The Anaheim Ducks barely made it into the playoffs (they were the last team to qualify) yet, somehow, they managed to unseat the top seeded San Jose Sharks.  Halfway through their series I couldn’t help myself – I had to start supporting the Ducks and they did not let me down.

I am so sorry Sharks fans but I can’t help but enjoy a good underdog story.  This is only the third time since 2000 that a team beat a Presidents’ Trophy winner (awarded for the best record in the league) in the first round of the playoffs.  The Ducks are also “the eighth No. 8 seed to win a playoff series since 1994, largely dominating the league’s first all-California post-season series in 40 years.”

The Ducks really kept it together as San Jose got more and more physical.  Teemu Selanne and Francois Beauchemin logged their first playoff goals just 43 seconds apart in the second period.  Meanwhile, the incredible Jonas Hiller made 36 saves in the victory and has really been the hero throughout the playoffs considering the fact that the Ducks have been outshot in every game.

I don’t know what is going to happen with San Jose during the off-season but I do know that this had to be an embarrassing loss for the team and I’m sure they are questioning the abilities of rookie coach Todd McLellan.  I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for updates on this story.

image: TSN

The San Jose Sharks escaped elimination tonight by beating the Anaheim Ducks in overtime.  I was really hoping this series would get wrapped up tonight but both teams fought hard and, ultimately, a fluky goal kept the Sharks alive.

I really started to doubt that the game was going to go in their favor since the Sharks blew a two-goal lead early in the third period.  It definitely looked like the momentum had swung in favor of the Ducks.

For the second time in the playoffs, Patrick Marleau scored the game-winning goal after he launched a puck at Ducks goaltender, Jonas Hiller, who accidentally nudged it over the goal line.  It went to review and it counted (it looked to me like Hiller was pushed a little but what do I know?).

It’s too bad because Hiller had been spectacular again, stopping 45 of the 48 shots he faced.  The team let him down by only taking 25 shots on Sharks goalie, Evgeni Nabokov.

The Sharks and Ducks will battle it out next on Monday, April 27 at 10:30pm ET.

Never in a million years did I think I would be cheering on the Anaheim Ducks but I want them to create a huge upset in this first series of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The Ducks barely made it into the playoffs and they are dominating the San Jose Sharks (who had the best record in the league this season) with a 3-1 lead in the series. 

All Anaheim needs is one more win to eliminate the Sharks.  I can’t believe I’m even writing those words.  It’s not every day that the #8 seeded team takes out the #1 seeded team in the first round.  CRAZY!!!!

Again, Jonas Hiller was extraordinary between the pipes and you can be sure that everyone is taking notice of this barely-known goaltender.  I can’t believe how effective he’s been for his team under the pressure.  He shut the Sharks out completely tonight and I’m sure they are just as baffled and shocked as everyone else.

Meanwhile, rookie Bobby Ryan scored two goals in the 4-0 victory so it’s clear that the Ducks are pulling together and aren’t relying on “star players” to get the win. 

I can’t believe I’m saying this but… Go Ducks!!!!

image: TSN

In the series that is surprising me the most, the San Jose Sharks finally showed some signs of life and emerged victorious in the battle against the Anaheim Ducks last night but it was only by a slim margin.  I’m sure they are glad to claim the 4-3 victory but I’m also sure that this series is a little closer than they would like,

image: TSN

It really had been a David and Goliath matchup in my mind.  I know that is stretching it a bit but, then again, the Sharks were the best team this season in regulation while the Ducks were the very last team to make the playoffs.  I expected this to be a somewhat easy (and sad) sweep but the Ducks seem hell-bent on showing us why they won the Cup a couple seasons ago.

It was an incredibly close game filled with penalties for both teams and, ultimately, that’s what cost Anaheim the game.  With Corey Perry going off for hooking half-way through the third, the Sharks seized the opportunity and Patrick Marleau put one right in the back of the net.

I’m not a huge fan of either of these teams but I think that I will continue to watch this series closely.  I hope it goes all the way to Game 7.

The Anaheim Ducks are proving to be a bit of a surprise during the postseason with relatively unknown goaltender, Jonas Hiller, leading the way.  They are currently comfortable with a 2-0 lead in the quarterfinal series against the league’s best team, the San Jose Sharks, and the best part of all?  They did it on the road in the Shark Tank!  Wow!

image: TSN

I’m not the biggest fan of the Anaheim Ducks so I really don’t pay too much attention to them during the regular season.  Of course, I stay up-to-date but I don’t sit and really think about them very often.  I’ve heard Hiller’s name this year but it’s not like I’d ever gone and checked out his stats.  I was surprised last week to learn that he’s played just as much as Jean-Sebastien Giguere but actually has more wins in regulation.  Now, he’s really proving that he has what it takes to be the first goalie.

The rest of the team is also rallying in the postseason.  Three of the Ducks’ youngest forwards celebrated their first playoff goals last night in the 3-2 victory.  I hate to say it but I’m starting to hope they eliminate the Sharks.  I’ve been wanting to see the Boston Bruins and Sharks fight it out for the Cup this year but I’m slowly letting go of that wish.  Now, I’d love to see the Bruins take on some scrappy team that emerged from the woodworks and shocked the Western Conference.  The Ducks performed so poorly that, if they were to make it to the finals, it would be almost miraculous.

WOW.  This was the most shocking score of the night.  The Anaheim Ducks managed to completely shut out the league’s best team, the San Jose Sharks.  The Ducks were the very last team to squeak into the playoffs and, in terms of regular season, were a massive 26 points behind the Sharks.  I don’t know if it will last but that was a massive win for the Ducks.

image: TSN

I didn’t see the game but I saw highlights last night as I sat half-asleep on my couch.  I didn’t realize until just now that it was Jonas Hiller between the pipes for the Ducks and not JS Giguere.  That makes this victory even crazier.  I know Hiller and Giguere played the same number of games and that Hiller had a few more wins but this was his very first playoff game and he nailed it!  I can’t even believe it.  The Sharks probably never knew what hit them!

The 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin next week and, with the remaining spots taken last night by the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues, the NHL has announced the final matchups for the first round.

image: Newscom

In the Western Conference the following teams will square off:

• San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues
• Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks
• Vancouver Canucks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
• Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames

Those are some interesting matchups. I predict that the Sharks will take out the Blues and the Wings will pick off the Ducks but I am not sure what will happen with the others. Vancouver is red hot right now but Columbus is also doing well. The thing that is going to make this pairing sizzle, though, is the battle between goaltenders, Roberto Luongo (Canucks) and rookie Steve Mason (Blue Jackets). I can’t stand Vancouver (although, I have to admit that they’ve been amazing) so I want them to lose the series but I will be watching these games whenever I can just to see whether Luongo or Mason will come out on top. The Chicago vs. Calgary games could go either way since both teams have been patchy throughout the season and Calgary has been really struggling since acquiring Olli Jokinen at the trade deadline. They had been doing so well so it’s anyone’s guess whether they will be able to shake off whatever is bothering them in order to get more effective on the ice…

image: Newscom

In the Eastern Conference, you will find the following matchups:

• Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
• Washington Capitals vs. NY Rangers
• New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes
• Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins/li>

I can’t even believe that Boston is going to battle Montreal in the first round.  Both were part of the original six teams that made up the NHL and they are long-time rivals.  The fans are going to go crazy and I wish I could head back east and watch a Montreal game with my family.  I don’t know who will win the Caps vs. Rangers series but, if it comes down to it, I think that Alexander Ovechkin is going to do all that he can to stay in the game.  After the season that goaltender, Martin Brodeur, has had, I’m hoping the New Jersey Devils will beat out the Carolina Hurricanes but I don’t think it’s obvious enough to make a prediction.  Also, although it may not be as rooted in history as the Montreal/Boston series, it’s going to be intense when the Flyers take on the Penguins.  It’s going to be one long “Battle of Pennsylvania” for the fans and I am hoping the Pens skate away with a strong victory. I know that Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin are going to want that second chance after narrowly losing the Stanley Cup finals last year.

I’d love to hear what you think!  Which matchups are you most looking forward to and who do you think will move on?

The teams who will compete in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been decided and I’m extremely excited!  There are a few surprises (Montreal just squeaking in) and things that I’m truly happy about (Chicago, Columbus and St. Louis making the cut) but aside from that, it’s pretty much what most of us could have predicted a couple months ago.  I am disappointed, though, that Dallas wasn’t able to pull it together this season to push past their problems and get to the postseason.  Maybe next year…

Here are a list of the teams that made it:

Who do you think will take home Lord Stanley?  I think that the two teams leading each conference (Boston and San Jose) are going to be tough to beat so I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them won the finals (I think Boston might be a little more likely).  Still, the playoffs can be so unpredictable so it’s hard to tell…

image: NBCUMV

At the end of last night’s poorly officiated game between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks, a brawl broke out in front of the SJ net.

image: TSN

There were 70 minutes of penalties, which I think is just downright ridiculous for a game so close to the end of the season.  Plus, it’s no secret that these teams don’t particularly like each other so when you combine that, the penalty minutes and the poor officiating (along with the pressure to do well before the playoffs), it was a perfect recipe for a disaster.

Still, in the end, the Sharks were able to hold on and skate away with a 3-2 victory over their Pacific Division rivals.  Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that anyone got hurt but it’s always scary to see a goaltender buried beneath a brawl.  Watch the video:

Wow.  I know the goal against Vesa Toskala was bad but watch this one.  It doesn’t change direction or anything – it just bounces into the back of the net.  This change of events is likely the reason the Minnesota Wild came back and beat the San Jose Sharks. 

Marek Zidlicky took a backhand shot from mid-ice and, incredibly, it bounced right back backup goalie, Brian Boucher.  Watch the goal: