Sharks sink the Ducks.....again

I've stopped keeping track of each individual game and reporting back after four or five games have been played because that's how I feel about the Ducks this season. Instead of being consistent with reports, I feel slightly unorganized, and noticing only glimpse of seasonal play. The last two games are worth mentioning because I went to one of them in Phoenix, and also because the Ducks were pummeled to just one point in both games combined. I'm not sure where who to blame anymore. I've been saying all along that if the Ducks are going to trade someone big like Scotty, well then do it. Coach Randy is going no where, and will most likely be replaced during the off season, rather than being unceremoniously dumped in the middle. So why doesn't Murray do something? One theory is that he is waiting to see what the options once the official mid season break occurs. Maybe he wants to give the Ducks a chance to make a second surge as they've done in the past. The team currently sits nine points out of the 8th playoff spot, but at one point were only three. Then again, a nine point lead can be the most difficult nowadays especially with the parity that exists in the NHL. The next thing I've been wondering is how big of an impact a goalie coach can make. I guess when your team loses one of the greats, its bound to reflect how you play. I had no idea it would render Jiggy and Hiller virtually invisible in goal! It's like a bad joke played on the Ducks, when all off season, everyone kept wondering who would start, or who would be number one.....and now the answer is "what difference does it make?" Goal tending has been such a big pain in the behind for the Ducks that now no lead (albeit rare) is safe!!

So whats on the horizon for these Ducks? Well I hope everyone that's injured gets healed. I then hope everyone else in the NHL gets injured during the Olympics. I am looking forward to the Vancouver games. I hope the Ducks make a smart move that not only does not gut the team, but something we can cash in on immediately. I hope Selanne scores more, Whitney keeps his feet moving, Sexton scores more, we trade Bobby Ryan or Scott Neidermayer for something BIG, and finally that the second half of the season is one all the hockey papers will be talking about with regard to the Ducks!
Go Ducks!

All I want for X-mas......less Teemu

Since last I wrote the Ducks have played 5 games and have managed a winning record of going 3 and 2. Currently they sit 12th in the west, 6 points out of the 8th spot (3 wins), but more importantly they are playing like a team with identity. The 4th line of Parros, Brown, and Noki have been playing beautifully. The top line is on fire and it seems like ever since Sexton joined the club the team has been excited about playing. So with all the positives, I have a few fears that I want to impress upon you the reader. I am scared of the fact that Teemu Selanne will return and take back his spot that Sexton took over and ruin the team chemistry. I know Teemu is the love of the town with novice fans, but this guy kills us with soft passes, and little to no puck control. The only way Teemu is great is if he gets to skate from one end to another with no one on the ice, and no whistles for offsides, and no team mates around to share the puck. In fact if the NHL ever goes to 1-1 games, Teemu will shine!!! For now, Teemu, maybe you can slam your finger on the car door, or hyper extended it at home, so you can give Sexton more playing time....what do you say?

Look on the bright side............

I have not blogged in the last three games because I was hoping I could help change the teams luck a bit, but alas to no avale! Since the Kings game, we've lost Selanne for over a month, but gained a new comer in Sexton, who single handed beat Dallas the other night by bringing the Ducks within one point of tying the game, then tying it so Saku Koivu could win it in OT! So what can be said about this team that I have not already said? Well, this is the ugliest start to season in a long while. Changes are coming, and they will be big, but the one thing that can be said is that this team has the talent to come back and win. The problem is taking alead and maintaining it. It's like the team is not motivated to play hard from the get go and need some adversity in order to get "up" for the game. This is not a good thing as it creates more work and leads to unnecessary injuries, as we have seen. So I'm trying to move past the previous four losses and focusing on the incredible come back last night, and hoping it motivates the team to get it in gear. We'll see what changes occur between now and the Olympic break, but one thing is for sure....they will be big changes.

Go Ducks!

Baby Steps!

Remember the 1991 movie, "What about Bob?" It's a hilarious comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray. Murray plays a nutcase and Dreyfuss his psychiatrist. Anyway, the story is about Dreyfuss trying to rehabilitate Murray, before he drives him crazy, and the technique he used was called "baby steps".

Well, that's what I think JR (Jim Rutherford) and the Canes need to do right now, take baby steps.

First step was to stop the bleeding. After five straight losses, the Canes finally hit the win column yesterday afternoon with a 5-3 home win against the visiting Vancouver Canucks. The game was not the best effort by the Canes this year by any stretch, but they got it done. Perhaps most noteworthy was the success of the Canes #1 line; Eric Staal, Ray Whitney & Erik Cole. Cole potted three goals (doubled his season's output to six) and was effective throughout the game. Ray Whitney played one of his best games of the season, with a 3-point effort, including the tying goal, just 20 seconds after Vancouver had taken an early 1-0 lead. And, Eric Staal looked like he is starting to round into form, playing with energy and determination. If this line can start to produce on a regular basis, as it has in the past, the Canes fortunes will most assuredly improve.

I was impressed again with Matt Cullen, who has been one of the few Canes to bring it every night this year, and extended his personal point scoring streak to five games, with an assist. Brandon Sutter also continued to impress, playing over fifteen minutes and ending at 55% in the face-off circle, another solid, if unspectacular, performance by him. Unfortunately, his linemates, Chad Larose and Tom Kotsopoulos, are better suited to the fourth line and limit the offensive contribution for this line. Not sure what's happened to Larose, but his lack of confidence is obvious right now. Nonetheless, they work hard every shift. Although Sergei Samsonov scored a pretty goal in the 2nd period, I don't see a longterm future for him as a Cane. He plays too much on the periphery.

The fourth line, comprising Rod Brind'Amour, Stephan Yelle and Scott Walker, (nicknamed the "geritol" line) is long on experience and effort, but at $6.0M plus, is clearly the biggest ticket fourth line in the league and frankly, can't be justified given the Canes woeful performance to-date. The defensive corps got it done by committee. Nothing spectacular, but good enough for the win. This is an area the Canes will have to overhaul before next season. Manny Legace was solid in net again for the Canes, but the good news is that Cam Ward is set to return this week. 'Nuff said!

Jussi Jokinen, one of the more effective Canes this year, was a late scratch, but when he returns to the line-up, the Canes will be able to re-jig their lines. And, hopefully, we'll see newly-acquired Jiri Tlusty in a Canes uniform soon. The challenge remains for JR to shed the team of some of the "tired" veterans to make way for the new wave. I have to wonder if he has another deal, like the Tlusty deal, looming to strengthen the D. That would help immensely, particularly with Joe Corvo on the shelf for most of the season. Tlusty figures to be part of the re-build along with River Rats' Zach Boychuk, Drayson Bowman, Jamie McBain, and Brett Carson. We will probably see all of them at some point this year.

So, some of the pieces are coming together. Both Brandon Sutter and Bryan Rodney have shown they are ready for the "show". Although Rodney was returned to Albany after the game for more seasoning, he has impressed me with his on-ice demeanor. And, you can expect JR to grab another young stud or two at the trade deadline.

Like I said before, it's all about "baby steps."

Ducks Lose: The Dunce Trick

I don't know who to be more upset at? Randy Carlyle, or Art-uken? First of all I think Randy should have let Jiggy start in tonight's game due to his recent performance on the ice. Jiggy brings a desire to win right now that the team needs to gain some ground. Even though the team posted a 4-1-1 record over the home stand, tonight's loss was a major bump in the road.

Art-uken (Don't bother me about the spelling) was just standing around like a sack of garbage. He was a spectator in tonight's game and should have been given a striped shirt to wear, since he looked more like one of the officials. That being said, why all the penalties from this guy tonight? Something must have been eating the Russian nightmare (in a bad way) because he kept getting penalized left and right. Infact he scored another form of a hat trick tonight, 3 penalties by one player, or what I now refer to as the DUNCE TRICK!!

Well, it seems the verdict came in faster than it took me to write this blog....tonight's blame is the Dunce Trick Russian. Thanks Dunce-tuken!

Go Ducks!