GDT Ducks @ Stars 10/8/03

Put your predictions, hopes, fears, and anything else here. Here's what methinks:

Ducks 3
Sykora, Neidermayer, Lupul

Stars 2
Modano, Lehtinen

GO DUCKS!!!!!

Put your predictions, hopes, fears, and anything else here. Here's what methinks:

Ducks 3
Sykora, Neidermayer, Lupul

Stars 2
Modano, Lehtinen

GO DUCKS!!!!!

man, I have school tomorow night from 4pm-10pm!!! I am going to record the game though and probably watch it from like 11pm-1am haha.....

3-2 is a very safe bet.....i will predict the same except with goals from Fedorov, Prospal and Chistov :)

This is the only ducks game I get to see this month so they better win, is all I can say.

Who knows it maybe the only one I get to see in a while

This is the only ducks game I get to see this month so they better win, is all I can say.

Who knows it maybe the only one I get to see in a while
No satellite options? Man, I thought LA was a bad hockey city.

man, I have school tomorow night from 4pm-10pm!!! I am going to record the game though and probably watch it from like 11pm-1am haha.....

3-2 is a very safe bet.....i will predict the same except with goals from Fedorov, Prospal and Chistov :)
ESPN will replay it after midnight.

I predicted a slow start and I'll stick to that, so 4-1 Stars. Frickin Vish will get the only goal.

Frickin Vish will get the only goal.
:lol: :lol: :lol: Wouldn't that just figure.

Damn, I got a presentation tomorrow so I can't ditch class. Oh well. I guess I'll be up Midnight watching the replay.

Damn, I got a presentation tomorrow so I can't ditch class. Oh well. I guess I'll be up Midnight watching the replay.

Good, at least i'm not the only one. :)

See, I'm not going to miss it, but I'll be watching the replay anyway. I'm 12 different kinds of pathetic.

See, I'm not going to miss it, but I'll be watching the replay anyway. I'm 12 different kinds of pathetic.
That's what we love about you.

I'll be taping the game, since I won't get home until 7:00. I'll study and eat dinner until about 8:30-8:45 when I know the game is over, then I'll watch the tape.

Since I dont have anything to do tommorow, I'll be parked in front of my tv. Dont know what my lucky shirt is gonna be this year though. Last year during the playoff run I had a Kariya shirt on, but since hes gone I dont know if it will bring good or bac luck so hopefully the Ducks shirt I work out in will be the new good luck shirt. I'm really excited about this game but like Chock I'm predicting a loss. No Carney, Giguere usually starts slow, and the fact that Dallas and their fans will be motivated to knock us off after last year. I'm saying a 2-1 Dallas win with Niedermyer getting our goal. GO DUCKS!!

See, I'm not going to miss it, but I'll be watching the replay anyway. I'm 12 different kinds of pathetic.

Well I got in all kinds of trouble with the girlfriend because I am blowing off a family dinner at her parents house. But what does she expect?

My Schedule:

5:00-8:00 Watch the Ducks game
8:00-8:30 Eat something(alot of something)
8:30-11:30 My annual hockey draft with my buddies
11:30-12:00 Spend the time talking about why each one of our drafted teams is the best
12:00-1:00 Replay watching the Ducks glory or failure in game 1 of the season

I am right there with you Boogs

Girlfriend just surprised me with a 10-game miniplan for my birthday. That's a good omen so I'll change my prediction to a 2-1 win. Vish is still going to score so that moneyp will come to gloat at me, but now it will be okay.


Frink I usually order pizza timed to arrive in the 1st intermission on opening nights. I'm not a huge pizza fan but I developed this sort of nasty tradition by accident. Cold leftovers at 1 am, too.

That's what we love about you.

I'll be taping the game, since I won't get home until 7:00. I'll study and eat dinner until about 8:30-8:45 when I know the game is over, then I'll watch the tape.
Don't come on line. I'll be b!tching either way about the outcome.

I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Anaheim. I suspect a good win to start, then a bit slower. Goals for us from Sykora, Lupul, Fedorov. I'm gonna predict assists going to Fedorov(2), Prospal, Chistov, Ozolinsh, Niedermayer. Dallas' only goal scored by Guerin from Modano and Zubov.

I'll be Mr. Excitement and say:

3-3 tie....

Ducks: Sykora (2), Cheesy

Stars: Modano (2), Morrow

I'll be Mr. Excitement and say:

3-3 tie....

Ducks: Sykora (2), Cheesy

Stars: Modano (2), Morrow

I'm with you, no way dallas is going to stomach another loss at home with the ducks... expect them to come out with revenge on their mind.

If Carney was in the lineup I wouldn't be so worried, but this team has to show me they keep it together without him.

As always, first goal is key.

As always, first goal is key.

We gave up two goals in thirty seconds. ::: sigh ::: already in a hole.

Havelid outmuscled badly by Morrow in front to provide the screen, then a brutal giveaway by Ozo. Defense is letting us down.

I see Ozo is up to his old tricks in his own end.

Of course this is balanced by our inability to create offensively.

At least we're gritty :rolleyes:

I see Ozo is up to his old tricks in his own end.
Wasn't a dangerous idea, he just fanned on the pass.

Seems like Chistov would rather give the puck away than take a hit.

Ducks are getting a lot more pressure now, results in a power play.

Lousy power play though. Nice shot from the slot by Chistov that somehow missed, then...nada.

Lupul draws a penalty now...shoving with Boucher. He's having a great debut so far.

Rucchin with the defensive zone giveaway that time. Damn we're bad in our own zone tonight.

Nieds! Beauty pass by Lupul. He looks GOOD.

Lupul just got his first point
an assist on a Niedermayer ppg

Lupul looks outstanding. I guess Babcock made the right decision but its only 20 minutes into the 1st game. Defense looks brutal tonight, Ozo had a brain fart, Stars are getting some good chances that they shouldnt be getting. PP looks pretty good as its been creating chances. Ducks are playing pretty physical and I like that. I love the Stars without Hatcher. No more menacing defenseman back there. :D

Niedermyer getting our goal. GO DUCKS!!

Told ya.

1st period Pros:
1. Lupul
2. We appear to have some hitters.
3. Power play was dangerous.

1st period cons:
1. Defense absent.
2. Jiggy not sharp.
3. Our power play is dangerous to us, too.

Excellent shift there by the Fedorov line to start the period. 1:35 in the Dallas zone.

1st period Pros:
1. Lupul
2. We appear to have some hitters.
3. Power play was dangerous.

1st period cons:
1. Defense absent.
2. Jiggy not sharp.
3. Our power play is dangerous to us, too.

I like irony in both you #3s...

I bet Babcock is laying it on them pretty thick in dressing room now.

Jiggy always seems to start the seasons off rocky, so I'm not too worried.

Hopefully no more softies... but I can't wait to see the papers tomorrow

Jiggy overated... lol

And then they come up wth a lousy shift. Neids blows his assignment and leaves Jiggy hanging. The Ducks were pressuring this period, too. Damn.

4th line draws a penalty with a would-be 2 on 1.

Stars have retaken the momentum now.

Go Burnett!! Who wants to bet he gets in at least 2-3 fights this game? :)

Go Burnett!! Who wants to bet he gets in at least 2-3 fights this game? :)
Wow, wouldn't that be just fantastic? I can hardly contain myself!

Well, 2nd period ends with Stars firmly in control there. That was an even period pretty much, the Ducks may have gotten the better of the chances, but they're not coming back from 2 goals down.

They need to do something positive in the 3rd that they can build on, and not allow any more. They have to play tomorrow night.

Well, 2nd period ends with Stars firmly in control there. That was an even period pretty much, the Ducks may have gotten the better of the chances, but they're not coming back from 2 goals down.

They need to do something positive in the 3rd that they can build on, and not allow any more. They have to play tomorrow night.

I came into this game like you Boogs pretty much knwoing the Ducks would probably lose, they have a habit of starting slow and taking time to gell.

However I have seen some positives and some negatives pretty much on par with what you listed. I can tell you one thing though, if the Ducks lose tomorrow against Nash I will be livid. I fully expect to be 1-1 coming home to play on Sunday.

I'm pretty upbeat about some of the things I've seen.
The Stars look like they want to protect the lead for 20 minutes, which might give us an opening.

But definitely, if the Ducks play like this tomorrow they'll win.

i know babcock wants to spread the talent out, but i dunno, didnt we think the same things with oates,kariya, and sykora?

This is an even game without the stupid defensive lapses.

Ozolinsh has been brutal tonight, missing passes and giving away the puck. Giguere hasn't really been set at all.

This pizza tastes like crap.

*****ing Chistov. In the slot and he slides a gay little pass to Ozolinsh.

Ducks just looking to get momentum for tomorrow

Damnit Krog! Another extra pass, this one to Sykora. Just shoot, you hairless monkies! You don't get many chances against Dallas.

That's game. I called the score. What do I get for that?

A *****ing ulcer, that's what.

Fedorov had about 25 minutes, walked around 47 players, and was a nonfactor anyway. THAT'S talent, my friends. Lupul looked good, so did Burnett I have to say. The defensemen were the color and consistency of slick *****.

Well 4-1
I was thinking 3-1
Ducks started to look good at the end of the third, just little things
a win in Nashville is crucial IMO

Ugh. On to Nashville we go. Hopefully they bring a better effort tommorow especially defensively.

In the dying minutes they looked impressive. Could be showing what's coming tomorrow.

The Jiggy-haters are gonna have a field day tomorrow. I'm not worried as he always starts slow. I almost would've been worried if he started good lol.

Hopefully Feds can generate some offense tomorrow. Maybe pair him with Sykora and Lupul(man he was awesome) and see what they do. Prospal and Nieds can go back together with Rooch.

Only question is who's starting tomorrow. Maybe Jiggy again, might be Gerber. Who knows?

If Dallas hadn't backed off, this game would have been 6 or 7 to 1 minimum. Giguere and your defense certainly laid an egg. Excellent start to the season :handclap:

If Dallas hadn't backed off, this game would have been 6 or 7 to 1 minimum. Giguere and your defense certainly laid an egg. Excellent start to the season :handclap:

Hey you kicked our ass early in the year last year too, maybe you could remind us who got the last laugh late in the season? ;)

Hey you kicked our ass early in the year last year too, maybe you could remind us who got the last laugh late in the season? ;)

Yes, Dallas may win early, but guess who wins when it counts? :D

Yep, you beat us in the playoffs last year, and Jiggy stood on his head. He sure didn't look like a $5 million goaltender tonight. Lupul should be a good one, but the rest of your team was pretty bad. Federov was a nonfactor, which was pretty surprising. I was surprised how sloppy your defense was.

The difference in this game was physical, not mental. Lots of little mistakes and a couple of BIG WHOPPING ONES. Ozolinsh and Simpson were *****ing BRUTAL. Okay, Simpson has only been here for a couple of days, and he beat the ***** out of Guerin early on, so he gets a pass just for that, but Ozo... what the HELL?

From a skill standpoint we were right there, and it was encouraging that Dallas wasn't able to physically push us around like last year. The power play looked GREAT. Tremendous passing, quite a few wide open blasts. We effectively swarmed the net quite a few times and forced Turco to make some good saves. Penalty kill was alright. Lupul, Chistov and Krog all looked great.

Fedorov was alright. Leads us in ice time and shots, was great in the faceoff circle, carries the puck in better than anyone we've ever had, plays good defense, and we had some good opportunities when he was on the ice. Good all-around play, but so far we haven't seen any explosiveness. We need his offense.

Jiggy didn't look like his dominant self, but he always starts slow and there wasn't much he could have done with any of those goals anyway.

Not a really bad loss, and I expect we'll bounce back. But if our heads aren't on straight for Nashville, I'll be worried.

Oh, and the most encouraging thing was we didn't physically get pushed around by Dallas like last year. Heck, at some times *we* were doing the pushing. Good to see us not get outmuscled by one of the league's tougher teams.

I agree, like I said before there were some encouraging signs. Some lines were able to establish their forecheck. If the team puts this kind of effort in every night and actually executes as they should then we really will challenge for the division title.

But the gaffes were far too many, and there were too many spectators. Rucchin, Sykora, Pahlsson, Prospal all were nonfactors.

To be fair, though....It did my heart good to see Burnett shoving people away from Giguere. I'm not a fan of goons but I always hated it when our defensemen allowed the other guys just to stand over the goalie. For 10 years we allowed that. So there. Credit where credit is due to goon boy.

I agree, like I said before there were some encouraging signs. Some lines were able to establish their forecheck. If the team puts this kind of effort in every night and actually executes as they should then we really will challenge for the division title.

But the gaffes were far too many, and there were too many spectators. Rucchin, Sykora, Pahlsson, Prospal all were nonfactors.

Too bad we didn't have our #1 Stars-killer, Leclerc (scored or assisted on all 4 playoff winners vs. Dallas).

Yep, you beat us in the playoffs last year, and Jiggy stood on his head. He sure didn't look like a $5 million goaltender tonight. Lupul should be a good one, but the rest of your team was pretty bad. Federov was a nonfactor, which was pretty surprising. I was surprised how sloppy your defense was.

Yeah you are right he didnt play like the 5 million he will be earning but you also mentioned why in your post. The defense played sloppy and really left him out to dry tonight. He made some nice saves but 3 of the goals he let in were caused by the defense in front of him not giving him any help. Ozos turnover was brutal, Nieds played horribly on Barnes while Krog and Feds did nothing to stop Zubov, and Guerin basically walked in on Giguere and could pick his corner. Turco played awesome tonight in my mind and should be mentioned as a factor but I havent seen it. Ducks could have tied this game in the first but he made some big saves to keep the lead. Youre not the only one whos surprised at how sloppy our defense was. Babcock cant be happy and I really hope that tommorow night is a different story. Congrats on the win, every point may be important in what could be a race for the division.

Yeah you are right he didnt play like the 5 million he will be earning but you also mentioned why in your post. The defense played sloppy and really left him out to dry tonight. He made some nice saves but 3 of the goals he let in were caused by the defense in front of him not giving him any help. Ozos turnover was brutal, Nieds played horribly on Barnes while Krog and Feds did nothing to stop Zubov, and Guerin basically walked in on Giguere and could pick his corner. Turco played awesome tonight in my mind and should be mentioned as a factor but I havent seen it. Ducks could have tied this game in the first but he made some big saves to keep the lead. Youre not the only one whos surprised at how sloppy our defense was. Babcock cant be happy and I really hope that tommorow night is a different story. Congrats on the win, every point may be important in what could be a race for the division.

lets be honest here, Jiggy got no help.

First goal was on a screen.
2nd goal the guy off a perfect shot, i don't think can play that anybetter
3rd goal his defense once again didn't help him out, that Nied's job to tie up that guy
4th goal was on a partial breakaway.

I think Jiggy oculd have done more with 4th goal, but other that, he was fine.

In the post game report, he said he came out flat and wasn't happy with his play, so i look for him to respond his next game.

Problem today is that our defense looked like ****, and our forwards didn't come to play until it was 4-1...

Lupul looked good in first period, but didn't seem to get much ice time after that.

oh 1 more thing...

I had no idea prospal was so tall, i thought the guy was a shrimp like kariya, it looks like this guy can actually take a hit.

Krog needs to be off the top line. I think Chistov or Lupul should get pushed off.

If they struggle, then you got bump up Sykora, but I like the idea of Prospal-Ruchin-Sykora line.

Whys the Schedule maker have to send us into Dallas to start the season? well anyways...

positives:
Lupul-was probably our best forward. He looked great. Nice set up for the goal. 1st NHL point in 1st NHL game! :handclap:
Niedermayer-nice shot on the goal, decent the rest of the game.
Simpson-He must have decided ahead of time that he was going to fight on his first shift of the season...he went right after Guerin...grabbed him...then jabbed him in the back of the head...Guerin had no choice but to fight...Simpson risked getting an instigator, but I was impressed to see Simpson go after one of their best players right away. And everytime someone from Dallas would get in the face of one of our players Simpson would step right in. :handclap:
Burnett-well he did his job. He definetly can't skate though.
Powerplay-looked better than last seasons so far.

negatives:
Chistov-scared to shoot
Krog-Im thinking now that he really should'nt be a first liner.
Ozolinsh-bad, even if he hadn't made that turnover to set up the second goal.
Giggy-I know he is prone to slow starts, but he didnt really make any big saves at all that I can think of.

well a lot of other players had bad or so-so games but I don't wanna list everyone.
I didn't expect a victory on the road in Dallas to start the season...but if the team can't go into Nashville and respond with a better performance then I will start to get worried.

Reading this thread is kind of like a Booger stream of consciousness about the game. :lol:

Here's what I thought about the game

Pros- Neidermayer looked real good. Lots of big hits on the forecheck. Obviously the goal. I thought he was, overall, our best forward tonite.

Lupul-Been documented voluminously already.

Power play - Looked dangerous on all except the first one.

Simpson beating up Guerin.

Sauer looked good, and more physical than usual.

Fedorov - 2nd or 3rd best forward on the ice. Quite a few coast to coast jobs.

Gary Thorne and Bill Clement - I know a lot of people don't like them, but it just feels like a "prime time" game when they're announcing.

Cons- Jiggy looked hella-rusty

Vishnevski - He looks like he's mentally about 10,000 miles away. Just the look in his eyes. It's like he's not there.

Prospal - He did play in the game, right?

Sykora - Ditto

Smirnov - Grow some balls.

Poor communication on defense esp. between Ozo and Simpson.

Neutral - Ozolinsh. Thought he played alright, other than the fan on the clearing attempt. Those things happen to everyone.

Chistov - A little good, a little bad. He's better in his own zone, though.

Salei - I would grade him a little better than neutral.

You can see where the charges of laziness in Fedorov originate, though. He just looks effortless.

He just sort of steps around people even when he's not going fast. He's going to have to adjust to not having HOFers around to react to the chaos he creates.

Well there it is, the rare occasion I get to see the ducks play and they lose, badly.

Oh My god Ozo sucked on D

Lupul awesome.

We looked to European, not enough grinding.

No team chemistry but I expect this to be remedied when the team gells, then look out.

Send down Smirnov and let him get some confidence

Well there it is, the rare occasion I get to see the ducks play and they lose, badly.

Oh My god Ozo sucked on D

Lupul awesome.

We looked to European, not enough grinding.

No team chemistry but I expect this to be remedied when the team gells, then look out.

Send down Smirnov and let him get some confidence

Well when Mcdonald is back next week someone needs to be sent down, it will most likely be Holmqvist though, since he was the odd man out tonight, but who knows, maybe it will be Smirinov.

You can see where the charges of laziness in Fedorov originate, though. He just looks effortless.

He just sort of steps around people even when he's not going fast. He's going to have to adjust to not having HOFers around to react to the chaos he creates.

Krog acted like the puck was a hand grenade every time Fedorov tried to pass it to him. This team will falter until Babcock pulls his head out and gives the top line a real chance to succeed. I can live with Nieds up there right now because he's playing great (but his style meshes with Rucchin much better IMO), but that other winger has to be Prospal or Sykora. Or better yet both.

Speaking of Sykora, that guy needs to wake up. Some one tell him the season has started.

Ducks are typically bad in the 2nd game of back-to-backs. I sure hope Babcock starts Gerber and the guys get it going tonight in Nashville, but I can't shake the feeling that Giguere will start and they drop another one. I hope I'm wrong.

Poor communication on defense esp. between Ozo and Simpson.

Simpson had one real practice with the team before this game, give the poor guy a week or two to get adjusted to the system.

Simpson had one real practice with the team before this game, give the poor guy a week or two to get adjusted to the system.
I like Simpson. But you have to admit, there was poor communication between the two. I'm not saying it's his fault, or there isn't good reason. But face it, he and Ozo weren't on the same page.

I would agree with most of these comments...in addition I would like to add that the special teams for the Stars looked special while the Ducks special teams looked like the special olympics (except on a few PP's where they looked good but didn't convert)...without a superb pass by Lupul, Turco would have had his shutout...speaking of Lupul, he disappeared after the 1st period perhaps he and Gary Thorne went back into the dressing room as Thorne was building up Lupul so much that I thought they were going to copulate at some point...and I cannot verify this but heard that after the game Babcock spent an hour in the locker room with Prospal, Rucchin and Sykora with medical staff to make sure he could get a pulse reading...

Krog acted like the puck was a hand grenade every time Fedorov tried to pass it to him. This team will falter until Babcock pulls his head out and gives the top line a real chance to succeed. I can live with Nieds up there right now because he's playing great (but his style meshes with Rucchin much better IMO), but that other winger has to be Prospal or Sykora. Or better yet both.

Speaking of Sykora, that guy needs to wake up. Some one tell him the season has started.

Ducks are typically bad in the 2nd game of back-to-backs. I sure hope Babcock starts Gerber and the guys get it going tonight in Nashville, but I can't shake the feeling that Giguere will start and they drop another one. I hope I'm wrong.
Those rapid fire give-and-goes were very awkward.