Hockey Beat » Anaheim Ducks

Is This The Worst Call of the Season?

Jeanne Dupuis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:24:15 +0000

Almost every hockey fan has seen a seriously bad call made by the officiators but this one is probably the worst I’ve seen in a long time.

The Detroit Red Wings were looking for a game-tying goal and they got it. The only problem was that it was deemed a non-goal and I can’t understand how anyone could make this call. It’s clearly in the net, fricking Alex Auld has to scoop in and dig it out and they still claim it wasn’t conclusive? It’s pretty obvious that it was a goal but the Red Wings ended up losing 3-1 and I totally believe this is the reason for it.

Maybe there’s something to all the chatter about there being a conspiracy against Detroit? This just seems unbelievably crazy to me. Watch the video:

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Giguere Starting Goalie Drama in Anaheim

Jeanne Dupuis — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:18:32 +0000

Jean-Sebastien Giguere has recovered from the groin pull he suffered late last month and, while he recuperated, Jonas Hiller started the last six games but, unlike Carey Price, Giguere has made it very clear that he wants his #1 spot back and he’d go to extreme measures to avoid being anyone’s backup.

image: TSN

“I’d rather retire than be a backup goalie,” Giguere said. “Something needs to happen. You get a guy like (Hiller) that’s going to be a free agent at the end of the year and myself, making the money I’m making, either I’m leaving or he’s leaving. I want to play, that’s when I have fun. Right now, this is not fun.”

In case you’re not familiar with his deal, Giguere will make $13 million over the next two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. Hiller, on the other hand, is set to earn $1.3 million in the final year of his deal.

I don’t know about you but that sort of smack talk just screams immaturity to me. It’s great to see someone who wants to be on top of his game but for crap’s sake, we’re talking about six games WHILE HE WAS INJURED. Is someone feeling a little insecure? How about focusing on making sure he’s better than Hiller and actually earning that ridiculous contract that the Ducks gave him?

Honestly, if he’s going to act like this, I saw trade him. He’s obviously got his own best interests at heart instead of the team’s and a player like that is dangerous. If he keeps yapping, I say dump him.

Has no one learned from the whole Dany Heatley saga?

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Calder and Cullimore Cut Loose By Ducks

Jeanne Dupuis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:00:00 +0000

The Anaheim Ducks have dropped Kyle Calder and Jassen Cullimore from their roster and while it’s unfortunate, it’s hardly surprising.

Calder is 36 years old and I hate to say it but he might be done. He has spent nine years in the NHL and while that is nowhere near as long as some other players’ careers, it feels like he’s just run out of steam. He’s a hard worker sometimes he’s really on his game but I consider this situation as being similar, in a way (obviously not the same, though) as the one with Theoren Fleury. Sure, these guys would make a nice addition to the team if that didn’t mean sacrificing fresher, faster legs. It’s too bad but that’s how the game is played.

A lot of people on boards all over the internet are saying that Cullimore shouldn’t even be in the NHL. I’m not sure I can be that harsh but he really is underperforming. He entered the league back during the 1994-95 season and spent the last two seasons for the Florida Panthers.

Goaltender Justin Pogge and left wing, Ryan Donally, have been assigned to the AHL affiliate in San Antonio.

image: TSN/NHL

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Toronto Sends Pogge to Anaheim

Jeanne Dupuis — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:44:14 +0000

After a disappointing record last season (one win in seven games and a 4.35 GAA), goaltender, Justin Pogge, has been sent to the Anaheim Ducks and, in exchange, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have a conditional draft pick in 2011.

image: TSN

Bah. Kinda saw this one coming when they signed Jonas Gustavsson, right?

This is one of those deals that I really barely care about at this point. The truth is that I believed that Pogge could develop into a pretty decent goalie but Toronto hasn’t been a great place for a developing netminder. It’s interesting that he was with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) for most of the season and he managed to pull out 26 wins and post a 2.70 GAA in 52 games which is obviously much better than his NHL record.

The Leafs drafted 23-year-old Pogge 90th overall in 2004.

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Wisniewski Staying With Anaheim Ducks

Jeanne Dupuis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:32:47 +0000

James Wisniewski accepted a one-year deal (no salary details were made public) with the Anaheim Ducks. He began the 2008-2009 season with the Chicago Blackhawks but finished with Anaheim. In total, he dressed for 48 games and had 30 penalty minutes.

image: Zuma Press

I don’t know if it can be attributed to his addition to their lineup but they they had a 11-5-1 record for those last 17 games of the season. It sounds like GM Bob Murray is giving him some credit for it, though. Of the deal he said: “James Wisniewski was a big part of our team’s turnaround last season. Being only 25 years old, we expect him to continue improving and make a large impact on our team going forward.”

Overall, 2008-2009 was a pretty good year for the young defenceman. He had a career high of 10 assists and even got a little post-season experience when the Ducks took on the San Jose Sharks in the Conference Quarterfinals.

There’s a transcript of the media conference call about Wisniewski’s decision to re-sign which can be found on the Anaheim Ducks website if you’re interested.

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Niedermayer Staying With Anaheim

Jeanne Dupuis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:51:28 +0000

After much speculation, it’s being reported that veteran defenceman, Scott Niedermayer, will be staying with the Anaheim Ducks after he was offered a one-year contract worth $6 million.

Many people were wondering if he would retire after this past season but, clearly, he has decided to return to the NHL. He had a decent season in 2008-2009 scoring 14 goals and amassing 59 points.

I personally think he’s great in the Ducks lineup but I also think that he’s accomplished enough to warrant retirement. He’s one the Stanley Cup four times and he’s won both the Norris and the Conn Smythe trophies. I’m not sure of Anaheim’s odds of making it to the finals next year but I doubt winning the Cup would make a difference. After Anaheim became the Stanley Cup champions in 2007, Niedermayer thought about retiring but I guess he just couldn’t stay away.

image: TSN

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Anaheim Surges Back, Forces Game 7

Jeanne Dupuis — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:52:57 +0000

The Anaheim Ducks are not giving up and they proved that last night as they faced elimination in Game 6 against the Detroit Red Wings. Both teams were physical (which you really don’t see too often from the Red Wings) and you could tell that this was an intensely played game.

image: TSN

The game remained scoreless through the first period and then the Ducks scored on a power-play in the second and the entire feel of the match changed. By the end of the second, they had a 2-0 lead (that second goal by Perry was downright insane). Johan Franzen scored the lone for Detroit on a power-play in the third period.

Again, Ducks goalie, Jonas Hiller, was spectacular because the Red Wings definitely tried to win this game but he came up big for his team. If it wasn’t for him, Pavel Datsyuk would have tied this game with less than 10 seconds left in the game. He finished with 38 saves while Detroit netminder, Chris Osgood, turned away 26 shots.

A brawl erupted with Ryan Getzlaf going after Marion Hossa and Corey Perry sending a message to Brian Rafalski and it really set the tone for Game 7 which takes place tomorrow night in Motown. Check out the highlights:

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Franzen and Hossa Power Wings, Tie Series With Ducks

Jeanne Dupuis — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:20:39 +0000

The Detroit Red Wings can thank Johan Franzen and Marion Hossa for being a huge part of their huge 6-3 victory against the Anaheim Ducks last night. The Western Conference semifinal series is now tied at two games each.

Franzen led the Wings to an early lead by scoring two goals in the first period while Hossa scored twice in just over three minutes to break the 2-2 tie and put Detroit up by one. Franzen added an assist on Hossa’s first goal.

The game marked the first time that we saw a crack in Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller’s pristine veneer. The kid has come up huge for his team throughout the postseason, making 59 saves in the Ducks’ 4-3 triple-overtime win in Game 2 and 45 saves in a 2-1 victory in Game 3. That’s absolutely remarkable! Unfortunately, he was pulled and replaced by Jean-Sebastien Giguere (who, I’m sure, is bitter as hell at being benched this whole time) after allowing five goals in 33 shots on net. His Red Wings counterpart, Chris Osgood, made 25 saves.

Game 5 is Sunday in Detroit, and Game 6 is Tuesday night in Anaheim. I’ll be on the couch, holding my breath. I still think Anaheim can pull off another upset. I just hope Hiller isn’t too rattled by being pulled and can bring back the focus after getting some much-needed rest.

image: TSN

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Detroit Falls, Anaheim Leads Series 2-1

Jeanne Dupuis — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:15:14 +0000

It was another intense game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings but it was the Ducks that emerged victorious at home, in the Honda Center, last night. As has been the case in the postseason, goaltender Jonas Hiller, came up huge for his team and made 45 saves (18 in the third period alone!)

The whole game was hard-fought but I honestly thought that the Ducks would either fall to the Red Wings or things would be decided in overtime again when I saw the intensity Detroit brought to the third period.

It was close, actually, since a goal that I believe should have counted was taken from Detroit. Scott Niedermayer (ANA) misplayed and Hiller actually lost control of the puck in the crease. Marion Hossa (DET) quickly saw the opportunity and slammed the puck into the back of the net. Unfortunately, referee Brad Watson claimed he had lost track of the puck and whistled the play dead, which negated the goal. It was shocking because I thought the puck was in plain sight but I guess he didn’t see it. If that goal had counted, Detroit would have tied the game with 1:04 remaining and it almost certainly would have gone to overtime.

Game 4 will, again, be in Anaheim on Thursday. I can barely wait. People are talking so much about the Pittsburgh/Washington series but I think this matchup is just as exciting.

image: TSN

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Ducks Wisniewski Taken Off Ice on Stretcher

Jeanne Dupuis — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:32:11 +0000

The Anaheim Ducks had to remain focused on the game after watching defenceman, James Wisniewski, taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was injured when he was his in the head by the elbow of Detroit Red Wings forward, Tomas Holmstrom.

I’m not exactly sure what the nature of the injury truly is, to be honest, since when I was watching the game, the commentators blamed it on him getting hit in the chest with the puck (it looked that way to me too, initially). Apparently, he was actually hurt when Holmstrom skated by and delivered the elbow shot with 6:11 to play in the second period as Wisniewski stood defending Anaheim’s net. This happened just seconds after he was hit with the slap shot. Poor guy. He was then taken to UC Irvine Medical Center for precautionary reasons.

I really hope he’s okay. The Ducks have a real shot at continuing to defy the odds and he’s an important part of the team. Obviously, his health is more important than any game but I just hope everything turns out well. Watch the video:

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