the hands of winless Toronto on Monday. Are more changes in store?
None of it has resulted in a win, however, and the Dallas loss looked downright pretty in comparison to a 6-3 thrashing at the hands of winless Toronto on Monday. Are more changes in store?
Continue reading More changes in store for Ducks?.
The 14,291 in attendance at Honda Center gave a warm ovation to Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke in his return to Anaheim on Monday -- his first game against the franchise he built into a Stanley Cup champion.
But that was about the only friendly moment in a game of bad blood that worked against the Ducks, whose 6-3 loss was their fourth straight, all of which have come during their current homestand.
Petteri Nokelainen, Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry scored goals, Jonas Hiller stopped 33 of 39, but the Ducks were undone by five power-play goals by the Maple Leafs -- who ended a historic stretch of futility with their first win of the season in their ninth game.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
The Ducks have assigned defenseman Luca Sbisa to his junior team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League.
Sbisa played a season-high 15:08 on Oct. 17 vs. St. Louis. He made his Ducks debut on Oct. 3 vs. San Jose. At 19 years, eight months and three days, he became the third-youngest Duck (Oleg Tverdovsky and Stanislav Chistov) and second-youngest Ducks defenseman (Tverdovsky) to appear in an Anaheim uniform.
The swaths of empty rows this season have been a strange sight inside Honda Center, where attendance through five Ducks home games is down significantly. At this point a year ago, the Ducks were averaging 16,995 at home; that figure is now down to 15,253. The building supports 17,174.
Two home games into the 2008-09 season, the club's home sellout streak ended at 78 games, a span of three seasons. This season has only seen one sellout, on opening night against the San Jose Sharks.
So how are fans getting their Ducks fix? On TV, apparently. The NHL issued a press release today listing the Ducks among three teams (New Jersey and Florida are the others) with triple-digit percentage increases in local TV ratings through the first two weeks.
Perhaps in a down economy, even hockey becomes a TV-friendly sport.
So how are fans getting their Ducks fix? On TV, apparently. The NHL issued a press release today listing the Ducks among three teams (New Jersey and Florida are the others) with triple-digit percentage increases in local TV ratings through the first two weeks.
Perhaps in a down economy, even hockey becomes a TV-friendly sport.
The Ducks recalled goaltender Justin Pogge from ECHL Bakersfield this morning, with Jean-Sebastien Giguere apparently still bothered by the strained groin that forced him off the ice late Saturday.
Pogge appeared in four contests with the Condors this season, posting a 2-1-0 record with a 2.10 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. The 23-year-old could be especially motivated to face tonight's opponent, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who gave up on Pogge by trading him to the Ducks for a conditional draft pick. Toronto drafted Pogge 90th overall, in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Giguere is listed as "day to day."
After tweaking his groin late in a 6-4 loss to Columbus on Saturday, Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere did not practice with teammates Sunday, but will try to avoid going on injured reserve.
Giguere will be re-evaluated Monday morning and could back up Jonas Hiller against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. If he's unable to go, expect Justin Pogge to make the trip down from Bakersfield prior to game time.
Continue reading Giguere tweaked groin, will be re-evaluated Monday..
The writing was on the wall Saturday night, when Luca Sbisa was a healthy scratch in a 6-4 loss to Columbus: The 19-year-old defenseman won't be back with the Ducks in the regular season.
Sbisa, a native of Switzerland, is expected to be assigned either to his junior team in Lethbridge, Alberta, or a European team. Sbisa appeared in eight games, going scoreless, and would have had to remain in Anaheim for the remainder of the season had he played in two more. Because he is under 20 years old, Sbisa can't be assigned to an AHL or ECHL team.
"We've probably discussed it for the better part of two weeks here," Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said Sunday. "We felt we couldn't continually keep him (playing) 10-12 minutes a night. It wouldn't be beneficial the way our team was playing. We felt he wouldn't garner those minutes here in the next while, so we made a decision based on what's best for the player in the long term."
"We've probably discussed it for the better part of two weeks here," Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said Sunday. "We felt we couldn't continually keep him (playing) 10-12 minutes a night. It wouldn't be beneficial the way our team was playing. We felt he wouldn't garner those minutes here in the next while, so we made a decision based on what's best for the player in the long term."
Continue reading Ducks re-assign Sbisa..
Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere sustained a game-ending injury, and surrendered the game-winning goal, with 3:22 left in a 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Honda Center.
Giguere, who was hobbled by a groin injury earlier in the week, remained on his hands and knees for about a minute after allowing the goal to Columbus' Fedor Tyutin, then skated off on his own power -- hunched over, and his hand on his midsection.
Joffrey Lupul scored twice, and Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne added power-play goals for the Ducks (3-5-1), who had not scored with the man advantage since Oct. 8 in Boston.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
Joffrey Lupul scored twice, and Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne added power-play goals for the Ducks (3-5-1), who had not scored with the man advantage since Oct. 8 in Boston.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
There was some buzz around Honda Center on Friday regarding what the Ducks would be missing without their 6-foot-5, 250-pound ball of thunder and lightning known as Evgeny Artyukhin.
Another logical question: When will the guy rein in his game?
Thursday's three-game supension by the league was the second of Artyukhin's 3-year NHL career. And neither of the suspension-inducing plays was an example of Artyukhin at his most fearsome. That would be this 14-second clip of Artyukhin, then a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, ripping off Antoine Vermette's helmet and using it to hit Vermette over the head.
Todd Marchant addressed both topics Friday.
Continue reading Marchant on Artyukhin..
Jean-Sebastien Giguere said Friday that he's recovered from the groin strain that relegated him to a backup role on Wednesday. Because the injury was unlike any he's had before, Giguere said he had to consider going on injured reserve.
"I didn't think it was that bad for me to miss two games like that, so I had to make a decision whether I was going to back up or not," the goaltender said. "It's too bad for (Justin) Pogge because he had a lot of traveling in one day."
Carlyle said he has the option of starting either Giguere or Jonas Hiller against the Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow. Giguere said he wasn't 100 percent on Wednesday, "but I would have been able to do pretty much everything out there," and reported that his symptoms have mostly subsided.
"I know tomorrow it's going to be 100 percent," he said.
In his first public comments since being suspended by the NHL for slew-footing Matt Niskanen, Ducks forward Evgeny Artyukhin apologized Friday for causing injury to the Dallas defenseman.
"I didn't trip him. I didn't want to kill him. I want to apologize to this guy. I hope he's going to come back soon," Artyukhin said after practice Friday.
Because he's been suspended by the league before, Artyukhin must miss three games beginning Saturday against Columbus. Though he and his agent chose not to appeal the suspension, Artyukhin questioned the ruling.
"My foot both were on the ice. I didn't kick him. My foot stayed on the ice," he said. "I just used my body, like, my upper body."
Slew-footing is defined under Rule 52.1 of the official NHL rulebook as "the act of a player or goalkeeper using his leg or foot to knock or kick an opponent's feet from under him, or pushes an opponent's upper body backward with an arm or elbow, and at the same time with a forward motion of his leg, knocks or kicks the opponent's feet from under him, causing him to fall violently to the ice."
The video of the incident is somewhat obstructed by the side boards, but it was enough to garner a suspension upon review by the league. Niskanen suffered a head injury -- unofficially reported to be a concussion -- and is day-to-day.
"I didn't think that this was going to be like a bad hit, or a dirty hit," Artyukhin said. "I think I did everything right. It just happens sometimes, the guy falls right so he gets a concussion.
"It's just a part of the game. I just finished my check."
The Ducks recalled Matt Beleskey from AHL San Antonio today after placing forward Ryan Carter (foot) on injured reserve. Beleskey practiced at Honda Center with teammates this morning, skating at left wing with Petteri Nokelainen at center and Todd Marchant at right wing.
Carter's foot was struck by a puck Wednesday and he did not practice Friday. Head coach Randy Carlyle said that an MRI revealed a bone bruise, but no break.
Beleskey appeared in two games with the Ducks last season, going scoreless while averaging 11:09 time on ice. In eight games for San Antonio this season, he had one goal, three points and 15 penalty minutes.
"We don't bring a player in without saying we're going to play him. We're going to pay him," Carlyle said of Beleskey. "We expect the transition to be less than what he experienced last time around, for sure."
A former fourth-round draft pick (2006), Beleskey made his NHL debut with the Ducks on Jan. 9 against Tampa Bay, recording a plus-1 rating in just under 14 minutes of ice time. He spent the rest of the season with AHL Iowa, earning 11 goals and 35 points, with 58 penalty minutes, in 58 games.
"I've had a lot of time to learn the system," Beleskey said. "I'm starting to get used to it."
The the 21-year-old he skated with both Marchant and Nokelainen in preseason games this year. Beleskey described his game as that of a "hard-nosed, hard-working forward who's going to bang, and if I have to, go into the corners and muck it up."
Ducks right wing Evgeny Artyukhin has been suspended for three games without pay by the NHL as the result of a slew-footing incident Wednesday night against Dallas Stars defenseman Matt Niskanen, who was injured on the play. The incident occurred at 4:23 of the second period of Dallas' 4-2 win. No penalty was assessed on the play.
Artyukhin, who was suspended for two games Jan. 19, 2009, is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, Artyukhin forfeits $34,756.11 in salary based on the number of games (82) in a season, rather than the number of days (193). The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Artyukhin will miss Saturday's game against Columbus, Oct. 26 against Toronto and Oct. 30 against Vancouver. He will be eligible to return Oct. 31 at Phoenix.
According to Rule 52.1 of the official NHL rulebook, slew-footing is the act of a player or goalkeeper using his leg or foot to knock or kick an opponent's feet from under him, or pushes an opponent's upper body backward with an arm or elbow, and at the same time with a forward motion of his leg, knocks or kicks the opponent's feet from under him, causing him to fall violently to the ice.
Here is the video of the play. Because of the angle, and the proximity of the play to the boards, you can't actually see the players' feet make contact on the ice. It looks more like a "slew-kneeing," which probably falls under the definition of a "leg or foot."
Artyukhin, who was suspended for two games Jan. 19, 2009, is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, Artyukhin forfeits $34,756.11 in salary based on the number of games (82) in a season, rather than the number of days (193). The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Artyukhin will miss Saturday's game against Columbus, Oct. 26 against Toronto and Oct. 30 against Vancouver. He will be eligible to return Oct. 31 at Phoenix.
According to Rule 52.1 of the official NHL rulebook, slew-footing is the act of a player or goalkeeper using his leg or foot to knock or kick an opponent's feet from under him, or pushes an opponent's upper body backward with an arm or elbow, and at the same time with a forward motion of his leg, knocks or kicks the opponent's feet from under him, causing him to fall violently to the ice.
Here is the video of the play. Because of the angle, and the proximity of the play to the boards, you can't actually see the players' feet make contact on the ice. It looks more like a "slew-kneeing," which probably falls under the definition of a "leg or foot."
Continue reading NHL suspends Artyukhin three games..
The Ducks nearly rallied to erase a 3-0 deficit, before watching Steve Ott score into an empty net with 9 seconds left.
While the crowd was treated to a tense third period -- in which Marty Turco had to work to keep the game at 3-2 before Ott's goal -- it also had to watch Dallas play "pretty close to the best two periods we've played throughout most of the year," in the words of head coach Marc Crawford.
Which, for the Ducks, meant two of their worst periods, on the heels of three of their worst periods in Saturday's 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Randy Carlyle's response?
"I have some things in mind that I'm going to implement," he said following the game.
Which, for the Ducks, meant two of their worst periods, on the heels of three of their worst periods in Saturday's 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Randy Carlyle's response?
"I have some things in mind that I'm going to implement," he said following the game.
Continue reading Stars 4, Ducks 2..
Jean-Sebastien Giguere is on the ice, dressed as the backup to Jonas Hiller, and Justin Pogge has been returned to ECHL Bakersfield, as the Ducks warm up against the Dallas Stars.
The team revealed today that Giguere has been bothered by a groin injury. Also, center Ryan Carter, who blocked a puck with his foot Wednesday morning, will not play. X-rays on the foot were negative.
Head coach Marc Crawford said that Mike Richards (groin) will miss tonight's game and Steve Ott will be back, following the Stars' morning skate Wednesday in Anaheim.
"That's good for us," Crawford said of Ott's return from an oblique muscle injury. "He's an energy guy for us, a little bit of a pain to play against, but also an effective player. Last year he started to show his offensive abilities, his ability to play in different situations and not just be an energy-type guy. ... We'll use him well."
Crawford said that Richards will be re-evaluated for his availability Thursday against the Kings. "We didn't think he could play back-to-back," Crawford said.
Crawford said that Richards will be re-evaluated for his availability Thursday against the Kings. "We didn't think he could play back-to-back," Crawford said.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere's nagging injury will keep him out of tonight's game against the Dallas Stars. Justin Pogge has been recalled from ECHL Bakersfield and will be in uniform tonight, presumably as the backup to Jonas Hiller.
Defenseman James Wisniewski, still recovering from a sprained shoulder, said Tuesday he'll be a "game-time decision" for tomorrow night's game against the Dallas Stars.
"It's not something where you can hurt it more," Wisniewski said. "It won't be a big setback where I'm out two more weeks. It's just how much threshhold of pain I can handle ... and whether it's going to affect my playing."
If he doesn't play tomorrow, the Ducks have another two days off before hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, and Wisniewski might choose to take the extra time to let the pain subside. If he does play tomorrow, Wisniewski said he'll attempt to play his "normal playing time." He had been averaging 25:15 per game.
Wisniewski had four points, all assists, in four games before injuring the shoulder Oct. 10 in Philadelphia.
If he doesn't play tomorrow, the Ducks have another two days off before hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, and Wisniewski might choose to take the extra time to let the pain subside. If he does play tomorrow, Wisniewski said he'll attempt to play his "normal playing time." He had been averaging 25:15 per game.
Wisniewski had four points, all assists, in four games before injuring the shoulder Oct. 10 in Philadelphia.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere had a finger taped on his right hand when he walked into the Ducks' dressing room after practice Tuesday. "The finger's been bugging me," he said, "but it's not that."
Exactly what that injury is isn't clear, other than it's something "very minor" that prevented him from finishing practice, and could keep him from serving as a starter or even a backup tomorrow against Dallas.
Here's what Giguere did reveal:
- He's been experiencing symptoms for "two or three days."
- The injury wasn't aggravated in Saturday's game against St. Louis.
- He thinks he'll be available to back up Jonas Hiller, and "hopefully" could start, but "if it's smarter to make him play because you could use that extra day, maybe we should do that."
In case Giguere isn't cleared to play, head coach Randy Carlyle said he had the option of recalling either Justin Pogge or Timo Pielmeier from Bakersfield. The Ducks' ECHL affiliate is scheduled to play in Victoria, B.C. tomorrow night.
As far as when that decision would have to be made, Carlyle said "that would probably have to happen sometime tonight, for (Pogge or Pielmeier) to be here tomorrow. They're not that far away, but I don't think it would make them to come, show up for game time."
Andrew Ebbett is already sounding happier in Chicago than Anaheim. From the Chicago Daily Herald:
"To get picked up by a team like this, I didn't think this was one of the places I would go," Ebbett said. "I'm thrilled and excited. It's such a good, young team here, I think it fits me well. They're fast and skilled and I think that suits my style pretty well.
"I went to school at Michigan and I love being in the Midwest. This is a good time for me."
While Ebbett is a natural center, the plan is to play him on left wing on the fourth line and keep Colin Fraser at center.
"I'm fine there," Ebbett said. "I played a couple games in preseason there and am looking forward to the challenge."
Andy McDonald scored twice, and got more cheers than the Ducks did in Honda Center.
The Ducks had their chances early but failed to execute, going 0-for-3 on their first-period power play attempts and finishing 0-for-6. St. Louis, meanwhile, went 2-for-6 officially, but also scored their fourth goal with Joffrey Lupul a few steps out of the box.
Jonas Hiller (9-of-12) was pulled from his first start of the season, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (18-of-20) fared slightly better in relief.
But the Ducks were clearly frustrated by their own shortcomings and a fine night by Ty Conklin (26-of-26), taking an unsportsmanlike penalty and, later, a fight during a commercial break in the third period.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
Jonas Hiller (9-of-12) was pulled from his first start of the season, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (18-of-20) fared slightly better in relief.
But the Ducks were clearly frustrated by their own shortcomings and a fine night by Ty Conklin (26-of-26), taking an unsportsmanlike penalty and, later, a fight during a commercial break in the third period.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
Andrew Ebbett is headed to Chicago.
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman must have liked what he saw in the 5-foot-9 center from the University of Michigan, who joins a team short on forwards. Marian Hossa, Adam Burish and Ben Eager are currently on injured reserve.
The 26-year-old Ebbett had no points in two games, and was a healthy scratch in the other four, for the Ducks this season. In his longest NHL stint last year, Ebbett had eight goals and 32 points in 48 games.e
The 26-year-old Ebbett had no points in two games, and was a healthy scratch in the other four, for the Ducks this season. In his longest NHL stint last year, Ebbett had eight goals and 32 points in 48 games.e
It was only one game, against a team hobbled by injuries, in early October when games tend to get lost in hindsight -- but the Ducks did kill all four of their penalties on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild.
What's more, they did it without overstraining their usual PK suspects; Todd Marchant (4:21) chipped in the most of any Ducks forward but got help from Ryan Getzlaf (3:12), Saku Koivu (3:39), Joffrey Lupul (2:40) -- even Bobby Ryan for a good 69 seconds.
"I think we're just experiencing different looks," Ryan said. "(The penalty kill) hasn't gone as well on the road trip and in a few other games, we've given up too many chances. I think it's just trying new personnel, trying to find if guys are capable."
They were all capable on Wednesday, which hopefully serves as a building block for a team that had allowed a league-worst eight power play goals in its first five games.
"I did notice we had a couple short-handed chances -- that's probably first and foremost, that we created more," head coach Randy Carlyle said. "You don't go into killing a penalty with those expectations. I think our structure was better. We were better at opportunities to clear the puck, and I think the biggest thing was our faceoffs" -- 5-of-7 on the PK and 28-of-51 overall.
The Blues learned Friday they'll be without forward Alex Steen, who has a fractured wrist, for six-to-eight weeks. Steen is one of the Blues' top penalty-killing forwards.
The Ducks have placed forward Andrew Ebbett on waivers. The 26-year-old center had no points in two games this season, and was a healthy scratch in the other four.
"Right now, with (Brendan) Mikkelson playing well, it's just a roster issue," Ducks senior vice president of business operations David McNab said. "Mikkelson played really well in training camp. He could have easily stayed in camp. Brendan deserves to be here."
Ebbett was part of a logjam at the center position for the Ducks; Ryan Getzlaf, Saku Koivu, Todd Marchant, Erik Christensen, Ryan Carter and Petteri Nokelainen were all ahead of him on the depth chart (Christensen, Carter and Marchant were also ahead of him at left wing).
Ebbett's fate will be learned Saturday morning. Teams are given waiver priority based on their record last season -- the team with the worst record gets the highest priority -- until November 1 (at which point the system reverts to this year's record). If no team claims him, the Ducks can assign Ebbett to the minor leagues.
McNab said that even though the Ducks have no AHL affiliate, Ebbett doesn't figure to be sent to ECHL affiliate Bakersfield by virtue of his experience.
"We can stick him a whole bunch of places," McNab said.
1. Good news for James Wisniewski. The defenseman skated with his teammates for the first time Friday since going on injured reserve with a sprained shoulder suffered in Philadelphia. Head coach Randy Carlyle said Wisniewski's time on IR "doesn't appear lengthy," but he won't have Wisniewski available tomorrow against St. Louis.
2. Erik Christensen also found himself in a good place Friday, skating at left wing with second-liners Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne. Carlyle creatively complimented Christensen after Wednesday's game -- the forward's second of the regular season -- saying, "if they play one game, and you haven't really noticed them on the negative side, then they've had a positive impact."
3. Joffrey Lupul practiced on a line with Todd Marchant at center and at Evgeni Artyukhin at right wing.
Corey Perry scored two goals, Jonas Hiller won his third straight start and the Ducks made it look easy -- before a 6-on-5 goal made it look close.
Perry has four goals and seven points in six games to start the season, but hadn't been enjoying the top-line production that was expected from himself, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan (assist) since a 6-1 thumping in Boston.
More details and quotes in tomorrow's editions.
More details and quotes in tomorrow's editions.
Goaltender Jean-Phillippe Levasseur, pinched out of the Ducks' ECHL affiliate in Bakersfield, has signed with the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League.
The CHL is considered a "Single A" hockey league to the "Double-A" ECHL. Why is Levasseur there? With each ECHL team allowed only two roster spots for goalies, Timo Pielmeier and Justin Pogge were given the nod ahead of Levasseur, the Ducks' seventh-round choice in the 2005 entry draft.
It's a tough drop for Levasseur, who spent all of last season in the American Hockey League, going went 13-18-4 with a 3.11 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage.
It's a tough drop for Levasseur, who spent all of last season in the American Hockey League, going went 13-18-4 with a 3.11 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage.
Levasseur has played in 51 career AHL games, posting a combined record of 17-22-5 with the Portland Pirates ('07-08) and Iowa Chops ('08-09).
Asked Tuesday about his many line combinations during the Ducks' recent road trip, Randy Carlyle didn't think there were all that many. So while seeing Evgeni Artyukhin on the occasional line with Ryan Getzlaf might seem odd at first ... "get used to it," was the exact message.
"I've kept
Getzlaf and Perry together; I've kept Selanne and Koivu together; I've kept
Marchant and if it was Artyukhin; and I've kept Carter and Brown and Parros
together," he said. "Your perception is that if I'm moving one guy to a different line
that I'm mixing it up. Well, get used to it because that's what we do."
"We address two guys that can play together, and if things aren't going the way we feel they should be going, we aren't afraid to interchange parts. Joffrey Lupul can play with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. I don't think that's any big change."
"We address two guys that can play together, and if things aren't going the way we feel they should be going, we aren't afraid to interchange parts. Joffrey Lupul can play with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. I don't think that's any big change."
The Ducks' recently concluded four-game road swing was neither a panacea, nor was it the road trip from h-e-double hockey stick. It was something in the middle, just as its 2-1-1 record suggests.
But, as Ryan Whitney said, "it should have been a 3-1 trip." When the 82-game regular season is over, the Ducks might look back at last Thursday's 4-3 loss in Minnesota -- after having led the game 3-0 -- as a critical lost point.
Continue reading Road trip productive, but Ducks have a ways to go..
Given James Wisniewski's style of play, it's no surprise that he's back on injured reserve.
"The way he blocks shots - it's freak too," Ducks defenseman Ryan Whitney said. "The one the other night, he's laying down and got hit laying down. He does play hard."
Fortunately Wisniewski's latest injury, a sprained shoulder aggravated Saturday in Philadelphia, isn't that serious. Coach Randy Carlyle said Tuesday that Wisniewski will resume skating "probably toward the end of the week."
Continue reading Life without Wiz.
Todd Marchant skated with his Ducks teammates in practice today and appeared fully recovered from a Dan Girardi hit late in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the New York Rangers.
"I felt like my entire body was somewhere else for a while, but I felt pretty good today," said Marchant, who expects to be cleared to play tomorrow.
Marchant, who did not return to the game after the hit, said "his entire left side" -- the side that Girardi scrunched against the end boards -- felt sore.
"Luckily I just got my head turned in time and went in backwards," he said. "I put myself in a bad position. Tried to go to the net, got turned and got a little push and went into the boards."
Marchant, who did not return to the game after the hit, said "his entire left side" -- the side that Girardi scrunched against the end boards -- felt sore.
"Luckily I just got my head turned in time and went in backwards," he said. "I put myself in a bad position. Tried to go to the net, got turned and got a little push and went into the boards."
Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 35 saves, but Stephen Valiquette was the better goalie, stopping all 18 shots he faced in the New York Rangers' 3-0 victory.
New York scored twice on power plays and once into an empty net.
The Ducks finish their four-game road trip having gained five of a possible eight points.
The Ducks finish their four-game road trip having gained five of a possible eight points.
The Ducks recalled defenseman Brendan Mikkelson from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and placed James Wisniewski on injured reserve with a sprained right shoulder. Wisniewski suffered the injury last night in Philadelphia.
Mikkelson, 22, appeared in two games with the Marlies this season, collecting one assist. In five preseason games with the Ducks, the defenseman had one assist, a plus-2 rating, and four penalty minutes. Toronto was scheduled to play the Rockford (Ill.) Ice Hounds today.
April arrived early in Philadelphia, where the Ducks won in a playoff-like atmosphere over Chris Pronger and the Flyers, 3-2 in a shootout.
Down 2-1, Teemu Selanne netted the game-tying goal with 16 seconds left in regulation, flicking the puck past Ray Emery to send the game to overtime. In the shootout, Selanne scored the only goal as the Ducks won their second straight. Through three games of a four-game road trip, the Ducks (2-1-1) have collected seven of a possible eight points.
Selanne scored the Ducks' first goal with 6:44 left in the third period to break up Emery's shutout. Pronger scored once for the Flyers (3-2) in his first game since leaving Anaheim.
Selanne scored the Ducks' first goal with 6:44 left in the third period to break up Emery's shutout. Pronger scored once for the Flyers (3-2) in his first game since leaving Anaheim.
Corey Perry's goal last night in Boston, the last for the Ducks in a 6-1 win over the Bruins, was the number 1 play on SportsCenter. He scored the goal by deflecting a rebound in off his neck. Check it out here.
The Ducks got revenge for a 6-0 loss in Boston late last season, handing the Bruins a 6-1 loss at home for their first win of the season.
Though outshot 34-30, the Ducks took advantage of their opportunities, getting two goals from Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne, and one each by Bobby Ryan and Evgeni Artyukhin.
Continue reading Final: Ducks 6, Bruins 1. .
Brad May, who helped the Ducks win a Stanley Cup in 2007, has signed with the Detroit Red Wings on a one-year contract. Financial terms were not announced but TSN reports the deal is worth $500,000.
The gritty 37-year-old has played in 1,001 games between the Ducks, Buffalo, Vancouver, Phoenix, Colorado and Toronto -- to whom he was traded last season after Brian Burke took over as the Maple Leafs' GM. The Maple Leafs didn't renew May's contract and the veteran attended Detroit's training camp on a pro tryout contract.
Today's game vs. the Boston Bruins (4 p.m. Pacific) will not be heard on 830-AM (KLAA) due to the Angels' playoff game against the Boston Red Sox. The game can be heard online at AnaheimDucks.com
The Ducks have reassigned goaltender Justin Pogge and defenseman Stu Bickel to their ECHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
Continue reading Pogge, Bickel assigned to ECHL Bakersfield. Update..
Dan Wood reports on the Ducks' Web site that Petteri Nokelainen was back on the ice this morning to skate with teammates in advance of Thursday night's game against the Boston Bruins:
Center Petteri Nokelainen, meanwhile, returned to practice after having been sidelined because of a groin issue. Nokelainen, recovering from offseason abdominal surgery, traveled to Philadelphia on Tuesday to see Dr. William Meyers, the surgeon who performed the procedure.
Meyers discovered nothing more than scar tissue built up in the area.
"That was the best news I could get," Nokelainen said.
Nokelainen plans to take things "day by day," increase his work level incrementally, and hopes to be ready for action relatively soon.
Andrew Brunette's game-winning goal in overtime completed a wild comeback for the Wild, who trailed 3-0 through two periods. Ryan Whitney, Evgeni Artyukhin and Saku Koivu had goals for the Ducks (0-1-1) -- all in a six-minute stretch of the second period -- and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 28 saves in his first game of the season.
After mostly dominating the middle period, the Ducks seemed to flag in the third, when Mikko Koivu, ex-Duck Petr Sykora and Eric Belanger scored goals. Belanger's came on a power play with Whitney in the penalty box with 2:13 left in regulation.
Left wing Joffrey Lupul had to leave the ice midway through the second period of the Ducks' game against the Minnesota Wild tonight after blocking a puck near his right eye. Lupul was assisted into the locker room by Ducks trainers, but Dan Wood just announced on the radio broadcast that Lupul is OK after receiving stitches above his right eyebrow.
The Ducks are leading, 3-0, on goals by Lupul, Evgeni Artyukhin and Saku Koivu.
The story of the game might have been how quickly the Honda Center went from its standing ovation during pregame introductions, to boos as the home team exited the ice at the first intermission.
Ryan Whitney scored the first goal of the season, on a third-period power play off a Ryan Getzlaf assist. But at that point, the Ducks were down 4-0 and the Sharks looked ready to pop corks on some unopened champagne from April.
Benn Ferreiro, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton scored the only goals in a lopsided first period. Whitney was burned twice in the opening frame, once when Marleau blocked his shot and scored the deflected puck on a short-handed breakaway, and the other when his giveaway led directly to Thornton's tally.
Devin Setoguchi got the lone goal in the second, which might have been even more lopsided given the Ducks' 2 shots on goal to the Sharks' 17.
Jonas Hiller got the start over Jean-Sebastien Giguere and stopped 33 of 37 shots.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
Devin Setoguchi got the lone goal in the second, which might have been even more lopsided given the Ducks' 2 shots on goal to the Sharks' 17.
Jonas Hiller got the start over Jean-Sebastien Giguere and stopped 33 of 37 shots.
More details in tomorrow's editions.
The San Jose roster features only one former Duck: Kent Huskins, who was dealt to the Sharks along with Travis Moen at last season's trade deadline.
Yet today will mark the first time Huskins will face his former team. The defenseman never played last season after Dec. 31, 2008, when he fractured his foot at Honda Center against the Columbus Blue Jackets
"The whole second half of the season, it was just kind of day to day the whole time -- which made it more difficult, waiting and seeing how it felt every day," Huskins said. "Having to sit on the sidelines, not being able to get out there and take part in the playoffs was probably the most frustrating thing."
Continue reading Kent Huskins returns to Anaheim..
For a pair of teams that had successful seasons by most definitions, the Ducks and San Jose Sharks have certainly made more than their share of key personnel changes.
The Ducks' summer moves were mostly the result of expiring contracts and an aging roster. The Sharks' changes, meanwhile, were brought on by the Ducks, who upset top-seeded San Jose in six games as the Western Conference's number eight seed.
For the players who still remain in the San Jose locker room from last season's first-round exit, losing to the Ducks still stings.
Continue reading Losing to Ducks altered Sharks' fortunes..
The Ducks have a third goalie on the payroll, one more experienced than both Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Hiller. Despite the constraints of the active roster and the salary cap, he's not on the verge of getting cut. This goalie has learned from some of the game's legendary netminders. He's looked sharp in camp and worked just as hard -- extending himself on every shot and skating every sprint -- as Giguere and Hiller. Only his plain-white goalie mask pales in comparison.
Continue reading Who is that masked man?.
This is Saku Koivu's first year in Anaheim, but a record-tying 10 years as the captain of an original-six franchise in Montreal was too hard to ignore. Koivu was named an alternate captain on Friday along with Ryan Getzlaf, while Scott Niedermayer will keep the Ducks' captaincy.
The 34-year-old Koivu tied Jean Beliveau for the longest tenure as captain in Montreal's 100-year history last season. His 792 career games played trail only three Ducks (Niedermayer, Todd Marchant and Teemu Selanne). That breadth of experience, not to mention his well-documented comeback from cancer in 2002, have allowed Koivu to gain universal respect that transcends his tenure in one locker room.
Getzlaf is just 24 as he enters his second season as an alternate captain. He's led the Ducks in scoring each of the last two seasons and, on a team with 17 players in their teens or 20s, might relate better to some teammates than Koivu or the 36-year-old Niedermayer.
Niedermayer was named the sixth captain in franchise history upon his arrival in 2005. The captaincy was given to Chris Pronger to start the 2007-08 season when Niedermayer briefly retired, but Niedermayer reassumed the role the following season.
He's officially listed as day-to-day, but center Petteri Nokelainen is looking less and less ready to go for Saturday's season opener after sitting out Thursday's practice with a strained groin.
"He wasn't good enough today to go out on the ice," head coach Randy Carlyle said. "We'll make an assessment at some point if he's going to have to see a specialist again."
In June, the 23-year-old underwent surgery to repair two tears in his abdominal muscle. The surgery was performed by Dr. William Myers in Philadelphia. It is not yet known if this injury, which Nokelainen aggravated Sunday against the Kings, is related to the one that bothered him last season.
"We've got to be careful that we're not putting a player in jeopardy of an extended period of time off the ice," Carlyle said.
"He wasn't good enough today to go out on the ice," head coach Randy Carlyle said. "We'll make an assessment at some point if he's going to have to see a specialist again."
In June, the 23-year-old underwent surgery to repair two tears in his abdominal muscle. The surgery was performed by Dr. William Myers in Philadelphia. It is not yet known if this injury, which Nokelainen aggravated Sunday against the Kings, is related to the one that bothered him last season.
"We've got to be careful that we're not putting a player in jeopardy of an extended period of time off the ice," Carlyle said.
The news was better for winger Joffrey Lupul, who participated in the entire practice after resting Wednesday with back spasms.
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.
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