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I hope these boys aren’t feeling too confident.

Lets face it, the Ducks did what they SHOULD have done against Colorado. Lets just hope this was confidence buliding and not ego stuffing.

They are going to need to be in tip top form.

Petteri Nokelainen has his talk with Ryan Getzlaf… 1 G, 1 A

Bobby Effin Ryan is frustrated enough to get one in… 1 G

These predictions are more HOPES than predictions in all honesty.

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WOW, I wish the Ducks could play Colorado EVERY NIGHT!

That whole game was something else wasn’t it?

I got so many Twitter messages last night where people were just in SHOCK of what they were seeing.

Okay, but lets be realistic. Colorado is just awful. They have a whole rosters worth of guys out with injuries…and if you thought the Ducks were suffering through the season with newbies…the Avalanche are really struggling with no one like Scott Niedermayer or Chris Pronger out there to back those young guys up.

Wow, did it show.

First off…fantastic goals for the newest members of the team, who in reality are starting to look like they’ve been there since day one. Erik Christensen, James Wisniewski and Petteri Nokelainen. Seeing those guys contribute the way they have been lately makes trade deadline drama seem not so terrible. What I’m loving about the new group is that they’re fighters. They’re here trying to prove themselves (hopefully for spots on next years roster) and are working hard to show their teammates and the Ducks fans that they’re worth something. That hard work pays off huge! For instance, Nokelainen’s goal (the Ducks’ 7th goal of the night) came from hard work and hustle along the neutral zone boards. He fought for the puck, stayed with the play and ended up with a mini breakaway which resulted in his 3rd goal of the season. Now that he’s had the sit down with Corey Perry about rushing the net, maybe it’s time he has a sit down with Ryan Getzlaf on how to win battles along the boards. Couldn’t hurt.

I felt bad for Colorado at first and then I remembered what happened to the Ducks with Atlanta…and yea, not the same entirely…but damn it felt good to cream someone for a change! Between the recent Phoenix game and this game last night, it sure makes the fact that the Ducks have two more against these teams all the better.

I said I wanted to see that top line looking hot. You look at the goal scorers and you say, hey Perry had two…that line must have been hot! NOT! Both of Perry’s goals came with the PP unit on the ice. I can’t complain with the fact that the top line didn’t shine and the big names didn’t get points (nothing for Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Bobby Ryan), but whatever…I’ll take seven Ducks goals ANY DAY!

And again, Jonas Hiller was solid. He had his work cut out for him in the end as Colorado got 27 SOG in the final two periods of play. Clearly out shooting Anaheim in a desperation attempt to get back into the game. Randy Carlyle definitely did the gentleman thing in not making the scoreboard worse. Allowing the guys like Todd Marchant, George Parros and Mike Brown get in some more ice time, Carlyle took the focus off of trying to score and simply went with a defensive outlook for much of the third. Classy if you ask me. In addition, it allowed the big D men, Niedermayer and Pronger, to get some rest and play far fewer minutes than they have been averaging lately.

5 straight wins is nothing to brag about when it comes against teams like Phoenix (twice) and Colorado. But when you’re in desperation-playoff-hunt like the Ducks are right now, 10 points is nothing to be upset about!

In the mean time…

GO DUCKS!!!

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I was hoping to get more to you today, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

There is A LOT going on at the moment and I love it. Big things coming soon…very soon!

So for tonight, these Ducks are really going to need to focus on not allowing themselves to; A, get caught up in a mini 4 game win streak and B, not step back their intensity just because the team they are playing tonight…sucks.

I’m still looking for big things from that first line. Why not? They NEED to be hot, they should be hot! We’re talking about some of the best young kids in the league right now…there is no reason for them to not show up tonight.

I don’t want another OT game. These guys need to finish this one strong and in regulation.

Now is the TIME to get HOT!!!!

Perry, Marchant and Effin tonight.

GO DUCKS!!!

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I need the Oxygen tank please!

Here’s a great reason why I wouldn’t make it as an NHL hockey player…minus the obvious gender qualifications…I have serious adrenalin issues. Who knows, maybe that would make me a fantastic hockey player. Maybe the breathing issues would be my problem.

Needless to say, the Ducks nearly gave me a heart attack tonight. Nothing like Game 5 against Detroit, but damn close. The emotions these Ducks put me through on a nightly basis is just ugly. The screaming, cursing, cheering, clapping, fist clenching…it’s enough to make you think I’ve gone crazy! But you know what?

I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

When it comes down to it, Nashville is a solid team. They’re fast, great with the puck and are lucky to be backed by solid goal tending right now. The Ducks had some great opportunities tonight, and on the other end, had some bounces go their way for a change. I’ll admit, JS Giguere looked solid tonight. I was very impressed (crapping in my pants for most of the game, but impressed none the less). He made some huge saves, especially during the third period. More importantly, he did was was necessary in the Shootout to secure a victory! LOVE THAT!

The Ducks need every bit of power and fire they can find within themselves to take this team where they need to be.

I’ve got to hand it to Drew Miller. That kid has come up and really shown the team that he’s worth their efforts. He’s not just standing in the wings taking up space, he’s making space and using it wisely. I’d like to see him be a little more aggressive from time to time, but when it comes to shooting the puck…well the Ducks wouldn’t have seen OT if it weren’t for him.

I wont harp on crappy play tonight (whoa, what?!). The Ducks did something that I haven’t seen from them in a long time. They played with passion. It felt like they WANTED TO WIN! These guys, the ones who WANT TO WIN, I like these guys.

Game one of this playoff-road-to-the-playoffs is in the books. It wasn’t perfect, but it ended with the Ducks gaining an extra point and finding themselves back in the mix of the playoff battle.

My ugliness continues tomorrow…

How can you not love that?!

GO DUCKS!!!

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I can’t believe I’m finally posting my first blog on the new web site. It’s taken…well, too long really. I’ve been working on this website for about 2 months now, and even at that…I don’t feel it will ever be complete!

This was a difficult decision to start my own blog, but after working on Girl with a Puck for the past season, I’ve found that not only do I love what I get to do, but I can’t get enough of it.

First and foremost so much thanks and appreciation goes to UJ for his help with this website! His ability to look at everything with a fine tooth comb (you have NO IDEA how fine toothed his comb is!!!!) has made this a fabulously looking site. THANK YOU! Turning you into a DUCKS (DUCKS DUCKS DUCKS DUCKS) hockey fan has been a great joy for me! Here is to many more years complaining about crappy goal tending, sloppy defense, and what a rock star Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Effin Ryan are and hopefully continue to be!

There have been so many wonderful opportunities that have come to me because of blogging about the Ducks and I have met some UNBELIEVABLE people because of it.

I want to say thank you to one fantastic blogger out there, Suz Broughton. There will be a link to her website in the Links section, and please check her out. She’s a fantastic writer and she takes amazing pictures. Her ability to paint a picture with words is unparalleled by many. It was Suz who really pushed me to get this thing started. She gave me that final bit of motivation to get going and stand tall on my own. I can’t thank her enough for her encouragement and kind words. She’s a fellow Ducks fan too, so don’t hesitate to send her a note!

Thanks to Suz I started up on Twitter which has allowed me to meet other great Ducks fans. We’re so few and far between out here in So Cal that sometimes you have to work hard to meet fellow fans. With that I met another blogger Toro. Toro’s blog is quick and to the point…and he never holds back. EVER. He’s been great to talk with these past few weeks and always has great insight and thoughts about the team. There will be a link to his blog on the LINKS page as well. Check him out!

My family and friends have been the ultimate! They have been so encouraging and supportive over the past 6 months while I’ve dabbled in this blogging world. I think they realize how much joy I get out of doing this and they have really suggested that I do more.

Ramon and Mini are the ones who I owe more to than most. Without them, I wouldn’t be a fan in the first place. Without them, I don’t know that I would have been strong enough to start blogging to begin with. They are amazing friends and I’ll always be thankful to them both. The best part…you’ll all get to enjoy their thoughts from time to time. Section 444 will be a features blog, with Ramon, Mini, UJ and many more offering their crazy thoughts on this Ducks team we all love so much!

And finally, I want to thank Finny for giving me the opportunity to discover this passion I have for blogging in the first place. She hesitantly opened up her pride and joy and allowed me to come in and shake up the Girl with a Puck blog. I can’t thank her enough for allowing me to say and do whatever I wanted. She really let me have free reign there and I will be forever grateful for her kindness and support throughout this process. She too has become an amazing friend who I would not have met without this blog-o-sphere we all dwell in.

I hope that during the off season (which hopefully comes LATER rather than SOONER) to develop my own stats, schedule, and standings layouts. For the time being, what is there will do. Ultimately, it allows everyone quick access to see where our boys stand in the race to the playoffs!

I welcome thoughts, critiques of all shapes and sizes. Feel free to comment whenever, however. I hope to allow this to be a fans space above all.

There is still work to be done, and like a great team, it will always be a work in progress that can and will be better with each passing day. Fans will make this website what it is, and I hope that you all take full advantage of the links.

If anyone has a website that you’d like me to add to the links page, please feel free to email me

This is an exciting time in Ducks hockey…and at Ducks and Pucks…we’re just getting started!!!

NOW…FOREVER…ALWAYS…

GO DUCKS!!!

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