GDT 42: Columbus @ Anaheim 01/02/08 7:00

:cbj @ :ducks

7:00pm
Honda Center

From NHL.com:

The return of Scott Niedermayer has helped the Anaheim Ducks close out the 2007 calendar year on a strong note, but they have some work to do if 2008 is to be as memorable.

The defending Stanley Cup champions look to get off to a fast start in the new year when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.

Anaheim (19-17-5) finished with a franchise-best 110 points last season en route to winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. But the Ducks got off to a slow start to this season as goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere missed the first six games due to a hernia, and defenseman Scott Niedermayer considered retirement.

In 28 starts, Giguere has 15 wins - well down from his 36 last season - and is still rounding into form, but Niedermayer's addition has lifted the entire team. The Ducks are 4-2-1 since the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner put off retirement and has moved the Ducks into eighth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of St. Louis and Columbus (18-15-6).

The Ducks, though, lost to Vancouver 2-1 on Sunday, their second straight defeat following a season high-tying four-game winning streak.

One area Anaheim needs to address is penalties. The Ducks have been penalized a NHL-high 317 times - 60 more than the second-place Canucks.

"We are taking a few too many penalties at times," said Ryan Getzlaf, who scored his 14th goal Sunday. "We are an aggressive team, and we are a physical team. The more that we can check with our legs instead of our sticks the more we will benefit in the long run."

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, have converted 5-of-19 power-play opportunities in their last four games, winning three of those contests.

"We're starting to win the special teams game and that's the game within the game," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said after Monday's 4-2 victory over Edmonton. "When you win the special teams game over the course of the season, you're going to win hockey games."

The Ducks have won two of three over the Blue Jackets this season, including a 2-1 shootout victory at the Honda Center on Nov. 1.

Columbus, which is a NHL-worst 2-7-2 on the road since losing in Anaheim, will play four straight and nine of its next 12 away from home.

Giguere has been in net for both wins against the Blue Jackets this season, recording a 1.88 goals-against average. He is 11-1-2 with a 1.67 GAA and two shutouts in his last 14 games against Columbus.

Columbus' Rick Nash snapped a season-high eight-game goal-scoring drought with his first hat trick of the season against the Oilers. Nash had two of his team-high 21 goals, and two assists in the Blue Jackets' season-opening 4-0 win over the Ducks on Oct. 5 but hasn't had a point in the other two matchups.

Pascal Leclaire had 26 saves versus Edmonton and has recorded one of his league-high seven shutouts with a 1.00 GAA during a personal three-game winning streak. Leclaire stopped 28 shots in the shutout win over the Ducks earlier this season.

Leclaire hasn't started a road game since Nov. 26 at Edmonton. He is 3-2-0 with a 2.03 GAA and two shutouts in six road starts

Backup Fredrik Norrena is just 2-7-2 with a 2.64 GAA on the road this season.

http://cdn.nhl.com/ducks/images/upload/2008/01/78378197a.jpg

The last time we will see the CBJs this regular season.

Pronger looks like a duck.

That was a quick goal by the Ducks (Getzlaf)! 1 - 0, 3 mins into the first.

Pronger and Beachemin (great pass, and a great move by Getzlaf on the goal) being more aggressive. Bobby Ryan is looking good.

I really though Moen was going to redirect that one home. Good penalty kill so far.

How the hell did Giggy get all the way over there on that one-timer?

When are we expecting Pahlsson back?

Heh... nevermind. Forgot to check the injury news.

Well that was unlucky.

lines?

wth was neidermayer doing? and getzlaf? When a guy takes a shot atleast one of you 2 take him out of the play or tie him up or something. That is sloppy, lazy defense.

I missed the first, how's the team look?

They're interviewing Drew Miller on the radio. He sounds like he's a 60 year old chain smoker. Geez.

the team played real strong, i haven't heard nash's name at all and we are really cycling. Had one butchered defensive play to give up a goal, but the bounce we got for our goal was pretty lucky so i guess its even.

team was blah, i missed the first duck's goal, but the last 3/4 of the 1st was pretty boring.

Columbus looks dangerous with their speed combined with Anaheim's lacks play at times. Chances are this game will drag on for another 30 minutes, then CBJ will get a couple PP goals on bad duck's penalties caused by lacks playing.

the team played real strong, i haven't heard nash's name at all and we are really cycling. Had one butchered defensive play to give up a goal, but the bounce we got for our goal was pretty lucky so i guess its even.

I don't think its technically cycling if you dump, chase, retrieve, make one pass, and turn it over... my dog does that. That's fetch.

On a side note, could Perry get a charging penalty when he goes to check someone and the turns around, kinda jumps into them with his back, and then falls on his rear? Last period looked like he left his skates. Does he not want to injure his shoulders or something?

I don't think its technically cycling if you dump, chase, retrieve, make one pass, and turn it over... my dog does that. That's fetch.

On a side note, could Perry get a charging penalty when he goes to check someone and the turns around, kinda jumps into them with his back, and then falls on his rear? Last period looked like he left his skates. Does he not want to injure his shoulders or something?

i was wondering that too...he just like throws his body in to the other players, he is gonna get hurt or something doing that :cry:

Can someone please tell me what the lines are?

bert-getz-perry
kunitz-weight-ryan
moen-carter-neidermayer
parro-marchant-sutherby

neidermayer-beauchemin
pronger-OD
schneider-huskins

giggy

OK that was a stupid penalty. What the hell Marchant. The ref's right there (it's a freaking faceoff!), do you think he's not going to see you close your hand on the puck?

get rid of that guy and his inflated damn contract!!!!!! and dumb penaltY!!!!:help:

wow i was just gonna say giguere is playing good until he acts like a dumbass...we always suk in the 2nd period.


Atleast we aren't losing...yet :)

Giguere with 3 huge stops on that PK, and Niedermayer(?) saves another goal on the rebound that got behind Giguere.

bert-getz-perry
kunitz-weight-ryan
moen-carter-neidermayer
parro-marchant-sutherby

neidermayer-beauchemin
pronger-OD
schneider-huskins

giggy

Thanks. I thought Marchant had been practicing with Moen and Pahlsson?

Wow, what pressure by the Jackets. Amazing that this game is still tied. Go Jiggers! :yo:

yea not sure why carter is playing but let me say i like the energy he brings into that line. Schneider has been playing with Pronger, not sure if that is gonna stay or was just for a few shifts... LEts get a goal onthe PP...a CP goal

hhaaha!!!! not sure which CP scored but it was either pronger or perry...PRONGER it is!!!

PRONGER WITH THE PP GOAL! Looked like Ron Hainsey redirected that one with his glove. Crazy. :naughty:

Nice. I was just about to complain about how the PP looked good but couldn't come up with the goal.

That's odd, it's almost like Hainsey pulled the puck into the net. Why is he even making that kind of motion?

Ducks finally bringing Energy. Good to see they were rewarded with that late goal.

Nice. I was just about to complain about how the PP looked good but couldn't come up with the goal.

That's odd, it's almost like Hainsey pulled the puck into the net. Why is he even making that kind of motion?

Seemed like a knee-jerk reaction kind of thing. Obviously, it wasn't a good idea, but I think that is the rationale.

Giguere is playing a really solid game and is giving us a chance to put this game away.

Giguere is playing a really solid game and is giving us a chance to put this game away.

Getz and Bert on the assists?

ya, these are the games we all expected him to have with the money we paid him. He stole us that period and needs to steal us about 5 more games this year if we are gonna make the playoffs and play solid throughout the rest...i personally hate him, but i love him when he performs well!!!

ya, these are the games we all expected him to have with the money we paid him. He stole us that period and needs to steal us about 5 more games this year if we are gonna make the playoffs and play solid throughout the rest...i personally hate him, but i love him when he performs well!!!

I am going to go out of a limb here, but I think we need more than 5 games to make the playoffs. He needs to stay solid for all games.

ya, these are the games we all expected him to have with the money we paid him. He stole us that period and needs to steal us about 5 more games this year if we are gonna make the playoffs and play solid throughout the rest...i personally hate him, but i love him when he performs well!!!

i know that, i mentioned it in my post...:)im saying he needs to win us 5 games basically alone, on nights like tonight when we clearly got outplayed that period for 18 minutes.



ooo nice hit by perry, but i wonder if he fell down aftewards...:sarcasm:

Hmm. I could see a dive if they thought Kunitz was going down from the trip, but I'm not sure about a dive for the slash. I missed the slash in real time, and I would have understood the dive if the ref thought it was a trip. I guess it looked a little delayed in slo mo.

Some people just look dumb. They may or may not actually be dumb, but they just look vacant. Bill and Luke Walton. Craig MacTavish. I nominate Pascal Leclaire to that list. With the helmet off, he just kind stares out into space slack jawed.

Haha, Hayward said exactly what I was thinking. Pascal Leclaire apparently learned to goaltend at the Dwayne Rolosson school of netminding.

hahaah he shakes his head and it practically falls off

Good to see Ryan battle in the corners...

Ryan bowls Hejda over, while standing still. That was almost Penner-esque. Let's just hope Ryan does it more than once a month like Penner did.

ryan is playing good...like a corey perry style, just pissing off the defenders and hitting everything sometimes wreckleslly and falling down lol, his best game i have seen him play. :handclap:

ryan is playing good...like a corey perry style, just pissing off the defenders and hitting everything sometimes wreckleslly and falling down lol, his best game i have seen him play. :handclap:
From what I've seen all the Ryans have been playing pretty good tonight. Getzlaf, Carter, and Ryan.

From what I've seen all the Ryans have been playing pretty good tonight. Getzlaf, Carter, and Ryan.

It's a shame too, cause with Bo coming up it really sounds like Ryan is going to be sent down. I really hope the Ducks don't send him down after this game, because he's been one of the best Ducks on the ice, well from what i've heard.

move your damn feet scott!!!! your not that old you can skate with that kid.

It's a shame too, cause with Bo coming up it really sounds like Ryan is going to be sent down. I really hope the Ducks don't send him down after this game, because he's been one of the best Ducks on the ice, well from what i've heard.

put bo in the minors (don't know what kind of contract he has)? he is only 25 its not a total waiste i know itwould make no sense but hell you can't put ryan after this performance in the minors, , we are still minus sami mind you all and i love sutherby's mix of size, speed, energy, and carlyle had him on the PK when marchant was in the box...gosh can we please just get rid of marchant and his contract?!! we got miller who could do the same damnthing as him in a year or two.


good PK by the way

Yay, ducks win! :handclap:

Good win and a great performance from Jiggy. Ryan Carter just continues to impress...every single game he looks better. Besides that stretch in the 2nd period, this was a nice win. :)

Good win, solid game except for that brain fart that gave them their goal.

good way to finish strong and shut down the top line. their PP looked very dangerous towards the 2nd half of the game but we "weathered the storm" :biglaugh: jiggy was great, all of the ryans were great and pronger is simply a big time player with a little help from a glove lol

Ryan seemed to do very well as a checking center. For some reason, the possibility that he could be a checker never occurred to me, I figured he'd either be a 2nd liner or a 4th liner. Nash was held to 1 SOG. That's fantastic, it means he fit in with the other strong defenders Niedermayer and Moen. The kid just might have a future as a checker. Which is good because he'd be a physical checker, whereas Miller is more of a positional finesse checker.

Carlyle said the goal was to play .800 at home and .500 on the road for the rest of the season. Anyone feel like keeping track? Right now we're 1-0 at home.

How's Bert look? I see he's been putting up pretty consistent points lately, but as a Canucks fan who watched him for years, I know that points don't tell the whole story with Todd.

Berts had some good games and some weak games.... but that's pretty much the same as most of the duck players.

He played alright today, made a couple good plays, didn't notice anything glaringly bad or weak.

I thought Bobby Ryan looked good.

It's a win, so I'll take it. But another boring game from what is turning out to be a boring Ducks team.

I thought Burke liked an uptempo, entertaining style of game.

We were SPOILED Last year, they were the BEST Team in the League by FAR!!!!!!!!

This year........... they need help and lot's of practice.......

Coach keeps changing lines to find that Magic..............:handclap:

it's not happening yet..........

but, the D.....:yo: and you know what they say.......................

Defence wins Championships.....:teach:

Bertuzzi is definitely NOT a 4 million dollar player...

Bertuzzi is definitely NOT a 4 million dollar player...


for real.

And why can't we score more than 2 goals a game?:(