Monthly Archives: April 2010

Sexton, Clark, Salcido shut out in Hamilton.

Posted on by
Reply

Consider this a belated, Ducks-related, American Hockey League playoff update.

Since the Ducks do not have an AHL affiliate this year, tracking their prospects’ postseason progress is a more haphazard endeavor than usual. Three (Dan Sexton, Brian Salcido and Mat Clark) are with the Manitoba Moose, who tonight lost Game 1 of their seven-game series against the Hamilton Bulldogs. Needless to say, each was held scoreless.

On Wednesday, defenseman Nathan Oystrick had two assists in the Chicago Wolves’ 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Admirals in Game 1 of their series. Shawn Weller, playing for the Abbotsford Heat, contributed the second of three goals in a 3-2 win over the Rochester Americans. Heat defenseman Mark Mitera was held scoreless.

The Ducks’ ECHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, begin play in the second round of the Kelly Cup playoffs tomorrow against the Stockton Thunder. Kyle Calder, MacGregor Sharp, Ryan Donally, Maxime Macenauer, Matt McCue, Eric Regan, Stu Bickel, Timo Pielmeier and J-P Levasseur are all competing in the series for Bakersfield.

Carter named to Team USA.

Posted on by
Reply

Ducks forward Ryan Carter has been named to the U.S. National Team that
will compete at this summer’s IIHF World Championships. The 26-year-old
native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota has never represented the U.S. in
international play. He matched his career highs of four goals and nine
points this season in 38 games playing mostly a reserve role for the
Ducks.

The preliminary U.S. roster, which includes 12 NHL players, can be
downloaded here.

Ducks awarded 12th pick in entry draft.

Posted on by
1

The Ducks will pick 12th when the NHL Entry Draft comes to Staples Center in June, according to the draft order announced Tuesday. The Edmonton Oilers posted the worst record in the NHL this season and drew the first pick, followed by the Boston Bruins (via Toronto), Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes (via Calgary) and St. Louis Blues. The order of the final 16 selections will be determined in the playoffs.

So what should the Ducks do with the pick? Keep in mind, they also will receive the Philadelphia Flyers’ first-round pick that was obtained in the Chris Pronger trade, a pick that will be determined based on the Flyers’ playoff finish.

Here’s a sampling of players drafted 12th the past decade: Calvin De Haan (Islanders, 2009); Tyler Myers (Buffalo, 2008); Ryan McDonagh (Montreal, 2007); Bryan Little (Atlanta, 2006); Marc Staal (Rangers, 2005); A.J. Thelen (Minnesota, 2004); Hugh Jessiman (Rangers, 2003); Steve Eminger (Washington, 2002); Dan Hamhuis (Nashville, 2001); Alexei Smirnov (Ducks, 2000).

The list includes one great player (Myers), some solid players (Little, Staal and Hamhuis) some disappointments (Eminger, Smirnov) two players who have never made the NHL (Jessiman, Thelen) and two more who are too young to judge (De Haan, McDonagh). Marian Hossa was a 12th overall pick. So was Alex Tanguay. Historically, the 10-15th range has included two or three busts on average.

So what would you do with the pick?



Getzlaf, Ward reveal depth of injuries.

Posted on by
Reply

For all the injuries that mount over the course of an 82-game season, the most painful time period for an NHL player seems to be the day after the season is over – when all sorts of injuries are revealed by players who kept their bumps and bruises under wraps like state secrets.

Of those that came to light Monday, the worst belonged to center Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Aaron Ward.

Continue reading “Getzlaf, Ward reveal depth of injuries.” »

Sexton assigned to Manitoba.

Posted on by
Reply

At least one Duck will experience playoff hockey this season.

After the Ducks cleaned out of Honda Center and headed home for the off-season today, winger Dan Sexton was en route to Winnipeg to help the AHL’s Manitoba Moose with their Calder Cup playoff run.

The 22-year-old played in 13 games with the Moose earlier this season, scoring five goals and 12 points. In 41 games with the Ducks, he recorded nine goals and 19
points.

Ducks 7, Oilers 2.

Posted on by
Reply

Ryan Carter scored twice, five other players scored one goal – including the 606th of Teemu Selanne’s career – turning Fan Appreciation Night into a one-sided rout in the Ducks’ final game of the season.

Selanne stayed on the ice when the final horn sounded, then led a lap around the ice as the Ducks saluted the fans. Afterwards, he was asked on the ice about his future plans.

“I was always hoping that I wasn’t playing so well, and the decision (to retire) would be easier,” said Selanne, who scored on a second-period power play goal. “I just feel great still. There’s a lot of time to rest now. We have a great team here. Let’s see what happens.”

Selanne, 39, finished his 17th season with 27 goals in 54 games – a ratio of 0.5 goals per game that ranks eighth in the NHL. His 14 power-play goals tied for third in the league. In 1,186 career
games,
Selanne ranks 17th in all-time goals (606), 56th in all-time assists (654)
and
35th in all-time points (1,260).
Continue reading “Ducks 7, Oilers 2.” »

Dallas 3, Ducks 2.

Posted on by
Reply

Jonas Hiller made 49 saves over 65 minutes, and Bobby Ryan scored a pair of goals, but Mike Modano stole the show in the Stars’ shootout win.

Modano, who has spent his entire 20-year career with the Dallas organization, electrified the crowd by scoring the game-tying goal with 1:47 left in regulation of what could be his final game at American Airlines Center. He scored again in the second shootout round against Hiller, then Jere Lehtinen sealed it with a goal in the third round.

Ryan’s team-leading 33rd and 34th goals of the season allowed the Ducks to salvage a point on a night when they were outshot 51-19. His second goal, a sharp-angled power-play tally, gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead at 15:16 of the third period.

With several veterans remaining home, Randy Carlyle went with his youngest lineup of the season. Nick Bonino, Nathan Oystrick, Brendan Mikkelson, Brett Festerling and Dan Sexton got long looks while Ryan Getzlaf (ankle) and Lubomir Visnovsky (hand), as well as healthy scratches Scott Niedermayer, Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne and Todd Marchant were held behind.

Ducks recall Mikkelson, demote MacDonald.

Posted on by
Reply

The Ducks have recalled defenseman Brendan Mikkelson from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and reassigned goaltender Joey MacDonald to the Marlies.

Jonas Hiller, who has missed five games with back spasms, is making the trip to Dallas for tomorrow’s game against the Stars and could turn Curtis McElhinney into a backup again. Center Ryan Getzlaf (sprained ankle) did not make the Ducks’ road trip.

The 22-year-old Mikkelson has two assists in 25 games spanning three stints with the Ducks this season. He was originally recalled from Toronto on Oct. 11 and again on Feb. 25 and Mar. 23. MacDonald, 30, did not appear in a game for the Ducks during his only time with the team. He was originally acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a seventh-round pick in the June draft.

Visnovsky: Fractured hand, season over. Update.

Posted on by
Reply

Passing this along from a team spokesperson:

Ducks defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky suffered a right hand fracture during the third period of last night’s loss to the Kings and will miss the final three games of the 2009-10 regular season. He will have surgery to repair the hand on Friday. The surgery will be performed at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles by Dr. Steve Shin. Recovery time will be six weeks.

Selanne nominated for Masterton Trophy.

Posted on by
Reply

The Anaheim chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association has nominated Teemu Selanne for the Masterton Trophy.

The trophy is awarded in honor of Bill Masterton, who died of an on-ice injury in 1968, to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

This season, Selanne has overcome fractures in his jaw and hand to score 24 goals, joining an elite group of 18 players with 600 career NHL goals. He surpassed boyhood idol Jari Kurri for sole possession of 17th place on the all-time list with his 602nd career goal on Friday.