Cleaning the Tank: Game 1 Recap

Maybe the Ducks just needed some incredulous viewers to doubt them enough to light the fire. Maybe it was Beauchemin back in the line up. Or hey, how about it just being good Ducks hockey?

GM Bob Murray must have felt a little sigh of relief last night after watching his post-deadline team shutting out the first seeded Sharks on their home ice.


Goal of the game: Scott Niedermayer.

This is classic Scott Niedermayer. The Captain's positioning is one of the best in the game. I don't care who you cheer for, this is an arguable fact. This goal was very reminiscent of the goal against Luongo that won it for us in OT against Vancouver two years ago or that goal he scored off of Lidstrom's stick in Game 5 of the Detroit series. Scott Niedermayer knows where the puck is going to be and he puts himself in the position to score goals when the team needs one.

Save of the Game: Ryan Getzlaf.

Hiller played awesome. I don't want to take anything away from his wonderful shutout and his sweets saves, especially on those two power plays the Sharks had in the third. However, the save that stands out to be comes in the 2nd period as Getzlaf used a skate save on Roenick & Clowe. How pitovtal that save was at that time. The whole pace of the game was on the line. Now while we are on Getzlaf, what a stupid elbowing penalty. However, I won't dwell on that too much because he sealed the game for us. So go thy way Getz and sin no more.

Did you catch that?:Drew Miller

This paragraph goes to a small play that could have changed the game. Did anyone see the faceoff with the third line? Miller stood at his left wing position against, I want to say Goc, but I may be wrong there. The score was 1-0 still. As the puck was about to drop, Miller was getting roughed up by the Sharks forward. Instead of losing his cool and trying to make a statement by being tough, Miller just took it. The referee noticed and said some words to the Sharks forward. That's what we need to see on the Ducks team this postseason. Keep it cool. Play by the clock and by the score. Congrats to you Drew Miller.