Ducks Gameday—Experimentation in alternative media
Round Four, Game Three: (2) Anaheim Ducks at (4) Ottawa Senators
(ANA leads series 2-0, JavaGeek ‘odds’: ANA 80%)
This cartoon isn't that great, but it is my first foray into a new cartoon style: hand-drawn. I'm actually a tad rusty, but this is really how my drawing skills got started. And before now, it's gotten me no further than my high school newspaper. But, with the combination of free time and an e-mail scanner at work, the magic lives on.
At any rate, it's a cute enough picture, but the concept of it is a little shaky, in that it needs a little explanation. The Senators have had a really tough go at it in G1 and G2; several (Leafs) observers are calling it a choke job. But how much of this is really Ottawa choking, and how much of it is Anaheim's doing?
Well, anyway the technology works well enough; we'll see what I'll be producing with it later.
As for the series moving to Ottawa, well, the ball's really in Bryan Murray's court. How well can he dictate his match-ups, and will the Spalfredheat be kept intact? Trailing two games in the series, this promises to be the Senators' best effort yet, though given G1 and G2 it's not a terribly lofty statement.
For the Ducks, it will come down to taking this game just as seriously as the Ottawa players will. Executing small plays will be all the more critical, and Giguere will have to make some key saves, especially when the refs decide it's time for the Senators' minute-plus 5-on-3, a Finals fixture.
Giguere is one of six Ducks (that I can think of) who have played a SCF series to a seventh game before losing; both Niedermayers, O'Donnell, Pahlsson, and Pronger have been there also. It's really got to be the toughest loss a player can take, in that you have a glimpse of triumph but get a hard dose of bitterness instead. I also think it's a key learning experience for a player, in that it makes him reflect on not only a blown G7 but about missed opportunities earlier in the series as well. The importance of each game's result becomes more evident. Anyway, when you look at who's leading this team in this SCF series, it looks as if the G7 life lesson is paying off; these really are the guys making the victories happen for the Ducks.
Here's hoping they can do it again tonight.
Prediction: Ducks 4, Senators 2. The G7-Club leads the way again. Goals by both Niedermayers, Pahlsson, and Pronger.
Go Ducks.
30 comments:
Hey Earl. Know of any public places the game is being shown tonight? I'm going to be down in Long Beach with my girlfriend tonight and we were looking for a restaurant and/or bar to go hang and watch the game. Any suggestions? Anybody? Much appreciated. GO DUCKS!!!
You can always trust Hooters to show the game, though it may not be the premiere showcase, they will at least put it on a TV.
KUNITZ IS BACK IN!!!!
SUPER SWEET!
Great comic Earl! Perhaps if Duck Vader were to speak to a Leafs fan, or the Ottawa media, rather than to a Senator, the point would be clearer... The Senator should still be there though, choking in the background.
Know of any public places the game is being shown tonight?
Well, in Anaheim there are several places along Katella that will be in full Ducks swing, along with a place downtown called Boomerangs. As for the lbc... can't help you there mang. Ask Snoop. Although from his comments I'm sure he lives in Newport Beach (nbc?)
KUNITZ IS BACK IN!!!!
Where did you read this? I didn't find it on NHL.com nor on Anaheim's site... linky please ^_^
Know of any public places the game is being shown tonight?
Redondo Beach Cafe on PCH...
ESPNZone in Anaheim...
and who knows were else... should not be too hard to find a sports bar in Long Beach that will be showing the game. Or just happen to know folks who are doing their own viewing parties... ^_!
Heck, if you're feeling up for it, you could always go to the watch party at the Honda Center. Free admission, doors open at 4 pm.
Have never really been to one of those, myself, so don't know much about the atmosphere or refreshment availability, but there should be Duck fans there.
Otherwise, the other suggestions probably work.
linky please ^_^
Here it is. Always check with the Canadian sites first :)
Spalfredheat is a registered trademark of www.sensarmy.blogspot.com
Spalfredheat is a registered trademark of www.sensarmy.blogspot.com
This is true--I've been using the term since our interview, but I'm not going to credit you every time. :)
It's a good get-to-know-Ottawa piece, if you missed it.
I am soooo excited Kunitz is back!!! GO DUCKS GO!!!! *I still like the Sens though*
Chris Pronger is Satan in human form, although in all honesty, it looked to me like McCammond ducked down and kind of skated directly into it. In any event, if John Wayne Gacy had a child with Charlie Manson, they'd name him Chris.
Yeah, no need to credit - I'm just messing with you.
The Sens showed up tonight! I'm happy with their effort for the first time in this series. Now there's some intrigue in this series... excellent.
Why is no one talking about Chris Neil's two-fisted hit on Andy McDonald's head after making a run at him against the boards? Looked really bad on replay, much worse than Pronger's v. McCammond as far as intent. I will be livid if the NHL suspends Pronger, and not Neil. And since when is a "no goal" a "goal" after being kicked in?! Insane.
Went to the watch party at the Pond/ Honda Center, but could only make it through two periods since we brought the kids. It was pretty fun. Booze and expensive pizza was for sale and the girls were there shooting t-shirts into the stands. Gave away a Chris Pronger autographed stick and a team jersey autographed by the whole team. The viewing party moves to Fox Sports Bar and Grill Monday at Irvine Spectrum. Hopefully, the results are better.
Looking back on the game, we could have saved two goals- the Pronger tip in and the goal the Sens scored while our fifth player was sleeping on the bench. Definitely outplayed tonight; game 4 is going to be insane. Hopefully, no one dies.
Ugh. I suppose the hockey gods don't approve of hand-drawing.
And I suppose I don't have the right to suggest Ottawa choking when Anaheim fails to send 5 people out for a faceoff.
Fortunately, I am good and drunk.
you guys got ass raped by the officials and nhl last night, its a black eye on hockey
Now Pronger gets suspended for game 4? What the hell?
Well yeah, because deliberately elbowing a guy to the head against the rules...
and the guy is a repeat offender.
Sort of a repeat offender. If McAmmond was severely concussed Pronger would have got more I'll bet.
Absolutely BS on the Pronger suspension. No call on the ice and the NHL steps in to suspend. What a joke? Nowhere near as bad as a hit as the one Neil gave to McDonald or the one Ottawa put on Drury earlier this year. NHL doing its best to make this a 7 game series
Bryan, Oh please! An ELBOW TO THE HEAD! Plenty of times htere have been suspensions/discipline handing out by the head office even though there was no penalty called on the play. Remember Janssen on Kaberle???
And your NHL "conspiracy theory" is pretty pathetic.
And your NHL "conspiracy theory" is pretty pathetic.
I wouldn't call it a conspiracy theory either, but there weren't a lot of calls that went the Ducks' way last night, even aside from Pronger.
A non-goal turned goal, another wide discrepancy in power play time (11 minutes to 2 1/2)--I can see why Duck fans feel like they are playing against both the Senators and the league.
In 9 games against the Red Wings and Senators, the Ducks have now spent 67 minutes on the PP, and 97 minutes killing penalties. The Red Wings/Senators also have had 13 5-on-3s, and the Ducks have had one (in period one of G1 at Detroit).
And all that the league or the media can seem to say about that is "oh, the Ducks are dirty, that shouldn't be a surprise."
Well, that's about as much as I'll say (I've pretty much vowed not to talk about refereeing). What else is new, though? Another uphill climb for the hatable Ducks (sigh).
A non-goal turned goal, another wide discrepancy in power play time (11 minutes to 2 1/2)--I can see why Duck fans feel like they are playing against both the Senators and the league.
Yeah but what you feel isn't necessarily true. Complain about the Alfie goal all you want; it looked like a goal to me according to my interpretation of NHL rules.
As for the disparity in penalties, that's a little more mystical to me. You've got the numbers handy - is ANA scoring at a much greater rate on the PP than OTT/DET? To my eye, it looks like ANA has either adopted or is playing a much more physical brand of hockey - if that's the case, well, to a certain extent, that's the price of that style. If you play right on the edge physically, you're going to cross it more often. The referees are missing calls both ways - if Pronger isn't the first player to get suspended twice in 5 games, he's certainly the first player to do it without getting a penalty on either play.
You remember the stretch when there were 4 straight sweeps in the Finals? Do you have any idea how much money the NHL lost? It's business plain and simple. The NBA uses the 232 format in the Finals because it leads to more Game 7s. You're telling me the NHl doesn't pull the same garbage? Watching replay of the hit in slow mo makes it look worse than it really is . At full speed, and McAmmond was realy flying into the zone, there is no way it was a deliberate hit especially since McAmmond ducked into it. Its not like Pronger was out there headhunting the way Neil was. Add on the kick in goal, which you can't call a goal if you disallow the Buff/NYR goal, how can you not think the NHL is helpin out Ottawa?
Complain about the Alfie goal all you want; it looked like a goal to me according to my interpretation of NHL rules.
I can't recall the last time a goal that was disallowed on the ice was re-allowed on replay. I think it has more to do with the mechanics of how the goal got allowed than the goal itself.
To my eye, it looks like ANA has either adopted or is playing a much more physical brand of hockey - if that's the case, well, to a certain extent, that's the price of that style. If you play right on the edge physically, you're going to cross it more often.
Yeah, and that's the blanket statement being made across the media. Still, it's a pretty simple statement to explain a pretty severe PP discrepancy.
Fairly or unfairly, the Ducks are definitely fighting their reputation in these playoffs. I think it's turning out easier to call something on the "dirty" Ducks than their opposition. Penalties against the Ducks already come with their own justification.
I dunno, I think the officiating has been pretty good and I agree with mc79 on the risk/reward of Anaheim's strategy. I've seen the Ducks get away with a few as well. Pronger mugging Heatley at the end of G1 is one example (although he did eventually get dinged the next shift), and Perry had two obvious glorious swan dives in each of G1 and G2. The one on Phillps drew a penalty that should have gone the other way.
Still, it's a pretty simple statement to explain a pretty severe PP discrepancy.
Is there any good reason why there shouldn't be a discrepancy? These things aren't supposed to "even" out. This sounds suspiciously like sour grapes Earl.
Anaheim's still in good shape no matter what happens Monday night because the Sens showed no signs of figuring anything out in Anaheim. They still have home ice advantage and for a team that depends on matchups so heavily, that's a major advantage.
"You remember the stretch when there were 4 straight sweeps in the Finals? Do you have any idea how much money the NHL lost?"
Oh c'MON!!! You ARE conspiring!
Did the Ducks get screwed by ref'ing last night? NO! But if a team is outskating and outhustling the opposing team and the opposing team starts trying to hold them up...boomshackalaka..penalties will be called. The Ducks were stunned last night and lost their composure. There was no jobbing against a 'dirty' Ducks team or to make the series go longer. That is ludicrous!
The Sens grew frustrated in Game 2 and took a lot of penalties didn't they? It goes with the turf!
One thing is for sure: there are too many fucking rules when it comes to obstruction! It's pathetic really. If a hook doesn't impede a guy's progress, then don't call it. I hate the obstruction rules.
Zany, I've never heard a more appropriate usage of the term "boomshackalaka" in a comment thread.
In fact, I've never heard the term "boomshackalaka" used in a comment thread ever.
Well done!
And for Bryan to argue that McAmmond "skated into" the elbow? Well if the elbow hadn't been thrust in the direction of his head, he wouldn't have skated into it!
Greetings!
Well, I wholeheartedly agree with those who feel the NHL - never mind the Canadian media! - clearly have it in for Chris Pronger. Even a newbie just discovering the game, let's say – oh, 3 week ago – can obviously tell each and every hit he's laid on an Ottawa Senator during this series has in absolutely no way at all been vicious, undisciplined, intentionally malicious, blatantly stupid, or desperate. Frankly, it’s flat-out heartbreaking to see a great ambassador for the game of hockey vilified this way. I can only pray people will eventually come to their senses and appreciate sage Brian Burke's points regarding all the penalties that have been unfairly called on Pronger, as well as those called on the team as a whole. Really, who could question the wisdom and decency of a man who, following Todd Bertuzzi's miniscule tap on Steve Moore, predicted Moore would be back practicing with his team in 3 weeks?
So hang in there, Anaheim; Karma is on your side!
Love,
Dale Hunter’s #1 Fan
Is there any good reason why there shouldn't be a discrepancy? These things aren't supposed to "even" out. This sounds suspiciously like sour grapes Earl.
I'm not saying it should be even; I understand that yes, the Ducks are going to take more penalties than they get back, but it's still getting awfully heavy.
In 19 playoff games, they have enjoyed 38 fewer PP minutes than their opposition. In 82 regular season games, that number was 30 minutes. So it does appear accelerated.
But really, I'm not going to push this very much; officiating has been a prominent part of this game since the new rules, so it's not worth me (certainly a biased observer) getting into.
The Sens grew frustrated in Game 2 and took a lot of penalties didn't they? It goes with the turf!
Sure, that game they must have really blown their lids. Penalties were even, and they only got one 5-on-3 :)
OK, so I mean more penalties than they are accustomed to taking??? haha!
The Ducks don't seem like a disciplined team to begin with. But hey, their PK sure is good isn't it??!!
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