3/24/06 Anaheim vs. Nashville

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site — Arrowhead Pond.

Radio — 1510.

Records — Ducks 35-21-12, Predators 42-19-8.

Record vs. Predators — 2-0-1.

Update — Nashville is 8-0-2 in its last 10 games and riding a five-game winning streak.

LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-duckrep24mar24,1,5949934.story?coll=la-headlines-sports)

Update — Nashville is 8-0-2 in its last 10 games and riding a five-game winning streak
Two of the hottest teams going at it tonight, should be a great game. I'm thinking Giguere starts tonight and Bryz tomorrow. After the way Kunitz and Hedstrom played last game, I assume Moen is off again. However he would be nice in the lineup against a gritty Preds team.

you know what? tonights game might be a matchup of the first round of the playoffs for the Ducks.

with a win tonight, the Ducks will be in 5th. And if they they finish the season in 5th, with the Predators in 4th place, that would be the match-up

how awkward would that be for Kariya to face his former team in the playoffs?

but how sweet would it be for Selanne and us fans to see the Ducks claw away at the predators and go on to the next round?

I don't see why the Ducks can't make it back to the Finals this year. Sure, you lose players like Ruchin, Sykora, Ozolinsh. But when you hear players like Scott Niedermeyer, Rob Niedermeyer, Selanne, Friesen, Marchant, O'Donnell, Lupul, McDonald, Fedoruk, Salei, etc...it sounds like the make-up of a fast, gritty team. I think that team can go far in the playoffs.

LET'S GO DUCKS!!!

Let's win this one! We can do it! Just play strong and keep up that hard work!

Interesting to note that Nashville has the 2nd best record* in the last 10 games, but they have nowhere to go in the seedings. They won't advance because Detroit and Dallas are locked in for #1/#2, and the NW division winner gets #3. They won't fade, either, because they're at least 9 points ahead of the next guys. I guess they're just playing out the regular season. Could that affect their motivation?

*EDIT Nashville has best record at 8-0-2, Detroit and Ducks both are 8-1-1.

Bryz is quoted in today's OCRegister (c):

"I was disappointed because I didn't know why [I was pulled]", he said. "When the coach explained why, I understood everything. He said, 'You're doing everything well. We're just trying to change the game.'"

. . . how awkward would that be for Kariya to face his former team in the playoffs? . . .

Not very. The management, caoches, and most all the players are changed, and probably accept the movement of players anyway. The fans may be a different matter.

Interesting to note that Nashville has the 2nd best record* in the last 10 games (Ducks 1st!), but they have nowhere to go in the seedings. They won't advance because Detroit and Dallas are locked in for #1/#2, and the NW division winner gets #3. They won't fade, either, because they're at least 9 points ahead of the next guys. I guess they're just playing out the regular season. Could that affect their motivation?

*EDIT: actually third best, Detroit and Ducks both are 8-1-1.

According to ESPN.com, it's actually the best in the league at 8-0-2 (18 points). Both the Ducks and the Wings are tied with Ottawa for second at 8-1-1 (17 points). Though using them as a source is hardly a guarantee.

This is the last really difficult stretch for the Preds as they face Anaheim and LA in back to backers. I think the Preds are due for a letdown. They just faced a smoking hot Red Wings team and beat them with one of their best efforts this season. And there is not a lot to play for being up 9 (and down 10) with 13 games left and 8 remaining against CBJ, STL, PHO, and CHI including 7 in a row after the LA game on Saturday.

It's difficult to bring the intensity and passion every night when you aren't truly in a dogfight for a playoff spot. For a team that isn't used to being this close to wrapping up a berth, you might see some inconsistencies.

And that's not even looking at the Duck's side of things. They bring everything the Preds are bringing and are at home and have that little extra motivation. It should be a good game, but I see the Duck's pulling it out.

I'll be there again tonight and Im hoping that the building gets as into this game as they did Wednesday. Hopefully tonight the Ducks decide to not wait to make a huge comeback yet again in order to win as well.

Both teams have been terrific lately. No team can consistently maintain such a high level of play. I'm hoping it will be a great game, but my gut tells me that one of these teams may have a meltdown tonight. (To be perfectly honest, my gut tells me it's the Ducks. Sure hope I'm wrong.)

According to ESPN.com, it's actually the best in the league at 8-0-2 (18 points). Both the Ducks and the Wings are tied with Ottawa for second at 8-1-1 (17 points). Though using them as a source is hardly a guarantee.

This is the last really difficult stretch for the Preds as they face Anaheim and LA in back to backers. I think the Preds are due for a letdown. They just faced a smoking hot Red Wings team and beat them with one of their best efforts this season. And there is not a lot to play for being up 9 (and down 10) with 13 games left and 8 remaining against CBJ, STL, PHO, and CHI including 7 in a row after the LA game on Saturday.

It's difficult to bring the intensity and passion every night when you aren't truly in a dogfight for a playoff spot. For a team that isn't used to being this close to wrapping up a berth, you might see some inconsistencies.

And that's not even looking at the Duck's side of things. They bring everything the Preds are bringing and are at home and have that little extra motivation. It should be a good game, but I see the Duck's pulling it out.
I could see the Preds wanting to send a message.

I could see the Preds wanting to send a message.
From what we are reading in the local fishwrap this is exactly what the coaching staff is preaching. Statement/confidence. Here's to hoping it works.

Should be a physical game.

Hordichuk vs the Fridge :yo:

I hope Moen plays even though Kunitz and Hedstrom had good games the other night.

This is the type of game where Moen needs to be inserted into the lineup.
Nashville is one of the most physical team in the league should be interesting.

Anyone thinks the ducks may be due for a letdown after last game? seems like we've had a 10 minute issue every game lately..

Anyone thinks the ducks may be due for a letdown after last game? seems like we've had a 10 minute issue every game lately..

At this stage in the season, I don't think the Ducks will have a letdown after such an emotional high on Wed. The guys are working and skating hard and it should be a fun game. Vokuon is a GOOD goaltender and Sullivan is dangerous. We got to by physical again tonight if we want to come away with points.

Lines are:

Kunitz-McDonald-Selanne
Hedstrom-Marchant-Lupul
Friesen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer
Fedoruk-Getzlaf-Perry (probably)

Ducks got off to a good start.

refs missed a call when Selanne was hooked on a scoring chance.

Then Sullivan gets the breakaway and scores.

McDonald-Selanne line looks dangerous every shift.

love to see Getzlaf throwing his weight around.

Nashville is playing very physical.

so far a bad decision by Carlyle to scratch Moen.

lots of liberties being taken against our players.

Salei goes in behind the Preds net, and they give up a scoring opportunity. Preds very fast on the turnaround.

wow I was about to say that the refs refused to call anything on Nashville...

they got away with 3 or 4 obvious penalties and finally the refs call something.

Giggy with two great saves . . .

another bad break goes against the Ducks...

Nichol has to keep skating...the stick was there but he sold the tripping call.

Selanne!!!!!

1-1

30th of the season!

Selanne with #30!

Hedstom now trying backhands . . .:handclap:

The Ducks did not play a good period of hockey and they get a 1-1 tie out of it...that's a good sign.

Giguere was huge in that period!

hey they are doing Keg races in the intermission...I think one of my friends is doing that tonight!

look at these stats after 1 period:

shots 16-8 in favor of Nashville
scoring chances 10-4 in favor of Nashville
odd man breaks 6-0 in favor of Nashville

Kunitz!!!!!!!!!!

sweet passing by Getzlaf and Perry!!!

2-1

Fedoruk gives Nashville a 4 minute powerplay...

wow that was a tough call on Hartnell.

close offsides call he hits his stick on the glass and they give him 2 for unsportsmanlike.

ohh man Kunitz just ran Hamhuis...nice hit.

you seem alone...i will join you
hehehe

Selanne again

3-1

assist to Fedoruk

Scoreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sellllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnneeeeeee

you seem alone...i will join you
hehehe

yeah I think everyone is at the Pond tonight.

Another Goalllllllllll


COreyyyyyy PERrrryyyyy

Perry!!!!

4-1

I live in Montreal...The biggest duck fan in montreal for sure.

I live in Montreal...The biggest duck fan in montreal for sure.

right on!

Giguere is on his game tonight for sure.

I think Kunitz is a good fit on the kid line. They work well together.

Perry and Getzlaf are playing with a lot of confidence right now.

yeah I think everyone is at the Pond tonight.

I'm visiting my folks for a few days, and unlike me they don't have Center Ice, so I can't see the game tonight. Stuck listening over the net.

incredible game so far amazing amounts of energy by all players other then Lupul. :yo:

5-1

Andy Mac

what a pass by Selanne to send in Fedoruk, McDonald burries the rebound.

everyones sleeping on the ducks. watch out..

Salei crosschecking.

ref should have evened it up though, Hordichuk came in and started a scrum trying to get at Salei.

Hordichuk and O'Donnell might fight in the third as they were having some words.

5-1 after 2 periods.

best period of the season for the Ducks?

I think so...i remember againt Montreal they did a lot of goal in the second period too

lets hope for a strong 3rd, and is anyone else worried that perry and getzlaf dont have fedourk on there line anymore. I mean the Cem is great with kunitz but im worried that leaves them open for some serious hits.

I think Kunitz is a good fit on the kid line. They work well together.

Perry and Getzlaf are playing with a lot of confidence right now.

what are the lines?

what are the lines?

they moved Fedoruk to the Selanne line because they were getting pushed around.

Fedoruk-McDonald-Selanne
Hedstrom-Marchant-Lupul
Friesen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer
Kunitz-Getzlaf-Perry

Niedermayer-Beauchemin
Salei-O'Donnell
Vish-DiPenta

refs immediately saying no goal there...

looks like Hartnell kicked it in.

5-2

come on guys...no more penalties.

wow...these refs are terrible.

Lupul gets pushed into the goalie...he gets goalie interfence...he gets mugged behind the net...and no penalty against Nashville.

This has been a good game... physical too.

AndyMac again......... 6-2!

4 assist night for Getzlaf.

4 assist night for Getzlaf.
You damn ducks... STOP WINNING!!


:cry:

Good game by the Ducks. I didn't like how Nashville started taking liberties with some of our guys. Fedoruk needed to send a message.

You damn ducks... STOP WINNING!!


:cry:

Well, the good news for teams in the NW is that they can just worry about winning the division, and get the #3 seed regardless of what the Ducks do.

Nice win for the ducks. Giguere was great in the opening period and then the offence took over in the 2nd. Getzlaf and Perry had a great game. They have really sparked the seconday scoring. Perry with something like 9 goals in his last 20 and getzlaf 11 assists in his last 10 games.They kept showing the ducks record since january 15 and that is around the time Getz and Perry came back up.

After some very exciting and playoff like hockey, I hope they don't let up at all in Pheonix tomorrow night. It would be really nice to get a win before going to Colorado and Dallas.

Oh yea, would of been nice for the Fridge to score on that break he had but he still ended the game with 2 assists I think.

Stuck listening over the net.

Same here. I'm out of town for a field trip for one of my classes. Sounded like the Ducks played really well in the 2nd period. Nice to hear Kunitz get back on the board. Giguere back to form tonight so that's good he didn't let the last outing get to his head. This team is unstoppable lately.

Woohooo! Another great win! Absolutely exciting to watch! Simply amazing! What an awesome night for our talented rookies Getzlaf, Perry and Kunitz, as well as Selanne and Andy Mac, both with two goals tonight! Jiggy played well too! Well, everyone played very very well. :handclap: :handclap:

GO DUCKS GO!!! :yo: :yo:

Went to the game...it was awesome!!! :yo: Everyone on the Ducks played an excellent game! :clap:

4 point night for Selanne and Getzlaf, 3 points for Andy, and 2 points for Perry and the Fridge!!! :yo:

The booing of Kariya went quite well as well. :D

Great game by the ducks, these young guys are amazing. Kunitz has been a different player since he was scratched, good to see him producing. Giguere was outstanding in that first period. the ducks could've been down 3,4 goals but he was a wall.


Steve Sullivan...has taken atleast one dive in each game against us.

Steve Sullivan...has taken atleast one dive in each game against us.
Yea after that play I was hoping Vish would take a run at him. To make it worse, on that dive Salei gets a cross-checking penalty with one hand on his stick....

Interesting stat, the Ducks scored 6 goals yet only 6 players figured in on the scoresheet.

Good game, the last goal kind of pissed me off beucase it skews Giguere's stats a bit. He had a great glove save on a slapper in the 2nd, and a great toe save on Kariya in the first.

Getzlaf and Perry were the best forwards on the ice not named Mac and Teemu, they had a great session of cycling in the 2nd period that lasted almost a minute.

Nice crowd again tonight.



Oh, and the unsportsman like on the Preds was deserved since he screamed and hit the glass pretty hard towards the ref.

Steve Sullivan...has taken atleast one dive in each game against us.

What do you expect, he is probably getting inspiration and tips on flopping from his teammate, the master.

The Duck goals: :D

1st Period

T. SELANNE (30) R. GETZLAF (13) A. MCDONALD (38) on the PP.

2nd Period

C. KUNITZ (15) C. PERRY (10) R. GETZLAF (14) on the PP.

T. SELANNE (31) T. FEDORUK (15) EV.

C. PERRY (10) R. GETZLAF (15) C. KUNITZ (14) EV.

A. MCDONALD (27) T. FEDORUK (16) T. SELANNE (39) EV.

3rd Period

A. MCDONALD (28) T. SELANNE (40) R. GETZLAF (16) on the PP.

:clap:

Shots on goal: :dunno:

39-30 in favor of the Preds.

Yea after that play I was hoping Vish would take a run at him. To make it worse, on that dive Salei gets a cross-checking penalty with one hand on his stick....

Interesting stat, the Ducks scored 6 goals yet only 6 players figured in on the scoresheet.
I'd really like to see our big guys get physical with a guy like Sullivan after he takes a dive. a Vishnevski open ice hit might deter him next time.

its sad paul hasent gotten a point against us since his shoot-out goal and temmu gets a couple goals and an assist tonight.

its sad paul hasent gotten a point against us since his shoot-out goal and temmu gets a couple goals and an assist tonight.

Make that 2 goals and 2 assists tonight. :D

I was at the game and let me say, it was a great one to be at. Just a few thoughts and notes:

-Although you couldn't tell from the stat sheet, the Ducks actually played pretty well in the 1st. The first 4-5 minutes were completely dominated by the Ducks and the refs went on to make a few questionable call to give the Preds some good chances on the PP.

-Selanne and McDonald have wonderful chemistry (If you didn't know that yet). :sarcasm:

-I loved Kunitz with Getz and Perry. His speed makes that line a whole lot better and I think the kids can now get along without Fridge at their side. I was sure Getzlaf was going to go with Witt towards the end of the game.

-S. Nieds got a little bit of a rest in this one, playing just over 21 minutes. His shifts were very short in the 3rd. He didn't impress me too much tonight, really the first time thats happened all season.

-Todd Marchant was pretty good, but I sware I saw him fall down at least three times tonight. As a side note: Lupul was a non-factor.

-Giguere had a strong bounce back game, and he should get tomorrow off.

-DiPenta was once again invisible, which is a good thing. He's quickly becoming one of our most reliable d-men.

Lupul should be the next one scratched...he needs to be sent a message.

Lupul should be the next one scratched...he needs to be sent a message.

agreed.

Moen needs to get back in there to make sure we have some energy in the back to back situation.

Lupul should be the next one scratched...he needs to be sent a message.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind that. We could use Moen, Kunitz, AND Hedstrom in the lineup anyways.

Fedoruk-McDonald-Selanne
Hedstrom-Marchant-Friesen
Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer
Kunitz-Getzlaf-Perry

agreed.

Moen needs to get back in there to make sure we have some energy in the back to back situation.

McD19, I think you've mentioned this before, but Perry really should teach Lupul some puck handling skills. Lupul's got to learn how to protect the puck better.

Shots on goal: :dunno:

39-30 in favor of the Preds.That's no big deal. Teams that are behind for much of the game very often outshoot the other team, mostly from desperation.

agreed.

Moen needs to get back in there to make sure we have some energy in the back to back situation.
For the life of me I would just like to see Lupul play with an edge..get mad, hit someone, block a shot..do something other than loaf. He needs to find ways to be a factor without scoring.

Moen is the next GOD

Moen is the next GOD

Moen, Zenon & Fridge. The holy trinity.

McD19, I think you've mentioned this before, but Perry really should teach Lupul some puck handling skills. Lupul's got to learn how to protect the puck better.

That was me, actually...

That was me, actually...

Oh, my bad.