Girl with a Puck v.2.0 -- a hockey blog novel!

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Note: please remember that the following is a work of fiction. If you like it, please vote & follow. You'll get instant access to full story and auto-notified of story updates! And you'll be helping me out!

***

THE FACEOFF: ME VS. NATHAN'S EX.

The sound of the door slamming in my face jarred me back into the seat.

Note to Self: Do not be so lured in by the scent of a man that you attempt to kiss him as soon as he’s close enough. This could be misinterpreted as creepy behavior.

Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice my faux pas.

I folded my hands in my lap, uncertain what to do with them as Nathan slid into the driver’s seat. He started the car and music streamed through the speakers. I expected either classic rock or hip hop. These two styles, according to A Girl's Guide, were a pro athlete’s favorite type of music.

Instead, country music (complete with twang) played. A song about love and heartache. And beer.

I spent the twenty minute drive answering his questions about what I like to do for fun (bake, read, and play Rock Band), whether I preferred Facebook to MySpace (Facebook all the way), and what I planned to do after I graduated from college next Spring (rule the world. No, apply to graduate school for library science).

“A sexy Rock Band playing librarian.” He nodded thoughtfully, then brightened. “Would you wear the glasses?”

“The black-horned rimmed ones?” I asked, conjuring the stereotypical image of a librarian in my mind. “No.”

“Too bad. I’ve always had a thing for girls with glasses.”

Before I could tell him I used to wear glasses (but my prescription was so appallingly high I opted for Lasik last year), he swung into park and helped me out of the car lest I fall and break my neck.

“Here we are! The best Italian joint in town,” he announced.

The lights strung up over the crowded patio of the mom-and-pop restaurant cast a soft, romantic glow over the patrons. A server carried a tray full of food past and the scent of garlic, tomato, and cheese wafted over to me. My stomach growled in response and I quickly wrapped my free arm across my belly.

Nathan tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow and led me past the waiting line and through the door.

“This place is a team secret,” he whispered.

We were ushered to a corner table immediately. As soon as Nathan sat, a waiter produced a bottle of vino for Nathan’s inspection. He merely waved his hand at it without looking and suddenly, there was an open bottle of red on the table and two half-full glasses in front of us.

I had to admit I was impressed. Was this kind of treatment typical for pro athletes?

I checked myself before I opened my mouth to ask.

Tip #34 from A Girls’ Guide: Accept the perks graciously; don’t question them. Don’t let them mistake you for a golddigger.

“Sarah.” Nathan leaned forward, rested his elbows on the red-and-white checkered tablecloth. “It’s going to sound strange, but I need a favor.”

I sipped the wine, tasted berries.

“Would you mind being my wife?”

***

Any thoughts? Ideas? Do you like it, hate it? Leave me a comment!

The Pre-Game Warm-Up: Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:33:00 +0000

The following is a continuation of a fictional blog novel featuring a hockey playing hero and the non-existent California Gladiators hockey team. If you like the story, please vote for it in the TextNovel/Dorchester contest.

***
Nathan, per the California Gladiators Hockey Club website, stood 6’3” to my 5’4”. He was 228 pounds of corded, sinewy muscle with broad shoulders, ocean blue eyes, and a fat lip.

Oh wait.

“What happened?” I gaped stupidly at his mouth.

“What?”

“Did you get into a fight?”

A lopsided grin stretched across his handsome face. “Yup. Kicked the guy’s ass too.”

He looked so proud of himself, I didn’t have the heart to remind him that violence was not the answer.

“This was a lucky shot,” he said, pointing to his swollen mouth. “But at least I didn’t lose any teeth.”

Teeth?! “Um, that’s… great.”

“Not a fan, eh?” He shrugged. “It’s alright. I know how you California girls are.”

I raised a brow as I stepped over the threshold and locked the door behind me. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, just that you’re everything my mother warned me about.” His eyes glinted with mirth.

I smiled and diligently reminded myself about requirement #2: be cheeky!

“Then I guess you better be afraid.” I leaned over, craning my neck to maintain eye contact. “Be very afraid.”

He chuckled. Then I took his proffered hand and he spun me in a circle. I heeded Amber’s advice and wore black shorts, a bright pink tank that dipped low in the front and twisted into a sport racer back behind me. She’d insisted I show off the elaborate butterfly tattoo between my shoulder blades.

Nathan let out a low whistle. “You look better than I remember.”

I blushed. The last time he’d seen me, we’d been in a crowded local bar toasting Nikki’s husband’s free agent signing with the Lakers. He’d turned to me with that crooked half-grin of his and tapped his shot glass against mine.

“Cheers, cutie,” he’d said. Then he’d grabbed my hand and led a tipsy me to the dance floor where I made a fool of myself. I know because Nikki’s husband howled with laughter and insisted I sign up for basic lessons at Nikki’s studio.

I shook my head of the memory and looked him over. Nathan wore a Lacoste polo that hugged his arms and dark wash jeans that showcased how powerful a hockey player’s legs needed to be. When my gaze settled on his package, I promptly averted my heated face.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I cleared my throat. “Split lip or no.”

“Thanks.” He sounded amused, which only served to embarrass me further.

Damn, he probably caught me checking him out.

I turned away and concentrated on walking in four inch boots without taking a nosedive into the pavement. I made it safely to the Yukon Denali, but when I tried to climb aboard, I slipped. Nathan caught me and helped me into the truck. His hands lingered on my body for the barest of moments, his face just inches from mine. I caught a whiff of his scent: clean, fresh, male.

And irresistibly, I leaned forward.

***

Remember: Vote & Follow if you dig it! Tip: by registering and following the story on www.textnovel.com, you'll be able to read ahead and see what develops between our hockey playing hero and our rule-following heroine!

INTRODUCING: TOSSING THE GLOVES -- a [fictional] hockey romance

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:41:00 +0000

What follows from here on out is a blovel (blog novel) about a girl finding herself and finding her man. This story is also entered into the Textnovel.com/Dorchester Publishing contest. If you like reading it, please do me a favor and click on the link at the bottom of this post and vote for the story & follow me as the author! (It does require a free sign-up registration, but you can change your email notifications so you don't have a lot of emails). Incentive: get access to the next installment of the story before it's posted on Girl With a Puck!

It is my hope that you enjoy this story and laugh a little -- or a lot.

***THE PREGAME WARM-UP (part 1)***

According to A Girl’s Guide to Dating a VIP:

If you want to date a hockey player, you must meet the following requirements:

Be hot. I mean, ultra-smoking hot.
Be cheeky. Every guy likes a girl who can keep up with him in the teasing and flirting department.
Be smart. If you’re dating a hockey player, make sure you can play the game. No, not hockey. The dating-a-pro-athlete game.

I, Sarah Marjorie Kent, am none of the above.

Alright, I’m smart. But I can’t play “the Game”. I couldn’t even work up the nerve to ask Devin McInnis to the Sadie Hawkins dance. Instead, I just skipped the ordeal altogether and only went to my senior prom with my quiet band geek boyfriend-at-the-time. What can I say, we band geeks stuck together. Cuz, uh, no one else was going to.

But in college, I pursued the everyday ordinary girl American dream. No, not buying a house and getting hitched and hatching 2.5 kids. I mean, I wanted to do that whole She’s All That transformation — from geek to chic, from zero to hero, whatever. Minus getting picked on in front of the whole campus part.

A Girl’s Guide to Dating a VIP is not actually in print. It’s advice my best friend Amber and I gleaned from observing Amber’s older (uber-hot) sister Nikki's love life. She met and married her pro-basketball playing man shortly after they met. He wasn’t her first professional athlete, so we had a lot of opportunities to watch her date around. We witnessed some of the most epic battles in the history of male/female relationships, as far as we were concerned.

Forget the drama of high school or any of the reality TV crap. Real life, real drama, and real objects were being flung across the room during some of those matchups of Nikki vs. Insert-Dude’s-Name-Here.

I confess: we took a copious amount of notes (ahem, a Girl’s Guide… you get it).

See, the thing is, Nikki had those three attributes I listed above. She had been a smoking hot dance team member and captain of the song team (that’s cheerleaders who dance, for those of you who don’t know). In fact, she went global later and danced her way to some kind of Amazing Dancer title. Now, she’s on that show Dance With Me where they take famous folks without a dance background and pair them up with the top ten up-and-coming dance choreographers in the country. The winning couple gets all this cash. The celebrity donates his/her portion to charity, the choreographer usually opens up their own studio and basks in the glory of being sought-after.

Surprise, surprise. She met her man on set.

Why does this matter? Because I’m about to step out the door and into the car of NHLer Nathan Deschanel and despite all the notes I took, I don’t have a single clue how to Date a VIP.

VOTE & FOLLOW if you like this story! (part 2 to be posted on FRIDAY, but you can read it now if you vote for the story & follow me as the author on www.textnovel.com!)

Announcement: GWAP version 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Okay, okay, so I called it quits a few months back, right? Right.

You might be wondering then, why in the world is Finny back on GwaP, posting announcements? Well, the thing is... it's been hard for me to keep my fingers hockey-blog free. I've itched to tell you that I've gone to a couple pre-season games and enjoyed the way the team's looking. So far, I like what I see. I've wanted to tell you that, hey, I don't have season seats this year, but that doesn't mean I won't be keeping tabs and watching the team as they build on their season and work their backsides off to get into the post-season festivities.

But that's not really why I'm back here, posting.

I'm here to announce (drumroll, please...) the reincarnation of Girl With a Puck from hockeyblog to... hockey blovel.

*crickets*

Okay, let me try that again... Girl With a Puck is going from hockeyblog to... HOCKEY BLOVEL!

... No?

Here's the thing. I miss blogging, but I am focused on writing fiction. I've often written hockey heroes into my work because, let's face it, hockey's cool and the (some) boys that play it are hot! I'm not the first person to think this up. Rachel Gibson cranked out See Jane Score in 2003, the first romance novel that I remember (or read) that features a hunky hockey hero. (Tempermental French Canadian Luc "Lucky" Martineau... sigh, so hot). Mind you, 2003 is also the year that I began working on my own hockey romance featuring Katie Ryan (before I knew there was a Bobby Ryan, seeing as back then Bobby was all of 16 years old and not on my NHL map at all), and Connor O'Reilly. I never finished the manuscript because I sent an email to a prominent publisher who told me that professional athletes and movie stars or anyone THAT famous for that matter didn't make a great romantic hero because it's just too... unbelievable. People like that spend their time jet setting across the world, and it wouldn't sell. Discouraged, I put the manuscript aside and didn't return to writing a hockey hero until 2007.

I wonder if that editor ever ate her words? Because during that same year, 2003, Deirdre Martin released her first romance novel featuring a hockey player called Body Check. That book launched a successful series of novels by her centered largely on the fictional NY hockey team, the NY Blades. She's released 8 novels in the Blades series since.

And me? Well, I've dabbled in writing a lot of different heroes and romances (some less romance-y than others) in the last few years myself. Still, hockey heroes are my favorite hero to write about. They're hunky, they're strong, they're gruff, and they've got a lot of personality. They fascinate me! And I'm sure there are plenty of hockey heroes that are romantic too.

And if there are girls out there like me (and I know there are!), you'd probably enjoy a little humorous hockey romance now and again. If you read GwaP before, and you enjoy fiction, I hope you stick around for GwaP version 2.0. If you're not so much into the hockey romance blovel thing, that's okay, you don't have to read it, but please don't write me hate mail. I feel that I must stress the following: This will be a work of fiction, not some ridiculous dreamed-up thing I hope will one day happen to me.

The Reincarnation of GwaP is to present a short, entirely unedited (that's the fun of it, you're getting the first draft) hockey romance novel, in a conversational blog format. It will be an organic thing, open to suggestions, comments, and criticism from the peanut gallery (ahem, that'd be YOU). My goal is to make the hockey blovel a writing exercise. Almost like a daily prompt. As to what it's about... or who? You'll see.

All I know is... hey, this is just another experiment for me... another way for me to expand my horizons and flex my writing muscles! :)

Keep an eye out for the serial work of fiction coming to GwaP 2.0 in October 2009.

Ciao,
Finny

Game Over: a fond farewell

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Well, this is a long time coming, and we both knew it was inevitable.

Welcome, lovelies, to the end.

(Yes, so dramatic. I know.)

To be honest, this is probably the hardest post I've ever had to write. Girl With a Puck: the blog, is officially closing its doors. I can no longer maintain the pace I have in the past and produce quality work that I feel GwaP is worthy of displaying. As such, I have to admit that the best thing to do is to shut 'er down, lock it up. Oh, the archive will remain. You can relive the Stanley Cup winning year, the funny posts about my Shane O'Brien coughobsessioncough, and all my random fan experiences by searching through the pages here.

I've thoroughly enjoyed these last few years and had so much fun blogging here and guest blogging all over the web. I've made many friends in my time here, but it is time for me to move forward with another project -- writing fiction. Some of it, yes, will be hockey-related. :) I can't simply abandon what's been part of me for so long! I am still a fan of the game. I am still a dedicated Ducks fan. I simply am no longer a Ducks blogger.

Instead, I will pursue what I've intended to pursue for some time now - and that's writing a work of fiction that can (and will) be published. If you're interested, I would appreciate it if you'd follow along on my journey at my other website/blog - christyfinn.com. Your continued support would me so much to me, just as your previous support has been incredible.

If not, no hard feelings. You can always contact me for any reason - even if it's just to say hi - at christy[at]christyfinn.com.

Be well. Love hockey... and love your (wo)man.

Farewell,

FINNY.

Open Letter: You Know I Still Love You, Right?

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:29:00 +0000

Dear Lovelies, Duckies, and Boos,

I know I've been MIA for the last few weeks, and in fact, this entire series. The thing about it is, I love you, I really do. But things in my "real" life have been exceptionally hectic as of late. I may have been neglecting you, GwaP lovelies, because I simply haven't had time to scribble a whole lot about the games. I have, of course, been keeping a finger on the pulse of our playoff hopes.

I've seen bits and pieces of the games, but not the entire thing. I've been exhausted working in my 'real' life so I can fund things like... oh, feeding myself. So, in light of all that, I haven't had a whole lot of time to re-watch the DVR'd games. I've barely had time to read up on other people's thoughts on this series.

I've only had time for placing a wager. Against my boss's boyfriend that my boys would win over his ultra-beloved Detroit Red Wings. Tomorrow night, we'll know who owes whom dinner!

As for this series... it's as I expected. Long. Hard. With at least one excessively long OT session. Oy.

And to cover some old news, the Nucks were outed by the 'Hawks earlier this week - a game that featured my hockeyheart Shane O'Brien's first playoff goal. On that very same day (Monday), I recieved a response from a fan letter (yes, I shamefully admit I write those from time to time... okay, okay, once a year, jeez) I sent his way. I got one of those standard player autographed cards in response. Sweet, automatic, and (for Shane) a painless process since I'm pretty sure the Canucks have other peeps handling this kind of stuff. Still, my exhausted spirits were buoyed by this. I actually happen to try to collect these things sometimes. I never got one from Tampa Bay when he was there, though I did write. But when Paul Kariya was in Nashville, I got one. And when I was a child, I got one from Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya (and I still have them!).

So, here's one more for the collection! :)

But, just so we're clear... despite my insanely busy schedule as of late... I hope you know I still love you guys.

Come what may tomorrow at 4pm.

Always busily yours,
Finny.

"Sharks Drown in Pond!"

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:20:00 +0000

That's what my friend C said post-game, as we ran around the Honda Center triumphantly. She carried the above sign with great pride as the San Jose fans trekked out, dejected.

Of course, the sweetest win is the one that seals your ticket into the next round (or seals your fate as the Cup Champion, but I'm getting a little ahead of myself here). I know I've been a bit MIA these last few games, but don't think it was just because of my schedule! Oh, no, sistah (and bros), I've been keeping tabs on how these games have been going, but I just haven't had much time to settle down and write anything.

Why? Oh, because I've just purchased my first car! Meaning, this is the first car that I'll be paying for out of my own pocket! Oh, the scent of adulthood. The pain of seeing a chunk of your check go towards paying that off.

So, now that I've settled that business, I've returned my attention back to the series just in time to attend last night's series clinching game against our Northern nemesis. This game opened with a fight, closed the second period with a fight, and finished with the Sharks having to face the ghost of playoffs past.

They'll be asked, time and time again, to provide a suitable explanation for their playoff misery and early exits. And once more, they won't have many answers. In fact, they might be asking themselves a number of questions, with the worry that management may make some summer moves and deal some star Sharks for proven playoff performers. But that's not a worry for me to delve into. Head on over Fear the Fin or Battle of California for more on what the Sharks will look forward to.

Down the 5 freeway, Anaheim will prepare for their battle against the much-despised Detroit Red Wings while San Jose preps to play 18 holes.

More on THAT series to come.

Ducks Get Come-Uppance in Sharks' G3 Win

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:38:00 +0000

"In that situation, that's dumb, a dumb time to put your stick in, and it cost us. I take full responsibility for that one. I was just trying to make a play, but I was trying to do too much."

--Corey Perry, Ducks forward
quote courtesy: OC Register

You betcha, kid. In fact, my response to that penalty (and the goal that resulted from it) was tweeted as "Pears, I owe YOU a facewash for that one!"

Up until that penalty, things were sailing along pretty evenly. Sure, we had thrice trailed the fast-moving Sharks, but we had thrice matched them. Most everyone could feel it in their bones, that the next goal would be the decisive one. And when San Jose notched it, well... I had just about had it.

Not with my team, don't get me wrong.

With my cable TV. See, somewhere in the middle of period 2, things started to go a little haywire. Then, by the middle of period 3, there was nothing for me to even see anymore (if you looked at my picture in last night's liveblog, you'll see what I mean). Thanks to fellow blogger Eric McErlain for pointing me in the right direction to an online live feed that let me watch the rest of the game on my laptop. That's just about when Corey Perry took the costly hooking penalty got called.

I should've known then. The omens had been there from the start. This game didn't start the way the ones in SJ had. The Ducks were spinning wheels trying to keep up with San Jose, and for the first period, they did a commendable job of holding on. They kept it close, evening up the score twice in that period alone, but San Jose moved faster, striking first on a lucky bounce off Andrew Miller then breaking their PP scoring drought about two minutes after Bobby Ryan had leveled the field with a goal that had bounced off Evgeni Nabokov's skate. For the superstitious out there (ahem, yours truly, ahem), having a goal go in off your team happens, but it isn't a good omen when it's the first goal of the game. But, I kind of thought the karma had leveled out when Nabby accidentally potted one in Anaheim's favor, so I didn't think about it that much.

Until my audio went out, then my picture soon followed. Surely, your TV shutting the game down on you is not a good sign. Clearly, some higher power was trying to tell me, "Don't watch, Finny, don't! You won't like it!" But I stubbornly persisted.

And what do you know. The next thing I see is Pears in the box and Patrick Marleau celebrating his to-be GWG, SJ's second PPG for the night.

:Le sigh:

Once again, Anaheim lost in the face-off circle (47%) and the SOG count (30, SJ had 35), but thankfully the margin was much closer this time 'round. While tempers were raised and insults were flying freely in the first, both teams had negated a number of the penalties doled out and ended up with fewer PP opportunities. San Jose managed to revive their ailing PP and nailed Anaheim for 2 of 3 PPs while Anaheim only made 1 of their 3 chances count.

Hopefully, the boys take this one as a wake-up call. They can talk all they want about penalties. When they start paying for them is when they might start changing their bad Duckling ways. Now, knowing San Jose has a chance to shovel their way out of the 1-2 series hole their in, Anaheim has to regroup and bring back that rock-solid defensively sound play that stifled the Sharks efforts in the first two games, and play smarter than they did in G3.

"A few little mistakes, and that's all it takes."

--Scott Niedermayer, Ducks Captain
quote courtesy: OC Register

In the playoffs, those mistakes will cost you your playoff-life. With SJ revived and the naysayers changing their tune to praise the superior play of their team, the margin for error is about as thick as the skin of a shark's teeth.

Liveblog: WCQF Game 3 - Sharks Sink or Swim?

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:19:00 +0000

With the Ducks leading 2-0, and the Sharks reportedly not looking to change their game plan, the Battle of California resumes tonight in SoCal, where the heat is soaring and the Sharks are in danger of dropping to an 0-3 hole if they can't find a way to swim through this one.

The puck drops in a few minutes, but VS. has yet to start the Anaheim-San Jose coverage. So, until we get started, hang tight!

First Period
- 19:43 - Penalty on Patrick Marleau to open the game. If the Ducks can capitalize on this penalty, a double minor for high sticking, this will bode very well for Anaheim!
- 19:25 - Wow, tempers are already flaring early on in this game! Anaheim blows their chance and Ryan Getzlaf takes a seat. Lame. Ducks waste the first two minutes of the double minor.
- 17:26 - Jonas Hiller makes the save and holds on. High flying hockey is out tonight. You can tell the boys are totally jazzed for this one to get going!
- 17:16 - Back on the PP! Let's go, Ducks! Can't break into the zone. Sharks are doing a good job holding the line.
- 16:37 - Teemu can't get the shot off, has a second chance but Nabby stops it. Looks like SJ is collapsing on that puck at every opportunity.
- 16:03 - LOOSE PUCK!!! No one can pot it! Ughhh!
- 15:50 - OMG, why don't you go home, pucky? Don't you wanna go home? (a la Happy Gilmore to a golf ball!)
- 14:35 - Hiller gloves it, SJ gets physical and everyone's getting involved in a scrum. Every whistle = new scrum, it appears!
- Replay shows SOOOO many good chances for Anaheim, but the Sharks are circling and keeping it tight. Props to them for staying on their guys. Props to Anaheim for keeping that effort going!
- 14:26 - San Jose scores off a lucky bounce when it goes off Drew Miller. :( SJ up 1-0 early. Plenty of time left in the game, though.
- 14:10 - The penalty parade starts early with Pronger headed into the box. C'mon, guys, play smart! Rare 4-on-3 for SJ.
- 12:41 - SO CLOSE! SJ's shot ricochets off the post and back to Hiller, who falls like Goliath onto the puck to cover it up and get the whistle! OMG, he is UNDER FIRE right now on this PP. Ducks finally clear the zone and work it into the SJ zone, trying to kill some time. Anaheim kill successful, Sharks remain 0-for-13 on the PP.
- 10:33 - Ebbett, stop turning over that puck! Last time, it led to a Sharks goal!!! (g2)
- 10:05 - Miller draws a penalty and Ducks go on a PP. Might've been lucky on that call, but I don't care.
- 9:25 - OMG, GET CONTROL OF THE PUCK!!! This is YOUR PP!!!
- 9:00 - Anaheim getting set up, can't get a good SHO---there it is! A garbage goal for my new boy, Erik Christensen! The puck got caught in the skate of Nabby, who just turns his head, not knowing where the puck is, and Christensen put it in behind him! Sweet! I don't care how they come, as long as those goals keep on coming. MercSharks (the SJ newspaper) tweets that Nabby kicked it in. I need another replay. -- UPDATE: B-Ryan gets the goal credit, so Christensen doesn't. :( boo. Oh, well, glad to have at least one goal.
- 8:30 - Anaheim takes another penalty. I've already lost count. Grr.
- 7:30 - PK doing a good job boxing out SJ for now. Off the post and in... Dammit. Now the Sharks finally get a PPG. SEE? THAT OUGHT TO TEACH YOU TO STOP GOING TO THE BOX!!!
- 5:32 - Sharks continue to outshoot Anaheim, 15-7 so far. C'mon, boys, pick it up!
- 5:10 - James Wisniewski gets a goal top shelf. Robby Neidermayer provided the screen and we're all even at 2!!!
- 2:00 - this game is moving sooooo fast! I love it!
- 1:02 - PARROS TAKES ON DOUG MURRAY!!! Fight in the playoffs? Some messages need to be sent out, apparently! Sweet! They keep going and Parros is not giving up. Go get 'im, buddy! The refs step in and you can just see how gassed these boys are!
- 0:00 - omg, I can breathe again. That was just... eye-popping.

First Intermission thoughts: Um, I need to breathe. This game is so fast, you can't blink because someone is either scoring or going to the box! (Okay, so it's mostly Anaheim going to the box). So, for the second, I'm going to look for a bit more controlled play. Not that this topsy-turvy rollercoaster isn't fun and all, but I can't even keep track of how many penalties were doled out, and then to finish with a fight? I almost feel like I'm watching a Pens-Flyers game! I joke, I joke. Obviously, San Jose came with some fire tonight and they are fighting with every ounce of power they've got. They've managed to score on the PP and they managed to score first. They're using their speed to really get around the Ducks, and they're back to their puck pelting ways, outshooting the Ducks 20-8 in the first. In the second, I think the Ducks will look to control the puck and the game better than they did in the first. -- Interjection: they just showed Marty Brodeur totally losing his cool at the end of the NJ-CAR game where CAR scored the GWG at the very end of regulation time to win. Totally awesome clip, btw. -- Also in the second, look for Anaheim to cool their jets on the penalty parade since this game is apparently not following suit after G1 and G2! One thing I won't be looking for? I won't be looking for this game to get any less intense or any less crazy. It's going to be a bumpy right throughout! Stay tuned!

Second Period:
- 18:55 - Dan Boyle scores. What the heck?! I was washing my dishes and didn't hear the game back on! :( Anaheim has yet to get ahead in this game.
- 17:27 - my audio just went out! WHERE'S MY AUDIO?!
- 15:32 - and my grammar has gone out the window. And now my screen keeps screwing up. DON'T DO THIS TO ME NOW, TIME WARNER, OR YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM ME DURING THE NEXT WHISTLE!!!
- 14:05 - B-Ry tries to stuff it, no luck.
- 12:33 - scrum breaks out and a couple of guys go down in a pile up. Ex-Ducks Travis Moen holds former teammate Ryan Getzlaf back from joining in. B-Ry is running his mouth and the ref is showing him back to the bench. SJ's Mike Grier takes a seat for two. So far, no Ducks penalty. I'm amazed. Ducks on the PP.
- 11:04 - Anaheim can't get set up! Scotty (aka god) tries from a bad angle, no luck. PP with 10 secs left and the play gets whistled down off-side. SJ PK is going to get this job done once more. Anaheim needs another one still!
- 9;50 - SJ continues to pressure the Ducks. They're cycling the puck well, get a shot off but Hiller gets a kicksave.
- 8:23 - Wiz takes some punishment along the boards. Ouch!
- 8:10 - Chris Pronger pulls through and nails one! Ducks even it up 3 all! A beautiful one-timer!
- 7:42 - a note passes on the tv saying 5 of the 6 goals scored in this game have been scored by d-men. Interesting!
- 6:13 - Anaheim needs to turn up the heat and get ahead! No more waiting to get ahead, it's time to pull up those bootstraps and dig in!
- 4:41 - Miller's line gets a fast shot off, but Nabby nabs it. Ha! "Nabby nabs it". :)
- 2:19 - my TV is getting those weird digital hitches. I'm about to scream.

Second Intermission Thoughts: Well, it slowed down a bit and the penalties were substantially less this time around, so good stuff there. I need Anaheim to get ahead first, so I'll be looking for them to drive the net in the third. San Jose's fast-wheeling still. I'm just more frustrated that my cable connection is going screwy with the audio going out, then the picture getting screwed up. I'm calling the cable people now.

Third Period
- 17:23 the image on my screen had deteriorated immensely. So awful is the picture that I can't even make out which man is wearing which jersey! :( The audio is halting thanks to some area outage happening and so I've tuned into the radio coverage via the Ducks website. I am still trying to decipher the puzzle on my TV that's passing as "picture".
- Sometime in this period, San Jose scores the GWG and I am bemoaning the fact that my TV looks like this:
I have to stop and write up thoughts tomorrow. I'm just speechless right now. I should've understood - my cable going out was a bad omen. Tomorrow, we'll analyze. Today, I'll just absorb.

Until then, go Ducks!

OT: Double Duck Daddies

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Per the OC Register, Francois Beauchemin and Todd Marchant were missing from this morning's practice.

Apparently, both men were accompanying their wives as they each welcomed a new addition to their family. GwaP congratulates the new Ducks Daddies and welcomes the new Baby Beauch and Baby Marchant to the team.

And in case you missed it, ex-Duck Chris Kunitz's new baby was briefly shown on NBC's coverage of the Pens-Flyers game yesterday as well. Delayed as it may be, GwaP would like to congratulate Kuni and his wife Maureen.

Lucky Ducky, Up 2-0 in series against Sharks

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Anaheim youngsters, coupled with Jonas Hiller’s ovation-worthy performance, yielded a 3-2 win over the Sharks and granted the Ducks a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Goals from Bobby Ryan, Andrew Ebbett, and Drew Miller helped Anaheim secure their second straight win on enemy ice. Of course, having a netminder turn in a Herculean effort didn’t hurt either.

Much is being made of Jonas Hiller’s outstanding performances between the pipes, but Duck fans – like Ducks players themselves – are unsurprised by his ability. We all know he can match up, man up, and make enough saves to give the team in front of him a chance to score some goals. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long before Anaheim potted one to go up 1-0 in the first period, but he did have to make a number of good saves just to ensure that one goal stood up and carried on into the second. Once again, just like in G1, the Ducks and Sharks came out pretty even. Anaheim took 2 penalties to the Sharks’ 1, and Anaheim managed 14 SOG to counter the Sharks’ 15 SOG.

But then came the second period.

And then came trouble. For the second straight game, Anaheim took another 3 consecutive penalties – two from Chris Pronger and a sloppy one for too many men on the ice. Forcing the PK unit to elevate their play for the second frame once again gave San Jose a chance to possibly rejuvenate the lethal power play they’ve been lauded for coming into the series. This time, the Sharks came out with a stronger, more aggressive posture as they attempted to end the playoff scoring drought that’s plagued them since last season’s post-season party, but it was to no avail. Anaheim managed to kill off the penalties, but didn’t walk away unscathed. Ryane Clowe managed to fire one past Hiller to even up the score at one apiece.

Having spent much of the second period in the box, Anaheim couldn’t get their offense rolling and managed a measly 3 SOG for the entire second period.

Mirroring G1, Anaheim came out with a stronger and smarter effort in the final period, coming up with two goals from the 9 shots they put on goal. San Jose pelted Hiller with 12 more shots, but only got one goal and one near-goal that clanged off the pipe.

So, despite San Jose’s better efforts, the result was the same: Sharks outshot, outhit, and (at least for the second period) outplay Anaheim, but still come up empty-handed while the Ducks skate off back to Orange County with a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Ducks’ defense has once again stymied San Jose’s goalscorers, though they collectively managed more shots that they were able to generate in Game 1. Jonathan Cheechoo, a Duckhunter with a penchant for nailing his shots against us, buried one of his 4 SOGs and burst a bubble for a prematurely celebratory Anaheim that had just barely managed to go up 3-1 before Cheechoo scored, narrowing the lead to 3-2. That little wake-up goal put Anaheim back in a defensive posture, making sure they simply held on to that margin and wound the clock on down to 0:00.

Props go out to Anaheim penalty killers and d-men, who managed to block 21 San Jose shots. Without their increased efforts to shut down the Sharks, the score could’ve easily favored San Jose. Major kudos belong to Jonas Hiller, who was excellent in net, saving 42 of 44 shots fired at him.

For G3, I’ll be looking for a stronger second period from the Ducks, and I’ll be holding my breath for fewer penalties. Give the PKers a break; they’ve successfully shut out SJ 0-for-12 on the PP, but they can’t count on that stat holding indefinitely.

Without a doubt, Anaheim pieced together back-to-back wins with marginally more luck than San Jose is being given. If they don't work harder at pulling through a full 60 minute game with reduced penalties, the question is: How long will that luck hold out?

But on the other hand, if the Ducks bring it all night for a full 60 and stay out of the box, the question becomes: Who can stop us now?

The difference between asking the first and second question is simply how the Ducks choose to play. Come Tuesday, I want to see their A-game run nonstop from puck drop, and at the night's end, I want to be leaning towards the second question rather than the first.

Let's go, Ducks!

Do Or Die, One Game at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Not so fast there, experts. Anaheim's not going to throw in the towel that easily. We're not going to roll over and let San Jose swim right past us in this race.

Granted, it's just one game. Just one win. But it's one less than the Sharks have currently and for the moment, that's satisfactory.

As for the game itself, well... there's a lot to be improved upon.

The most obvious point? Penalties. The boys didn't rack 'em up like they have in the past, but neither did they heed my warning yesterday to "be aware of your position, your man, your elbows, sticks, and skates [...] at all times." What happened instead? Rob Niedermayer, hockeygods bless you, child, for your many blunders, but you can't control your stick or arms to save your life. I don't know how many times you've taken a holding, hooking, or high-sticking call in your career, but for some reason, it always seems to be at a much higher rate than any other member of the team. Don't get me wrong. You're not too shabby at what you do when you're playing keepaway and protect the puck, but this is post-lockout hockey, Robby. You've got to cut back on all the obstruction calls. In last night's contest, Robby took three penalties, all in the second frame, for high sticking, holding, and hooking. He thankfully shaped up in the third, though Anaheim would take two more penalties in the final period when the Ducks were able to do some damage while at even strength.

The second thing that's got to change is the SOG. Anaheim was outshot 17-35. They came out fairly strong, both teams playing smart defensively and things were pretty even for the first. Anaheim couldn't convert on their one PP chance in the first, but then gave San Jose three consecutive PPs - severly limiting their opportunities to score since they had to run defense for much of the second. San Jose played a tough game, spent a lot of time in the Anaheim zone, and generated plenty of shots but not a ton of scoring chances.

“We didn’t create too many second opportunities; they did a great job around their net and us doing a poor job. Their goaltender swallowed a lot of pucks. We obviously have to better in that area.”
--Todd McLellan, Sharks Head Coach
quote courtesy: San Jose Media Quick Notes

In fact, of the 17 SOG we had, everyone except Bobby Ryan, Erik Christensen, and Andrew Ebbett managed 0 or only 1 SOG. B-Ry had 4, Christensen and Ebbett had 2 SOG each. Teemu Selanne, credited with only 1 SOG, had two golden opportunities to put the puck behind Evgeni Nabokov but couldn't get the job done. The big guns have to shoot the puck more if they plan on making a difference in this series. We can't always squeak by with a lucky post, or put all the weight on Jonas Hiller to stop every single shot. He gave the Ducks a chance, and Scott Niedermayer capitalized on a PP to put the Ducks up 1-0 before Ryan Getzlaf, fresh out of the sin bin, managed to beat Nabby and give the Ducks the insurance goal.

Lastly, I want a bit more consistency. The first was great, the second was terrifying, and the third was much better. That middle, like a novel, can't sag. There are no opportunities for being lax when you're playing playoff hockey. You have one shot. One game. One goal. Make it all count.

Finally, I'll close with this. Anaheim did a great job killing off the six penalties they took. They capitalized on their chance and shut down SJ's. If they can minimize taking penalties and maximize their own chances, they'll have a sweet shot at getting the next win, bringing them that much closer to the next one. In playoffs, it's always do or die.

For opinions on the other side of the rink, visit Sharkspage, Fear the Fin, and The Chum Bucket. Also check out Mike Chen's thoughts on game 1 on Battle of California, and read up on Earl Sleek's take. Want more Ducks' takes: go here, here, here, or here.

Since I'm already delayed with my bracket this year, I wrote it up on my work board in my office and took a picture of it. Here's my take on this year's playoffs:

Yuppers... I pick Chicago. But, I'm still torn. I kind of want Pittsburgh to take it. But to be fair, I picked Pittsburgh first, then changed it. We'll see. I'm usually wrong about these bracket things anyway.

Pep Talk: Opening Round Playoff Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:44:00 +0000

Playoffs. It's like a drug. Once you taste it, you're hooked. Even the very hint of playoffs trigger hunger, salivation, and a deep-seated craving. Tonight, welcome to your first taste of playoffs, boys -- California style.

San Jose is not fooled. They do not believe they've got this locked up. Use that bit of caution to your advantage. Press, push, play your hearts out. If you don't, and the Sharks start to smell blood, they'll exercise no mercy in ensuring their dominance of California continues.

Do you want this, Anaheim?

Then I'll advise you to be aware of your position, your man, your elbows, sticks, and skates (Prongs, I'm looking at you) at all times.

Those of you were we part of last year's squad, recall the epic failure of your first round exit. Do. Not. Repeat. You have a new team around you, a new dynamic. Same coach, same formula, same goal. Stay focused. Keep your sticks down, your head up, and your eyes open. Don't be goaded into a pointless fight. Put a leash on those tempers and keep it in check. Tonight is not the time to go willy-nilly all over the ice.

Tonight is the night for spearing Sharks. Tonight is the night for the blood feud to begin. California brethren? No. The sibling rivalry transforms into a ball-busting war as soon as those jerseys come over your heads. Friends, comrades donning teal-and-black? At puck drop, those friendships --including mine with SJ bloggess McPhizzle-- are null-and-void until someone clocks four W's and moves on to the Western Semifinals.

To the newer ducklings, I've never formally welcomed you on-board and the formality is long delayed. Those of you who've been in this race before know what you're about to face. Those of who who haven't entered this rodeo before, know this: it's going to boil down to one win at a time. Don't get overly excited. You have to get one, then another, then another, and finally, the finishing win. With every taste, your hunger and thirst for that prize ought to grow. If you haven't hit fever pitch yet, playoff rookie, you're already behind. Keep your head in the game, and play it like you've played your last 10. Build that fire, fan that flame, and for the love of pucks, step it up to a level you thought was beyond you.

Show me that monstrosity I call the blueline special. Pot those impossible goals, those garbage goals, those beauty goals, those goal-scorer goals, those goals that you never thought you'd see (Parros - give me a game winner, and I'll grow my hair out and let people ~~shave~~ cut it next December!). Give me superhuman ice time, smart plays, and Herculean goaltending.

Tonight, I want to see fire in those eyes, light speed on your feet, [legal] hits that rock the momentum in your favor, and an absolute commitment to getting past this first mission: get the first goal, get the first Win. Then, get the rest.

Are you hungry yet, Anaheim?

Are you prepared for the grueling up-hill battle you're about to face?

You better be, because I'm already prepping the war paint and getting my armor on. For more info, check out my bits on the NY Times' "Hockey Night in Blogdom"* segment and my preview on Cycle like the Sedins*.

Depending on numerous factors beyond my control, I may or may not be liveblogging the game from a private watch party in Anaheim. (Technology, will you work with me tonight?)

*Special thanks to Jeff Klein, NY Times, and James T. O'Brien, Cycle like the Sedins, for the opportunities they've given me this post-season.

Predictions: Round One

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:42:00 +0000

It's that time of year when the monkeys come out to play, the experts spew their numbers and make their picks, and bloggers bust out brackets (which, of course, I'm not done with yet) and hustle to create their playoff pools.

Yes, folks, wake up and smell the fresh ice. It's time for another Cup Craze! Who do you think will take home the monstrous trophy, arguably the most prized trophy in all professional sports? Who do you think will take the Western title? The Eastern? And, more importantly, who is gonna make it out of the SJ-ANA series still rearing to go for more punishment in round two?

You don't know? Neither do I, but I've got a hunch.

This afternoon, while munching on some Sun Chips, I busted out my dusty crystal ball and gave 'er a good cleaning. Now that she's all sparkly and un-fingerprinted, it's time to disregard what the monkey has to say and see what I'm gonna be staking ~~money~~ my laundry quarters on.

In the EAST:

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens - Bruins in 6
#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers - Capitals in 5
#3 New Jersey Devils vs.. #6 Carolina Hurricanes - Hurricanes in 6
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers - Penguins in 6

In the WEST:

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks - Ducks in 7
#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets - Red Wings in 7
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues - Canucks in 5
#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames - Blackhawks in 6

So, there you have it, lovelies. Finny's 2009 Round 1 picks. Now, all I've got to do is sit back and try not to toss my crystal ball into my TV during all the excitement. Tonight: Pens v. Flyers, Caps v. Rangers, Devils v. Canes, and 'Nucks v. Blues all get underway. Tomorrow: Californians can officially declare war.

Behind Enemy Lines: Undercover Underdog

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Yesterday's post was delayed until today because the Alpha squad here at GwaP went undercover over at the HP Pavilion and broke into the coach's office to gather his latest notes on how he plans to coach his team to victory over the Ducks. Our spies were unable to uncover much, as the notes were written in crappy coach scrawl with abbreviations our team could not make sense of. (I mean, seriously, what's JC<3cp?). style="font-weight: bold;">Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi busted into the lockerroom, arms full of toilet paper, giggling about dolling up Jeremy Roenick's locker. Alpha Squad team member "Magna" reportedly overheard Seto complain this wasn't enough payback for the itching powder JR put in their jockstraps while he was bored on the IR. Shortly after the boys completed their prank, Alpha Squad squeaked out, narrowly avoiding capture by the Sharks and quickly planned a raid on Musings of a Radical Redhead HQ further north. The top secret mission paid off, as "Magna" and "Fox" were able to swipe the following partial communique from deep within the harddrive of McPhizzle's laptop -- but not before one squad member was caught by the fiery redhead bloggess. Not willing to leave a squad member behind, Alpha team plotted a bust-and-rescue, which accounted for the delay.

So, with all of Alpha team recuperating from a 48-hour sleepless mission in the recesses of GwaP HQ, we can finally release what we've uncovered. Here are the top 10 reasons McPhizzle believes SJ will edge out Anaheim in the first round.

10. The “Guch” - any guy with a name that can also be used to describe some of my favorite sunglasses and a handbag (not to mention shoes) has to count for something. Plus, on the line with Big Joe and Cap’n Patty, the kid has had a monster sophomore year in the NHL .
9. Mike Grier is from Detroit. He’s street
8. From sjsharks.com, “A lot of us haven’t won the Cup,” Cheechoo said. “We want to know what it feels like. That’s something I crave.” Cheechoo’s favorite meal is moose. Just think what he’d do to a duck.
7. Claude Lemieux, Jeremy Roenick, and Rob Blake – as my papa always said, “old age and treachery will outwit youth and skill anytime.” While Claude and Rob have both hoisted the cup (4 and 1, respectively), JR never has. From NHL.com: "Absolutely, no doubt, this is the best opportunity I ever had and will ever have, to tell you the truth," Roenick said. "My timetable is getting very, very short, so it's desperation time."
6. As cute as his nickname is, Pickles will shank a bitch. And by shank, I mean be awesome. Come on, +15 with 30 assists? Kickass, little kitten.
5. Russian vs. Frenchie. Nabokov beats Giguere in stats, (2.10 GAA vs. 3.10 GAA) but that doesn’t count for much when Hiller has been in net for the Quacks. Oh, lookie, though, Hiller’s GAA is 2.38 through the regular season. The lesson we learn here? Never underestimate the “Red Kid”. What about Bouche? Of COURSE I wouldn’t forget about Mr. Brian Boucher (former TC American) - he had a 2.18 GAA…
4. A shark at any given time can have approx 150 teeth (pretty good for a hockey player). That’s 3600 teeth on the team. Big bite.
3. Two words, Jumbo Joe. While his playoff performance in the past hasn’t been stellar, I believe the coaching change this year and the chemistry of the team will have a positive effect on that. The leading points-getter on the team this year 25 and the Assist King 61 (and a +16 on the year), one look at that large man skating toward me, I’d step out of the way and say, “Your net, sir?”
2. Travis Moen is like the kid who never had sugar and then went to his cousin’s house for a week and discovered Pepsi and Pixi Stix. He likes us better and never going back to sugar-free beat candy.
1. The Sharks won 4 of the 6 meetings with the Ducks this year. I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin. Let the feathers fly.

For the record, "The Guch" only makes me think of babies. Guchy-coochy-coo! So, here's to a long, emotional, physical series wherein the friendship between McPhizzle and I will be temporarily laid aside until a winner is a declared, and one of us has to swallow the bitter pill of defeat.

There's just one thing bothering me right now... And that's the eerie feeling I have that there's something strange going on in GwaP HQ. My framed image of the Ducks winning the 2007 Cup is skewed every so slightly. The lock on the safe behind the picture isn't broken, but it isn't reset to zero like I habitually leave it... and worse, there's something strange about the way my dog is lethargically lying on the floor, whining as if she might've eaten too fast or too much. I've got a nasty hunch that I wasn't the only one out to do some reconnaissance work (click to read what McP stole from my safe!)!

Cup Craze 2009, Now Open For Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:48:00 +0000

After a weekend featuring back-to-back shootout games to two different teams not even in the playoff picture, Anaheim now knows to gear up for a war against their Northern nemesis, the San Jose Sharks.

Friday night, the Ducks put on a show for their home crowd that was nearly ruined thanks to a late goal by Dallas. Fans were already on their feet with two minutes left in the game, celebrating their impending seventh playoff berth, their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, when (gasp) Dallas put one behind Jonas Hiller to even out the game at 3 all. What. the. heck. All around the arena, fans reclaimed their seats and watched in relative irritated silence as the Ducks delayed their celebration until the shootout, where Teemu Selanne eventually potted one over Marty Turco's double-stacked pads on a stop-and-shoot goal that I'm not even sure is technically allowed, but it apparently counted, so... doesn't really matter, eh?

As for Saturday night's contest against the desert dogs, Anaheim once again went into the shootout and ultimately lost out. J.S. Giguere got to settle in between the pipes for the third after Jonas Hiller got yanked for allowing four goals to slip past him on 20 shots during the first two frames. For his part, Jiggy faced nine shots and stopped all nine, but when it came down to the shootout, former Ducks back-up netminder Ilya Bryzgalov edged out his comrade and gave his team the W for their season closer.

Following the Ducks' season closer, St. Louis ended up leapfrogging us and taking the #7 seed, forcing us to occupy the #8 position and granting us the opportunity to duel it out with the Sharks. A co-worker of mine walked by my office this morning and said, "Well, you got what you wanted." I nearly lowered my head to my keyboard and weeped, for I have no idea what I might've just wished upon my boys. San Jose?! What was I thinking? I take it all back. Give me Detroit!

(faceplop).

Okay, breathe, Finny. Breathe.

No, this is good. San Jose will be a fantastic challenge for the Ducks, and it's an excellent opportunity to pimp out Battle of California as I hope this fuels the initiation of Californians into the cult of hockey love and force people to select a side to fight for - North or South? ~~Yankee or Confederate?!~~ One, two, three, four, I declare a CALI WAR!

(The Southland is so infinitely better, duh.)

The only thing I'm disappointed about is the fact that only one California team will advance to the Western Conference Semis. For one California team, the Cup chase ends before any of those May flowers spring up from the earth. For the other, another chance to play their hockeypants off as they pursue Lord Stanley's Cup.

Last time, I stated the following:

#8 means we'll have a true BoC throwdown for the first time in NHL playoff history! Yes, folks, it's true. The Kings, Sharks, and Ducks have not met one another in the post-season ever.

Unfortunately, I have to admit I was wrong about that whole "BoC throwdown for the first time in NHL history" bit -- though I am correct about the Sharks/Ducks/Kings never having met up in the post-season. According to the OC Register, this won't be the first time two California teams duked it out for the Cup.

[This is] Just the second all-California postseason series in NHL history, following a seven-game, opening-round victory by the Kings over the long-defunct Oakland Seals in 1969.
--Quote courtesy: OC Register

I didn't even know there had been a team called the Oakland Seals! So, I guess you learn something new everyday, huh? Just when you thought you knew it all... :shakes head:

Tomorrow: a closer look at the opponent, hereby to be referred to as the Northern Nemesis, and Finny's picks for playoffs. It's time to bust out the bracket, baby.

Winning & Clinching

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Tonight's game against the non-playoff-bound Dallas Stars presents the Ducks with a chance to secure their invitation to the post-season party. If Nashville drops their game against Minnesota tonight, Anaheim needs only one point to ensure they're playoff bound.

Once that gets taken care of (and I'm really counting on Anaheim closing out in front of the home crowd for Fan Appreciation Night), the only question remaining is whether we'll stay #7 in the West or if we'll fall to #8.

#7 means we'll face-off against Detroit. Again. And we all know how much I love seeing Detroit in the post-season time and time again. It's about as much fun as watching reruns... on repeat. Constantly. Yeah, sense my excitement here? No? Oh. I tried. -__-

#8 means we'll have a true BoC throwdown for the first time in NHL playoff history! Yes, folks, it's true. The Kings, Sharks, and Ducks have not met one another in the post-season ever. Of course, this is limited by the fact that the Kings have been around since 1967 and didn't have any younger, *coughcoughbettercoughcough* siblings in California until the Sharks were founded in 1991. Anaheim followed soon after in 1993.

Now, the prospect of dueling against a PacDiv rival and Northern neighbor has me nearly salivating. Why? Because it's not Detroit, for the love of the hockeygods and all that his hockey-holy. No, that's not why. It's because I think it'd be fun to play San Jose! A California hockey craze could (hypothetically) begin, spreading throughout the state as the two teams showdown! (Hey, stop laughing, Canadians and East Coasters. California can fall in love with hockey over Brangelina -- you watch!). At the very least, we'd spark one heckuva fan-war here. Already, the fans of both teams grate on one another's nerves at games - such as the massive shark bite simulated at the last Ducks-Sharks game by two rows of enthusiastic Shark fans who used white triangular posterboard and moved them in a unison, giant chomping motion. (No lie, I resented it because it was both annoying and actually kind of cool. It was a whole lot less annoying that one Sharks fan who ran drunkenly up and down the stairs of the terrace level using his arms to illustrate the chomping motion, though.)

Nevermind that there's that pesky business of someone having to win the series, which means someone has to lose, and I'm only a tad bit nervous that the losing end of the stick might ours. The point is, all that emotion slathered across California would be fantastic.

Or, you know. We could play Detroit again. Whatev.

Sigh. I really don't want to, but if I had to go to trends, numbers, and all that logical crap, Detroit might be the "better" option. In their last 10 GP, Detroit's gone 5-4-1 whereas San Jose went 6-3-1 (including a 1-4 loss to PHX, Whaaattt???); not to mentiton SJ's superhuman strength at home, losing only 5 times in regulation all season long in the Shark Tank. But the winged tires squad have a little added incentive to go duckhunting this year: the last two times our clubs met in the playoffs, Anaheim's swept them right back out onto the green hills of the golf course and later, defeated them in 6 -- payback, if you will, for the two times Detroit's ended our run for the Cup.

Anyway, I know I'm getting ahead of myself. Tonight, the boys have to close the deal in order to get us in the door. Then I can worry about who we'll end up facing.

Finny's Crystal Ball says: Ducks 3, Dallas 1. Goals by the Ryans - Getzlaf, Bobby, Whitney. Okay, maybe not Whitney (but maybe an assist for Whitney!).

Friday plugs: For more Ducks coverage, hit up Battle of California and Ducks & Pucks. Want the inside scoop from the enemy? Check out Defending Big D.

One last thing - who do you want to face-off with for the conference quarterfinals (assuming, of course, we're headed there)?

OT: Tragedy Hits Angels and CSUF community

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:22:00 +0000

This morning, I had a meeting at work and missed all the devastating news of the loss suffered by the Anaheim Angels until much later. Nick Adenhart, a young 22-year-old pitcher who participated in last night's game, was involved in a late night accident near Downtown Fullerton. There, on the corner of Lemon and Orangethrope, an intersection I've crossed many times, his life was lost.

Of the four people riding in the Mitsubishi Eclipse, three people have lost their lives and one remains in critical condition at UCI Medical Center. The driver, a twenty year old CSUF student and Alpha Chi Omega sister, was among the three who lost their lives, and the third was another unidentified passenger who was declared deceased at the scene.

The surviving passenger is a former CSUF baseball player.

As an alumna of CSUF who maintains Titan pride and as a girl who once tried to get into baseball and chose the Angels as my team of choice, I'd like to extend my condolensces to the friends and family of all the victims of this tragedy. The sports world mourns for the abrupt end to a life and career that could-have-been. The CSUF community and the sisters of Alpha Chi Omega will feel the loss of one of our own. May they all rest in peace.

OMG. This is why I heart you, you crazy fool.

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:37:00 +0000

The Canucks were asked, "Who would win Dancing with the Stars?" and of course, a favorite for being picked on in situations like these, Shane O'Brien gets the nod from a number of Nucks.

Don't believe me? See his shimmy-shaking for yourself and judge dear O'B's skills.

Ryan Kesler: "He's not a very good dancer, but, you know, he has the courage to go out there and do it."

Ex-King Jason LaBarbera: "He can cut a good rug, I think. [...] When we win, we got good tunes in here and he's not afraid to get down with it. He knows what he's doing, I think."

Taylor Pyatt: "He's got pretty good moves on the dance floor."

The only one who seemed to really give the question some serious thought was Darcy Hordichuk, who countered popular opinion and pinpointed Alex Burrows. His argument against the favorite O'B? "He's more one-dimension[al]. I think in a show like that, you've got to have more than one-dimension. O'B's kind of got those tight hips, and I think that if he was dancing with another girl, if he stepped on her feet, there could be some damage there."

Tight hips?! What do you mean, tight hips?! How does having "tight hips" lead to feet-stepping? I'm not trying to defend the goofy guy; I'm just wondering what "tight hips" means!

All in all, a funny bit from the Nucks and a hearty thank you goes out to Hgiraffe on Twitter for tweeting about it.

Splitting It Up

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:57:00 +0000

A tense weekend of a home-and-home series against our Northern neighbors, the San Jose Sharks, yield a split. Two points, Anaheim; two points, San Jose. Sunday's loss marked the end of the Ducks' game winning streak at four, and prompted me to take a look at the numbers.

What worked for Anaheim Saturday that didn't work for Anaheim Sunday?

Well, the most obvious answer is, of course, penalties. In Saturday's contest, Anaheim gave San Jose's 3rd-in-the-NHL-ranked power play only three chances wherein one led to a San Jose goal. But on Sunday, Anaheim gave San Jose seven chances with the man-advantage, including a full sixty second two-man advantage.

Now, nevermind the bad officiating that went down in the third period. We all know that the refs are well-versed on Anaheim's tough guy rep and sometimes let that influence their vision, but it says something when even the opponents acknowledge that the calls went their way.

Even Sharks forward Jeremy Roenick said there were "a couple of plays" referees Dan O'Rourke and Chris Lee could have called penalties on during that late scramble.

"And they didn't and I think the frustration overflowed when the buzzer went," said Roenick, one of the combatants.

quote courtesy: LA Times

It wasn't just penalties that played a part in why Anaheim wasn't able to post back-to-back wins against the Sharks, though quite obviously it played a part. There have always been no complaints, no excuses in Ducks hockey, so I dug a little deeper to see what else might've gone wrong for the boys last night.

Turns out, in Saturday's matchup, Anaheim managed gain the edge in faceoff wins, ending the night with a 52% win percentage in comparison to Sunday night's 44%.

In both games, Anaheim had manged to be outhit by the Sharks (24-38 & 17-20), yet the Ducks had more takeaways than SJ on both nights (12-7 & 6-4). Summarily, the Ducks seem to put out the same kind of game they played Saturday with only a slight change in the FO% and the number of power play opportunities they gave SJ. Last night was a game they could have won, had they been given their equal and fair chances by the zebras.

And dare I point out the ominous fact that Adam Brady had mentioned on Ducks Blog when he wrote, "[Jonas Hiller]'s played back-to-backs twice this season and lost the second game both times."? The trend appears to continue, though no fault of Hiller's this time around.

Currently, Nashville and St. Louis trail Anaheim by two points with a possible six points left for them each to gain. Anaheim has four possible points available to them via Friday night's showdown with Dallas and Saturday's game in Phoenix.

Must wins? No question about it.

The Stache Gets Nominated for the Masterton Trophy

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:13:00 +0000

O_O <--My face. I love it! I have to say, I totally love it. George Parros was named among the Masterton nominees this morning by the PHWA. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded every year to the player that "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."

Personally, I'm loving the stretch of Ducks players that have been nominated.

2006 - Teemu Selanne was nominated and awarded the Masterton Trophy
2007 - J.S. Giguere was nominated
2008 - Todd Marchant was nominated
2009 - George Parros nominated

NHL.com pointed out some interesting Stache Stats that I wasn't aware of, but goes entirely with the sort of person Parros is perceived to be:

Though Parros is the Ducks’ leader -- and among the league leaders -- in fighting majors, he is a meticulous follower of the “code” of engagement. He has been assessed no misconduct penalties, no game misconducts and no instigator penalties this season.

In truth, I'd never thought about the fact that Parros hasn't earned any misconducts. He's always seemed so gentlemanly about fights, even going so far as to have a reputation for asking politely, "Will you give me a fight?" And really, considering his all-around improvement over the last couple years and his admirable persona, Parros has earned this recognition.

So, a fat kudos goes out to the brainy giant from GwaP HQ.

Seven, Two, Four and One

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:08:00 +0000

Numbers aren't really my thing. In fact, Earl Sleek's had the blogosphere pretty much cornered with his number-spouting brilliance for a long time now. But today, I bring you numbers.

Seven - Thanks to last night's shootout win over Vancouver, Anaheim has re-claimed the #7 spot in the West after having momentarily been pushed into #8 when the St. Louis Blues won their game against Detroit. Tonight, Nashville has the opportunity to gain two points from their contest against Chicago in order to claw their way back into the race and shove the Blues right back out. For tonight, at least, we're safe in the #7 spot and will continue to try to catch up to Columbus by wrangling some points out of the upcoming home-and-home series against San Jose this weekend.

Two - Two wins over this three-game road trip so far that yielded four fat points. Saturday, Anaheim will try to take two more out of the matchup against San Jose. Our NorCal neighbors, who currently hold the Western #1 seed and are chasing the President's trophy, have bested us all season long, winning 3 of the 4 games against us this season. Except for the regular season-opener against the Sharks, wherein the Ducks fell 1-4, the games have all been shutouts! Check out the numbers:

Game 1 - October 9th, 2008: Sharks win @ home, 4-1
Game 2 - October 17th, 2008: Ducks win @ home, 4-0
Game 3 - December 11th, 2008: Sharks win @ home, 2-0
Game 4 - March 15th, 2008: Sharks win on the road, 1-0

Seeing that the Ducks have yet to win in the Shark Tank this season, I'd say this weekend would be the perfect opportunity to break that little streak. Wouldn't you agree?

Four - Is the number of games left in the season for the Ducks, which leaves us with a mere eight possible points to secure our invitation to the post-season party. It'll be a tight race all the way there, but as coach Randy Carlyle would say, the game you're playing that night is the most important game of the season.

Every point is precious and more precious as the games dwindle down.
--Randy Carlyle, Ducks Head Coach
quote courtesy: Yahoo! Sports

One - Moment of silence for Canuck Taylor Pyatt's finacee, who lost her life Thursday night in a car accident. My condolensces to the Pyatt and Bragnalo families as they cope with this tragedy.

Liveblog: Ducks vs. Nucks

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:46:00 +0000

Let me forewarn you. Much of my liveblogging consists of mainly emoting. Now that you know what you're getting yourself into, read on if you please.

I was debating about liveblogging this game since I'm actually taking the time to sit down and catch it on the telly, but something about having to hit "publish post" every two seconds seemed unappealing. As a result, I thought I'd move over to Twitter and blog reactions, but I should've known myself better. I'm not capable of not commenting on almost every other play, so I ended up with a long running commentary that probably annoyed every single poor friend and acquaintance following me on Twitter.

So, in an effort to not royally piss over everyone in my life, I'll deal with the "publish post" bit and duplicate the messages I wrote over the first 20 minutes of play. Sorry for the missing time-markers (look for them in during my 2nd period liveblog).

Your starting netminders are Roberto Luongo and Jonas Hiller, and when the puck drops, the energy in GM Place rises.

First period.
- Boo. I'm 3/4 on my bets for tonight's games now that Detroit lost... Ducks take the ice against the Nucks... here we go.
- the ducks are now in 8th place since STL got two from Detroit... We need these two more than Vancouver does! Come on!
- Parros! Parros! Parros! man i miss chanting that.
- 6 minutes gone, still no score. Both teams are energized and want these 2 pts.
- OHH! the twins combine for a good chance, but Hiller stops the puck. :) yessss...
- and the twins in question were the Sedin twins, not the Getzlaf-Perry "twins".
- you know, I actually dont like that shade of blue-and-green on O'Brien... huh.
- lots of traffic in front of Hiller... but the Ducks go on the PP by virtue of a goalie interference call.
- YES!!!! TEEMUUUU SELANNEEEE... the ducks are rockin' the PP... nice passes throughout this PP that led to teemu's chip in! 1-0 DUCKS!
- Bobby Ryan scores on a shot that I don't even see! wowza! 2-0 Ducks!
- here we go.... Sheldon Brookbank drops the gloves with Rypien....
- hm. I don't know who wins that one.
- damn. Vancouver gets one courtesy of Hendrik Sedin. Ducks' lead cut in half, 2-1.
- Hiller holding his head/neck? ummm... this isn't good.
- He's alright... although now being sing-song mocked by the Vancouver crowd.
- DAMN! MILLER LITE HITS THE POST! :(
- the Nucks had added so much pressure on that shift that another nucks goal was inevitable.
- 2-2 all... a minute left in the first and the ducks look frustrated... Getzlaf takes a ridiculous penalty for tripping up Burrows.
- -__- Scotty, I don't like to question my hockeygods, but WHAT ARE YOU DOING? (taking another penalty)
- Ducks escape 1st period w/o giving the nucks the lead... barely. moving this liveblog to www.girlwithapuck.com so I dont annoy everyone.
End of 1st: 2-2.

First intermission thoughts: I liked how the boys came out strong, calm, collected. I don't like how they finished the period, all frazzled and frustrated. The penalty on Scott Neidermayer was an unnecessary one for him to take, particularly when we're already down a man. Giving a team like Vancouver a two man advantage for any chunk of time is like playing with fire - it's eventually going to burn you. It's obvious that the Vancouver crowd and the players themselves got a huge lift out of being able to tie things up when it had appeared that the Ducks were dominating the period with a 2-0 lead. Unfortuantely, they blew it and entered panic mode. With emotions running high, like it always does in a game with playoff positioning or clinching on the line such as this one, guys have to be able to control their emotions and play the kind of game that will tip the balance of chances back in their favor. However, the boys were starting to unravel, and at the end of that period I was just hoping the buzzer would sound so they could escape to the lockerroom and try to settle down. They've got to play smarter and play the way they did when they first stepped out onto the ice. Hopefully that happens now in the second.

Second period.
- 19:34 - Vancouver hits the post and Anaheim gets lucky.
- 19:00 - Newcomer James Wisniewski is hurt after blocking a shot. He's crawling on the ice and is really looking pained. Replay shows the puck striking him in the knee. Here's the Herculean effort and sacrifice I talked about in the preview... but I'm hoping the sacrifice doesn't mean that the team will be without Wis for long. Thankfully Getzlaf is out of the box. Less than 30 seconds left on the PK.
- 18:06 - Neidermayer penalty is over, thankfully. The boys are looking strong and settled, much more so than they did in the closing moments of the first. Now back at even strength.
- 17:05 - Calgary wins their game to gain two points. If Vancouver loses, Calgary takes the top NW slot along with the #4 seed.
- 15:54 - Alex Burrows knocks the puck towards Hiller, it bounces off him and over the goal line. Randy Carlyle looks on with a deep, concerned frown and the Nucks now lead, 3-2.
- 15:00 - Ducks take another interference penalty. Teemu Selanne takes a trip to the box and will sit for 2 more minutes. Anaheim will waste more time trying to kill a penalty instead of trying to tie it up at 3 all.
- 14:42 - Vancouver strikes on the PP, Anaheim falls behind by two. Nucks lead 4-2, having scored four goals in a row.
- 13:45 - Anaheim looks a bit timid now, and Getzlaf attempts to regroup before entering the offensive zone where they're not able to accomplish much before Vancouver clears. The good news, however, is that Wiz is back out on the ice.
- 12:24 - Bobby Ryan scores on a gorgeous backhander displaying his mad puckhandling skills! Anaheim notches their third goal and is now cut the Nucks' lead to 1.
- 10:37 - Anaheim looks comfortable once again now that we trail by just one. This game is rapidly turning emotional for me, as I no longer know how to feel. It's the nerves. I know it's my own nerves.
- 9:04 - Ryan Kesler scores for Vancouver to pad their lead to two. 5-3, Vancouver and we're barely past the mid-way point of the game.
- 7:58 - Corey Perry puts one behind Luongo, and I really can't believe I've watched 9 combined goals in what adds up to just over half a game. This is insane! And exciting! (And can you see my emotions scattered all over? Yeah? Cuz they are.) Now it's 5-4, Vancouver.
- 7:24 - A Nuck I can't identify goes one-on-one with Hiller! Denied! My fingers can't keep up with this game! I can't even imagine what it would feel like to be actually playing in this game.
- 3:45 -End to end rush, I'm so hooked, I can't even blink! If you did, it's possible you missed Teemu Selanne netting one to even us all out at 5 all! All he does is give the puck a little tap, and it's behind Luongo!
End of 2nd: 5-5.

Second Intermission Thoughts: I got nothing. I'm just in amazement right now. My fingers were flying across my keyboard just as quickly as both teams were tapping in goals! Both teams managed to score two a piece in the first, then come back and score three more each in the second. I can't say I recall seeing a game play out quite like this one, and it is insanely enjoyable as a fan to see. There's end to end action entertaining the crowd, intensity in the players in every shift, and the proof of each team's resiliency! It's like, "Two goal lead? Pfft, no biggie!" Clearly, this game will keep us all on the edge of our seats until the final frenzied moments in the third. I fear I'll be holding my breath until an actual winner skates off with two huge points.

Third period.
-16:00 - I've been waiting for Shane O'Brien to toss the gloves! So far, O'Brien seems to have the advantage over Brown.
- 15:34 - I am having difficulty eating dinner, watching the game, and liveblogging simultaneously.
- 9:49 - Wow, ten minutes have elapsed without a goal. I suddenly feel bored. (Not really).
- 7:32 - All I can think is, "Win already! Please!"
- 5:35 - Still no goals. We've really slowed it down to a much calmer pace. All gambling is happening at a much lower risk right now. Each team is playing an equally defensively sound game and trying not to be too fancy. I wonder who'll pot one for the win?
- 3:10 - Hooking called against Chris Pronger, and this is dangerous. Did we just hand over two points?
- 1:52 - Anaheim is playing it cool, shutting down on the PK and letting the clock tick down. So far, not too many good chances for the Nucks on this PP. They're set up down with 5 seconds left on the PP. Anaheim survives, but Vancouver gets a good chance on a juicy rebound until Brookbank gets in the way.
End of 3rd: 5-5.

Overtime.
- 5:00 - Top scorers pitted against top scorers on each side of the ice.
- 4:00 - Daniel Sedin bats a bouncing puck in Hiller's direction, but Hiller absorbs the shot.
- 3:00 - Perry tries to steal a breakaway opportunity but gets called out on it.
- 2:14 - EmptyNettermayer is on the ice, playing keepaway and protect. A few slick passes lead to a good chance, but no goal.
- 0:43 - Vancouver with an opportunity, but Sedin redirects the puck into Hiller's belly instead of into the net.
- 0:00 - Oh curses. Into the shootout we go.

Shootout.
- At this point, Vancouver has already clinched their playoff spot having earned one point in tonight's contest.
- The announcers are talking about the 13-round shootout we went into against Vancouver earlier this year. I am not hoping for a repeat. At the very least, I am hoping for a different result.
- Vancouver: Pavol Demitra - hits the post, no goal!
- Anaheim: Corey Perry - goal! :)
- Vancouver: Kyle Wellwood - no goal!
- Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf - takes a long route in, tries a backhand, but Luongo blocks. No goal.
- Vancouver: Alex Burrows - Hiller collapses with a fantastic glove for the win!

Post-game Thoughts: Are you kidding? I just started breathing again. I don't have a single thought in my head except my own relief! We've successfully handed Vancouver their first loss at home since February (okay, first overtime loss), and we've wrangled two points out of this one to reclaim our spot at #7 in the West. Columbus' #6 slot is now within our sights, but we're still two points behind the Blue Jackets. Now that this one is behind us, Anaheim will set their sights on the weekend home-and-home series against San Jose, who won their game against Dallas tonight.

Tomorrow, more coherent thoughts from yours truly.

Tonight's Throwdown: Ducks at Nucks

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:09:00 +0000

In honor of the final regular season meet-up between my long-time hockeyheart Shane O'Brien's squad and the boys from the OC, I've finally got the ball rolling on exposing those Shane pics from last month's showdown between the two.

Take a look at the Shane goodness despite my unimpressive point-and-shoot abilities, then let's get to down to the nitty.

Tonight's match-up pits one team desperate for a place in the post-season festivities (that'd be us) against a team that's been boasting a screaming hot 20-5-1 record since February. In fact, home has been sweet indeed for the Nucks who haven't lost a game at GM Place since the end of January.

Still, the Ducks haven't been all that shabby on the road, having gone 20-15-3 all year which is better than our home record of 19-17-3. The last time the Nucks took on the Ducks in Anaheim, Vancouver lost 4-3... but tonight, we'll be on their turf, where they've built confidence and dominated every opponent to set a skate on their ice. And lest we forget, Yankee Canuck reminds us that the Canucks need only one more win to officially clinch their playoff spot. Yet another reason for Vancouver to bring their A-game to the rink.

Hopefully, the Ducks will be able to spoil the Nucks' spotless two-month-long home record and delay the Nucks' playoff clinching with a win tonight that could put some space between us and the teams tailing us (Nashville and St. Louis). With the two extra points, the Ducks would inch in on Columbus' #6 slot. However, a loss coupled with a St. Louis win over Detroit tonight, would drop us from #7 to #8 going into a weekend home-and-home series against the Western Conference & PacDiv leaders, the San Jose Sharks.

With only five games left in the Ducks' calendar, I hope to see playoff desperation emerge tonight in the form of an uncontrollable, undeniable thirst for victory. We all know that playoff hockey has a way of elevating a player's game, bringing out a Herculean effort in each man that has him ignoring the protests of his physical body's limitations to make the smart play that could be the difference between a post-season and an early summer. And for Anaheim, who coughed up a 3 goal lead in the waning moments of the Edmonton game, desperation play for a full 60 minutes isn't a request - it's a requirement.

Besides, you never know, my hockeyheart Shane O'Brien might accidentally knock the puck into his own net... but I wouldn't hold my breath. *g*

Stick That, Oilers.

noreply@blogger.com (Finny) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Ducks 5 - Oilers 3

[ AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jimmy Jeong ]

Last night's performance at Rexall Place is the kind of performance I expect out of my boys every night. They opened the game by flexing their muscles early on and getting physical. In the first of the two fights that transpired, Bobby Ryan tangled with veteran Steve Staios for B-Ry's first ever NHL fight. In response, George Parros dropped the gloves with Oiler heavyweight Zack Stortini.

The firsts continued when Sheldon Brookbank scored his first NHL goal on a perfect drop pass from Ryan Getzlaf after being released from the sin bin. The tally brought the boys even with the Oil, who had struck first on a power play goal from Andrew Cogliano earlier in the period.

The second period blew up for Anaheim, as they continued to take advantage of their opportunities on the power play. Captain Scott Niedermayer once again took matters into his own hands to put the Ducks ahead by one. Later in the period, Scotty notched two assists for himself as he assisted on Chris Pronger's and his brother Rob Niedermayer's goals to put the boys up 4-1 by the end of the second.

Things looked comfy for the Ducks as they skated with a three goal lead and protected it until the waning moments of the game when the Oilers, a team thirsty for their own slot in the playoff race, managed to slip two goals behind Jonas Hiller in rapid succession. With the score reading 4-3 in favor of the Ducks, Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish made the call for Teemu Selanne's stick to be measured. The gamble was seemingly good since another coach, not so long ago, made the same bet, and it paid off with two fat points. But lady luck wasn't on MacT's side as the stick was deemed legal and his team took the penalty for the mistaken call.

Instead of giving his team the chance to tie it up, MacT handicapped 'em and handed the Ducks the game along with two big points that helped the team jump from #9 in the West to #7. The win was sealed with an empty netter by the fan-dubbed Robby "EmptyNet" Niedermayer (also known as "EmptyNettermayer") despite being outhit (20-22) and outshot (25-31) for the game.

Anaheim's power play, ranked 5th in the league, went three for three while Edmonton's PP managed to capitalize on just one of the five chances they were given. Having gone 8-2-0 in their last ten games played, dating back to the game against Vancouver, the Ducks are riding a hot streak in the hopes that they'll be able to hang onto a playoff spot.

As the Ducks continue to hit their stride late in the season, I've got to admit to still getting my feet wet as I re-enter the blogosphere. Bear with me while I play catch up and re-learn how to balance out blogging, sorority, work, life in general! Plus, I need some time to get my blog-voice back. *g*

*Note: change in blog post title, as I later realized it beared much too close a resemblance to an MSM blogpost about the same subject. Oy.