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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.

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I recently put together an interview with Brian Engblom for a piece we are working on at HockeyPlayer.com. One last question I had for Brian, as we were almost wrapping, was about the legendary Versus analyst’s hair.

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On August 9, 1988 Wayne Greztky was sent to the Los Angeles Kings with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski in exchange for, well does anyone remember? Seriously though. Martin Gelinas and Jimmy Carson, $15 million in cash, and a bunch of draft picks.

Remember, this is around the prime of his career. This was an incredible trade.

I don’t want to take a lot of time to write about my feelings on it, but think about this.

How many hockey teams existed in the NHL in 1988 that were west of the St. Louis Blues/Minnesota North Stars and not in Canada?

The Los Angeles Kings.

That’s it.

What about now? What about after the Gretzky trade?

Anaheim Ducks.
Phoenix Coyotes.
San Jose Sharks.
Colorado Avalanche (it should be noted that the “Colorado Rockies did exist before Gretzky entered the NHL and they were moved to New Jersey to become the Devils).
Dallas Stars.

Just to the east we now have a few more teams too.

Nashville Predators
Atlanta Trashers (okay, so they too once had a team that was moved to Calgary)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Carolina Hurriances

I exclude any Canadian team here because it is to show the growth of the sport in the USA. Sports need big players to make big games to attract big crowds. No one can deny the influence Gretzky has on the sport just by this list to show the expansions the NHL has had since the Gretzky trade. Who will be the next? Sidney Crosby? I don’t know. I think he has great potential to be, but I can’t say for another three years.

How many of those teams have won Stanley Cups?
Anaheim, Colorado, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Dallas.

Who would have won those cups had Gretzky never gone to Southern California? I don’t think we will ever know and I like it that way.

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