Ducks Gameday—A rising Pacific tide
Anaheim Ducks (41-25-8, 3rd in west) at Dallas Stars (42-27-5, 4th in west)
Ah, finally, it's the Pacific stretch! According to my internet image search, nothing says Ducks-Stars like:
Ah, Disney, you movie-making geniuses.
Hmm, maybe not. Perhaps this is better:
Luke, I am your feather.
Sorry, to start so cheesy; I'll try to make up for it with a little Pacific Division excitement that's been brewing for a little while. Here's the Pacific Division's record in two month segments:
Sept-Nov: 58-53-13 (.520), -0.15 goal differential, -0.39 shot differential
Dec-Jan: 74-55-10 (.568), +0.12 goal differential, +0.58 shot differential
Feb-Mar (before last night): 57-36-10 (.602), +0.26 goal differential, +1.01 shot differential
Certainly the five teams have taken five different paths this year, but generally speaking, the Pacific's been getting better and better as the season's progressed.
Prediction: The way the Sharks have been winning, one has to wonder what's the best strategy for the Ducks and Stars; is it worth going all-out to try to catch them? Certainly 4th seed is covetable, but maybe whoever loses tonight's game might consider taking a fall down to the sixth spot, as probably the Northwest leader will have fewer points than the Pacific runner-up. This strategy may appeal to the two teams differently, though. The last time the Ducks were 6th seed, they won a G7 in Calgary; the last time the Stars were 6th seed, they lost a G7 in Vancouver. Ducks 4, Stars 2. Goals by Selanne, Schneider, Pahlsson, and Kunitz.
Go Ducks.
[Update] A liveblog of the game from a Dallas perspective is available from Untypical Girls. Thanks to Jen for the link.
8 comments:
This is going to be a huge game, is anyone going to liveblog it?
Well, I'd liveblog it, except (a) I've never liveblogged before, and (b) I won't be home until the end of the 2nd period, and I'll be playing catch-up. Meanwhile, if anyone wants to be helpful, here's a query from one of the early BoC readers:
hey Earl,
i am the russian ducks fan - remember how we made that sign for you to taunt (was it salei?) in the penalty box? ah, good times, good times.
quick question: i am trying to look ducky on the ice and have got the jerseys, but can't find any other stuff the ducks wear, including team colored-socks. hockeymonkey doesn't have any. would you have an idea of where to get this? do they sell ducks "official" equipment at the rink store?
thanks,
alexey
Anybody got any tips they're willing to share with the Russians?
Try the equipment maker sites, they would have the colors. (Mission, Easton, Jofa, etc) You can
I think the West might be tough for the Ducks to win this year. They have 4 games against SJ and Dallas and 4 against Phoenix and LA. The Sharks have 9 games and 5 of them are against LA and Phoenix. Game in hand and weaker opponents, the Kings 3 times. Phoenix isn't a slouch anymore either.
Alexey, try Hocky Giant. It looks likethey may have what you need.
http://www.hockeygiant.com/ccmsocknhlsr.html
PJ -
I believe there will be a liveblog from the Dallas perspective at Untypical Girls or Hockey Coma.
Thanks Jen, I will add links to Earl's post.
Several divisions will not be decided until the last day of the season I think.
Sharks/Wild game should be interesting. Sharks roll has been stopped, and the Wild are starting to find theirs again. I'll be watching.
Well, that was an odd ending. I thought for sure that Bertuzzi had used up his one-shot-of-the-game when he shot high of the net.
Tonight's game is a classic example of power play politics gone wrong. The refs make a bad 4-minute call on Rob Niedermayer, then go overboard trying to "make up" the rest of the game. I'll take the result, but mainly because of Scotty Niedermayer's PKing. He was phenomenal.
Oh yeah, and I don't say it nearly enough: Giguere was fantastic, and I'm getting stunningly used to that. Burke's best summer signing, I think.
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