Game 31 GDT Anaheim @ Nashville 12-08-07 5:00

http://cdn.nhl.com/images/minibanner/ANA.gifvs. http://cdn.nhl.com/images/minibanner/NSH.gif


Ducks 14-12-4 vs Predators 13-11-2.
TV: FSW
Radio: 830
Webia: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Radio
Previous matchup: 3-1 Ducks, Oct 17 (http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Recap&gameNumber=88&season=20072008&gameType=2)



Played at the cool looking, but not nearly as cooly named as before Sommet Center:

http://lh3.google.com/arjohnson79/RyACSF5ePOI/AAAAAAAAAGc/pl5Nfvj_lwY/2007-10-04TNNashville44.JPG?imgmax=800
Damn, the Ducks missed out on Hannah Montana by only 2 weeks!

Gnash, the predator. Notice how appropriate his name is, what with a Sabre tooth tiger having huge teeth and with the pronunciation sounding just like Nashville.
http://cdn.nhl.com/predators/bc/images/library/photos/gnashtop.jpg
http://cdn.nhl.com/predators/bc/images/library/photos/gnashbottom.jpg
(yes he's cut in two. Blame the Predators site (http://predators.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tea_gnash), who thought it would be better this way)

2nd night of a back to back. Because Nashville is apparently close to Chicago. Stupid schedule-makers (or is it schedule-****ers?).

Dare we play well for 3 games in a row? Does Legwand live up to his fresh 27 million dollar contract? How does leading scorer Ellen Erat fare against our checking line? Will this be someone's last game in a Ducks uniform because of Scotty? Is it possible to continually ask questions? Are we there yet? What is the air-speed of an unladen swallow?

Injury report: Huskins and Sutherby are both questionable as of last night (per Register)

And because I'm continuing my quest to piss of fans of the other 29 teams (actually only 24 since the current schedule is LAME) I present these:
http://hfboards.com/imagehosting/26974475b2e873f2b3.jpg

What is the air-speed of an unladen swallow?

African or European?


Let's Go Ducks!!

Fixed the pic for you.

WOW! What a GDT!

Way to go! Thats simply fantasticlike. :clap:

Lets go Bertuzzi an Co. I want to see some early Duck dominance!

Lame. Faceoff goal. That's 2 games in a row.

0-1

Great GDT, obobo. I love the guitar with the axe.
So I'm looking at the playing roster (http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20072008/RO020426.HTM), and it says Hiller's in, and Miller, Sutherby, and Huskins are scratched. 6 centers, 3 left wingers, and 3 right wingers. That about right?

Well Platt's playing wing, and Rob hasn't played center since like his 1st year on the Ducks. He's pretty been much a wing his whole time here.

Haha. I just realized that Perry, with that Gene Simmons axe guitar, would go perfectly with the already-cut in half Gnash mascot. Duh.

DiPenta getting in 2 fights in 2 games? DiPenta seems like such a mild guy.

Tootoo destroys him.

Well Platt's playing wing, and Rob hasn't played center since like his 1st year on the Ducks. He's pretty been much a wing his whole time here.Woah. Of all the games I've watched, I've never noticed this.
Thanks.

Why was that goal called off? I can't really see the puck in my lousy quality webcast. I don't even know which guy hit the puck in the net.

Was it the guy to the left of the net hit it with a high stick and the guy on the right shot it in the net, but then it counts as a high stick pass? Or did they think the guy on the right hit the puck into the net with a high stick?

Well that period sucked about as much as it could. 3 penalties, 2 goals, outshot 19-6.

Highlight of the period:

DiPenta fighting again.

Tootoo destroys him.

I didn't see it that way. DiPenta was controlling the fight and then Tootoo just kinda tackles him.

i can't wait for Nieds, this team desperately needs him

i can't wait for Nieds, this team desperately needs him

That was a pun waiting to happen and you missed it. :( ;)

How has Hiller looked so far, as well as the team? (I only caught the last five minutes of the period.) I remember last year we had this tendency to play well in front of Giguere but not Bryz and I'm wondering if the team is as apprehensive this year without J.S. in the crease (because getting outshot 19-6 doesn't strike me as a well-played period).

Hm, well there's proof that the refs are blind. First he calls the penalty on Moen, then gets his number wrong while he makes the announcement.

4th powerplay for Nashville.

Zero powerplays for Anaheim.

I didn't see it that way. DiPenta was controlling the fight and then Tootoo just kinda tackles him.
No you're right. The feed I saw missed like the first half of the fight, where DiPenta did all his hits. I only saw a couple swings that missed, then Tootoo with a big hit or two and a tackle.

I saw the rest on replay but didn't bother changing the post.

5th powerplay coming up for Nashville.

Still 0 for Anaheim.

Penalty 5. Pahlsson's been in the box twice this game. He's the last one I want in the box.

This team is so inconsistent...

By the way, I actually think Sommet Center is a sweet name.

This team is so inconsistent...
I think that should be the theme of new avatars.

Either "Lack of ____" or "Inconsistently _____"

With comical pictures of things that are sort of like the blank.

By the way, I actually think Sommet Center is a sweet name.
Yes but compare it to the previous name (and pretend you're in junior high).

Hamhuis elbows Platt high while kind of trying to hipcheck him. A little late as well. Kunitz charges and becomes a HELMET FIGHTER.

Good job Kunitz.

3-0 Nash

2nd long shot that Hiller did not see tonight.

Weak.

At least the PP looked pretty good. Maybe we'll score a goal before the game ends.

This team is going places.

That was a pun waiting to happen and you missed it. :( ;)

How has Hiller looked so far, as well as the team? (I only caught the last five minutes of the period.) I remember last year we had this tendency to play well in front of Giguere but not Bryz and I'm wondering if the team is as apprehensive this year without J.S. in the crease (because getting outshot 19-6 doesn't strike me as a well-played period).

i noticed it but decided not to write it. I made a poster earlier this year saying scott we nied you.

oh and unless Scott can smack some consistancy into this team say goodbye to the post season

Hnidy scores.

after Getzlaf dances around 2 preds and rings the crossbar.

3-1

awww just tuned in, doesn't look like we are doing too well
:/

I thought for sure Getz was going to score there. He's had a few goals like that the past week or two. Skate in, make the defenders look silly, and rip a goal.

At least Hnidy scored while everyone was collapsed and out of position.

Perry cancels out the Ducks powerplay.

Perry's taken a lot of dumb penalties lately. He already had 1 today.

Something tells me the Nashville broadcasters aren't Nashville natives. What with them being ancient, and saying offense "Oh-fense"

Not only are we being outshot by a decent margin, we've blocked twice as many shots as the Preds, which means they've fired close to 40 at the net through two.

So Smithson has scored a SHG. However did this come to be?

I'm getting the feeling that the more effort I put into a GDT, the more the team gets blown out. The last GDT I made after the game started, and we won 5-3. The GDT before I made all fancy and added some good anti-Oilers photos. We lost 5-1. The two games prior I throw together and those are both SO wins.

I'm NOT making one for Monday.

:( Aw shucks. Just came back and saw this. :cry:

I am telling you, this team makes you the happiest hockey fan ever and then it makes you want to cry.

I am telling you, this team makes you the happiest hockey fan ever and then it makes you want to cry.

Hopefully with Nieds back that won't become a problem anymore. :help:

Getzy gets back a shorthanded goal! :yo:

Probably too little too late, but whatever. It looked nice.

EDIT: Nice penalty Mac! Actually, looking at it again, that really wasn't a penalty.

Yay for 5 on 3!

EDIT: Good kill by the Ducks. Little things right?

I wanna argue about Hasek some more, it was more fun than seeing the Ducks play flat. :sarcasm:

In all seriousness, the Ducks just played flat. Nashville took advantage of it. But DiPenta got another fighting penalty and Hnidy score a goal. I guess those could be our positive points?

Looked like Perry was benched for the third period.

likely for the slashing penalty he took to cancel out a Ducks powerplay.

DiPenta getting in 2 fights in 2 games? DiPenta seems like such a mild guy.

Tootoo destroys him.
DiPenta definitely won that fight. Honestly, I don't think Tootoo landed more than a glancing blow and that was right before he pulled DiPenta down to the ice. Crowd went nuts...Jordin actually had a good game. Parros refused to fight Hordichuk midway through the third period...actually thought Hordy should have gotten a penalty for roughing while he was trying to get George to go, but alas...we won that's all I care about.

Personally, I thought Hordichuk was kinda stupid for evening trying that when we were up by three (4-1) at the time. If anything he would get a draw, but more than likely he would get beat and that would give the Ducks momentum.

I wouldn't say it was a bad game.

I gotta say... for all the crap I talked...

DiPenta may not be solid... but based on the last two games, Crazy Legs has got some heart. I gotta respect the guy for taking the time he was scratched and coming back with some fire. It really seems like he is trying to prove (finally) that he deserves a spot on the team...

Was it just me or was the beggining of this game possibly the worst hockey the Ducks have played all year?

Buffalo=****ing Amazing
Chicago=Got outshot, but overall out played the Hawks
Nashiville=God damn is that horrible hockey!

Given it was the second game in 2 day, but whatever the reason they shouldn't have looked that lazy.

Thank God Scott is coming back.

I gotta say... for all the crap I talked...

DiPenta may not be solid... but based on the last two games, Crazy Legs has got some heart. I gotta respect the guy for taking the time he was scratched and coming back with some fire. It really seems like he is trying to prove (finally) that he deserves a spot on the team...

Yes, he has impressed very much. Very good couple of games for DiPenta. The guy may not have the skill of other defensemen, but he sure has a lot of heart and passion for the game.

Yes, he has impressed very much. Very good couple of games for DiPenta. The guy may not have the skill of other defensemen, but he sure has a lot of heart and passion for the game.

Scotty light the ducks on fire. About TIME.

I gotta say... for all the crap I talked...

DiPenta may not be solid... but based on the last two games, Crazy Legs has got some heart. I gotta respect the guy for taking the time he was scratched and coming back with some fire. It really seems like he is trying to prove (finally) that he deserves a spot on the team...

He's got to play his heart out right now. He makes something like 700k to sit in the pressbox, and we only need to shed 800k to make room for Scotty. He's probably sweating bullets right now.

I don't think DiPenta's ever really been that bad, and I never got the huge scorn for him. He gets the puck, he clears the puck. That's a 6th defenseman, bfd.

It's our big-minute defenders that have sucked this season, excluding Schneider. We're not losing games because DiPenta has a weird skating stride.

What a ****** game by the Ducks. Honestly, one of our worst performances this year. Nice momentum killing, offensive zone penalty by Perry to end a crucial power play too.

I don't think DiPenta's ever really been that bad, and I never got the huge scorn for him. He gets the puck, he clears the puck. That's a 6th defenseman, bfd.

It's our big-minute defenders that have sucked this season, excluding Schneider. We're not losing games because DiPenta has a weird skating stride.

I agree. The guy gets a bad rap, but he is generally doing his job being Joe "Dependable." Solid defensive play.

Nice momentum killing, offensive zone penalty by Perry to end a crucial power play too.

He's getting pretty adept at doing that these days.

I imagine he knows he's fighting to keep his job and thus he's trying to stay in the lineup. Funny how both Hnidy and Dippy fought in that game. Funny seeing as how they both know there's a chance they've got to prove they should stay.

Interesting comments by Carlyle on Perry, inspired by his momentum and PP killing penalty in this game: "First and foremost, he cannot be less aggressive, but he has to be more careful with the use of his stick," Carlyle said Sunday. "He gets no leeway from the officials because he's a player that's scrappy. And they deem at times that he embellishes.

"And they're constantly on him about it. Verbally. Because I've seen it. He gets no slack in that respect."

Perry's got a rep, he now has to learn how to deal with it. Part of learning to play the game he does.

As to the embellishing part, I don't think he embellishes all that often. Yes he has embellished, and he's probably the worst on the team now that Selanne's gone, but I don't think he really does it that often. I just think he has no balance and needs to strengthen his core or something. Because look at all the hits he takes where there'd be no benefit to diving, and yet he goes flying. That's my biggest knock on him, he needs to get better at taking a hit or avoiding it altogether. I'm afraid that he'll get hurt someday.

I don't think DiPenta's ever really been that bad, and I never got the huge scorn for him. He gets the puck, he clears the puck. That's a 6th defenseman, bfd.

It's our big-minute defenders that have sucked this season, excluding Schneider. We're not losing games because DiPenta has a weird skating stride.

:handclap: Good post, that's been my thought on him the whole time.

He's not flashy or a pretty skater but gets it done, at least clears the puck when in trouble, and doesn't clear it up the middle of the ice.