Unlike any other

“Hockey is like a disease, you can’t really shake it.”
- Ken Wregget

I don’t have a lot to say right now, and I’ll be working on a full post for later…but I do want to say this.

I am SO PROUD to be an Anaheim Ducks fan. I am SO PROUD to cheer on this team, to wear their colors, to have their logo plastered on my car. I am SO PROUD to be surrounded by a wonderfully faithful hockey fan base.

I love my Anaheim Ducks…

NOW…FOREVER…ALWAYS!!!

There will be tons to cover here in the next few weeks, and I will be working on this blog faithfully throughout the summer. Hockey is more than just 8 months a year for me!

Very soon I will have a post season blog up (I’m hoping for tomorrow). In addition, I have a few topics lined up for the off season including; Playoffs and my development of superstitious OCD and My love/hate relationship with fighting, to name a few. Also, we’ll be covering Duck Dudes during the off season as well as trade watches and of course keeping tabs on the final 2 rounds in these playoffs.

Once again, I want to thank the Anaheim Ducks for always giving me a reason to lose my voice. It was another wonderful season…and I’m already counting down to training camp!

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Ducks in a Row…game 7.2

“You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, and rest when you know that it was a 100 percent effort that you gave–win or lose.”
-Gordie Howe

For today…

“Just do it.”
-Nike

GO DUCKS!!!

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One Shot. Anything Can Happen!

game7s

A week before the playoffs began, I wrote that I liked our chances in a seven game series against anyone. At the time I was talking about the Sharks, and now I am referring to the Wings. After a few below average games, the Ducks were able to tighten their chin straps and beat the Red Wings in game six, forcing a seventh and deciding game in the series. All that stands between the conference finals is 60 minutes of hockey. The Ducks need to play with the same force and intensity (Scott Neidermeyer) they exhibited in last nights battle. Game seven is the time to leave it all on the ice. Some might say that the Duck’s playoffs were the weeks leading up to the playoffs. Some will say it was against the Sharks, or maybe even the Red Wings. Truth of the matter is that these playoffs are against themselves. The Ducks have to dig deep and fight off complacency, and fatigue. They have to fight off sitting back on their heels and allowing teams to out skate them. They have to fight off allowing soft goals. Yes the Ducks are facing an even greater opponent, than the ones dressed in red and white. The good news is that, this is a familiar opponent, one that can be used in their own favor. The bad news, is that the Ducks must battle this same opponent, in order to get past Thursday, past the conference finals and beyond. I’ve seen the Ducks do it before…..its the playoffs, anything can happen.

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The shake will wait!

And the Ducks live to see another day (and so do I for that matter).

This was by far the best game the Ducks have played against Detroit thus far.

More importantly…this is the type of games the Ducks MUST play against Detroit.

What I love…

Puck movement. It was pleasantly nice for a change. Too fancy at times (Ryan Getzlaf…not everyone is you…please calm it down just a bit), but effective enough. The Ducks have a chip and chase method going on against Detroit and only when they are able to maintain control while playing this style will they be successful. Tonight, they were. In addition, they were able to get in Detroit’s face, just enough, to disturb their puck movement. Making Detroit pay in the neutral zone is one of the few strong defensive plays the Ducks have at their disposal. When they are playing this well, it slows down Detroit’s offense majorly. Huge plus for the Ducks.

What I’m hating…

Their inability to clear the zone. I talked about this a lot when the Ducks were facing San Jose. They seem to be great at clearing the puck from the front of the net, and yet, they struggle from getting it free from the zone completely. UGH! Fortunately for the Ducks, they are still employing the services of the ever wonderful Scott Niedermayer, who, even when fighting, always seems to gain the upper hand. I don’t know what it is about that man…but I’m always at ease when he’s on the ice.

Who I’m loving…

The Ryan’s. I guess because they always seem to have the big plays, but tonight they were all credited with something huge. Ryan Whitney had a huge sprawling save a-la-Pronger style, and while the guy always seems to shy from the physical, if he wants to use his body to block shots, I’m all for it. Ryan Carter had a huge hit early in the game, and on the same shift did a fabulous job at boxing out at the front of the net for Teemu Selanne to get a few good shots on goal. Bobby Effin Ryan, who seems to be turning the corner finally. He didn’t have a great game, but it was far improved from previous showings in this series. He had a big assist tonight and played much more physical than we’ve seen from him lately. Finally, Ryan Getzlaf…who I always feel can be a deal breaker for the Ducks. It was 4 months into the season that the Ducks finally won a game where Getzlaf didn’t have at least 1 point (February 2 against Buffalo). That basically means when Getzlaf isn’t contributing…the Ducks are going to have a hard time finding the wins they so desperately need. So Getz…do us all a favor…AND SHOOT THE PUCK MORE! Thanks, all our love…faithful Ducks fans!

Who I’m hating…

Detroit (that never changes).

What must continue…

Jonas Hiller has got to continue to be the man that he is. Always seeming so confident in between the pipes, and I love having him out there. He’s still seeing way more than his fair share of shots on goal, but the important part is that he’s SEEING them. Great thanks goes to the defense once again for that one. Let’s face it though…without a solid goal tender like Hiller, there is no post season to speak of.

What must end…

The Ducks have got to stop taking lame penalties. Andrew Ebbett’s retaliation penalty is unacceptable and can potentially cost the Ducks this series. In addition…too many men?! Pathetic! TWICE?!?! ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! There is NO WAY the Ducks will continue to be successful against Detroit by giving them so many power play opportunities!

Most Importantly…

The Ducks need to do it…ONE MORE TIME!

GO DUCKS!!!

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Twitter Weekly Updates for TheDucksBlog.com

  • Leaving lax so I get back to UT for my anniversary. Had a great time ducks fans! #
  • The guy at the hotel front desk asked me if I played for the ducks since I had all my fan apparel on. No sir, but thanks. 6th man tonight? #
  • Oh man. What a game. So happy we won. Had a
    Great time. #
  • Twitterifix not working well from my seat. Hoping to see who was at the game. #
  • @LockonRyan9 it’s my obli game of the seasonbesides a preseason game. I can only come from Utah so much in reply to LockonRyan9 #
  • Seven rows from the glass on detroits end. Not bad! Who is here? #
  • Walking to will call in black ducks hat and white ducks jersey. Yep- that one right there. #
  • @Suzbroughton what a cool dog! in reply to Suzbroughton #
  • Zetterberg jerseys at downtown Disney? That’s like meeting bugs bunny in toontown. Out of place wings fans. #
  • On the lot at Disney visiting friends from my summer associate program #
  • Harsh New Blog! http://bit.ly/113kU8 #
  • @sriggles a bit here too, but I am doing my best to support the team I love most… in reply to sriggles #
  • Glad Chicago won… #
  • My facebook message was to ALL members of the Anaheim Ducks group. Not just to you specifically. So don’t take it personally… #
  • I will officially be at Game 6. Just changed my flight and purchased my ticket. Still waiting on where the location is. Talk soon! #
  • @Suzbroughton maybe pillow talk with him on the couch in the other room after last night in reply to Suzbroughton #
  • RT @hockeyplayermag: I have 2 copies of “The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard.” free to follower #250 and his/her referrer #
  • Anyone remember game 3 vs Detroit in 07? We lost 5-0. Don’t give up just yet. #
  • @hockeyleaks wanted to today but finished a hockey DVD for hockeyplayer.com. Will have a blog up for sure. :) in reply to hockeyleaks #
  • I love seeing giguere in there buy I hate seeing how it had to happen. #
  • @HondaCenter Yes! There are a lot of things that happen that we don’t see on TV at home… in reply to HondaCenter #
  • rewatching game 5 of finals in 07… gotta love the emery chanting #
  • Game 4 Blog! http://theducksblog.com/2009/05/07/526526/ #
  • Not that I want a game 6 obviously… #
  • If there is a Game 6, I will be there. Do any of my followers have a ticket they are trying to sell? Just one. #

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Ducks in a Row…game 6.2

“A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.”
-Henry Kissinger

The Ducks need to write a different story today, one they can be proud of…one with a desirable ending.

Win, or go home.

GO DUCKS!!!

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A Letter To The Ducks…….

Dear Anaheim Ducks:

I am writing to you today to ask you for a favor. I keep reading comments in the papers from members of the Ducks saying that your level of play was below average and that everyone knows they can play at a higher level, yada, yada, yada. It sounds almost like the team was on cruise control, and did not play at a more intense level. This has been something that has been done all season. This team has fallen behind in games only to suddenly turn up the level of play and pull out a victory. This team seems to think, that by playing at a sub par level, they can still squeak through and win. Well, here is my favor I am asking of you. If your plans are to win tonight and just try and squeak out a win in game 7, then don’t bother. Even though we beat Detroit twice, the stats showed that we should not have. When Detroit has beaten us, we look like we should not be on the same ice with them. Point being, win or lose, Detroit plays hard all the time. So, either you play hard tonight and in game 7, or do me a favor and just roll over, and pack in the season. Play like champions. Play like you did against the Sharks. Just Play hard for 60 minutes. Clear your heads, win the next two games, or go home.

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Your 8th seed is showing

I have nothing.

They gave me nothing.

I’m actually beginning to wonder if they know what month we are in. Do they realize that this is May? This is not December. (Please don’t play like this is December - we saw what you were doing in December…it was ugly.) Do they know that it’s more than winning and losing? Are they not aware that if you lose, you go home?

The worst part? They lost to a better team. They lost to a team who played better, who wanted more.

Detroit wasn’t that team through the first 3 games. I almost wish they were. Maybe if they had been, the Ducks would know that you can’t sit back and wait for them to mess up!

I want to analyze the game, but there is nothing to say.

They played bad. They were lazy and unmotivated and they didn’t give enough. Their goal tender did more than enough to keep them in the game, and they were unable to return the favor.

I expected more.

“Not the typical 8th seed.”? Show me.

GO DUCKS!!!

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Ducks in a Row…game 5.2

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
-Confucius

MUST WIN.

GO DUCKS!!!

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Anyone really that surprised?

We all saw it coming. A classic Detroit beat down. I went to pickup hockey on Wednesday night, as I do every week, and I was prepared to take a beating about the Ducks win against Detroit on the “no-goal” whistle. Surprisingly I did not have to because I forgot that most of the people I play with are Avs fans. So luckily, they have all jumped on the Ducks playoff wagon. Thursday night was familiar. It was not cool. However, it was a slight deja vu experience for those of us who watched the last time Detroit and Anaheim faced each other in a playoff series. In 2007 the series went Game 1:Detroit. Game 2: Anaheim. Game 3: Detroit. Now pause with me, that was one of those most brutal games. Giggy let in a few goals and then Bryz let in a goal on his first shot. We lost 5-0. Ouch. Then Pronger got suspended for his elbow on Holmstrom. Oddly enough this series Holmstrom is the one throwing the elbows around and not getting punished at all. 


Game 4: Ducks. We came back. We built a 3-0 and Giggy stole the rest from the Wings.

Giguere. Photo taken Suzanne Broughton, www.suzannebroughton.com

Giguere. Photo taken Suzanne Broughton, www.suzannebroughton.com

There are two things that I liked about the game last night. The first is seeing Giguere back in goal. I find myself being one of the few Ducks fans that is hesitant to trade Giguere and I hope that GM Bob Murray agrees with my view on these things. Let’s rewind back to the playoffs in 2006. Bryz has the start. Bryz finishes off the Flames with two great games. He and Lupul sweep the Avs. Then we hit Edmonton and Bryz looks human. Whoa! Sound familiar. Younger, more unexperienced goalies will hit a point where they cannot make the same great saves all the time. I think HIller is a great goalie and I think he had more experience than Bryz did at that point with his Swiss leagues and world championships, but seeing Giguere out there gave me a nostalgic feeling.

Though only facing 6 shots, Giguere stopped them all and looked like the Giguere we know. I hope he starts the next game. I hope he shines. After the controversial summer where Bryz “mistakenly” told Russian reporters that Burke and Carlyle wanted him to be the starter, Giguere toughed up, had his best season and was a key player for our Stanley Cup victory. Now where is Bryz? And how is that franchise doing?

I think that it would be stupid of Anaheim to ship him off this summer. I think that Hiller is great player and his time will come soon, but I like Giguere’s resume a bit better. As he skated on the ice, Versus put his playoff stats up. Phew. Sigh. A big breath of relief. That’s our Giguere. With that much time on the bench, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back to his 2003 & 2007 form. However, if Hiller plays I am sure he will bounce back and steal one.

The other thing I liked about the game is that because the Red Wings won, there will be a game 6 and I will be in town for that game. I am there Ducks fans. I hold my head high and I expect a showing from Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf, who I don’t feel played their potential in Game 4. While this post is dwelling mostly on the past, I look toward the future. I still say Ducks in 6.

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