Moving on....

Well as many of you visitors can tell, I have not posted in some time. A promotion at work, the complete meltdown of the real estate industry, layoffs, family and more have sucked up my time. I will still post randomly at my www.davidquiroz.com but nothing additional will be posted here. I hope you all enjoyed the ride and GO DUCKS!

Game Day Preview and a few other things....

Just a reminder, today's game starts at 12:30 not 10:30 as originally scheduled.

Game Day Preview via Fox Sports and the AP

The Anaheim Ducks have come away with losses in each of their last five visits to Dallas. They have reason to believe this one might be different.

Anaheim (27-17-6) looks to earn at least a point in its 10th straight contest on Sunday when it visits the Stars at the American Airlines Center.

The Ducks are 0-4-1 in their last five games in Dallas since Feb. 10, and have scored a total of four goals in that span.

But since ringing in the new year, Anaheim has played its best hockey this season. The Ducks have won six straight and are 8-0-1 in their past nine games, which has moved them atop the Pacific, one point ahead of the Stars (27-18-5).

Read the rest here - Link

Game preview via LA Times

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle can be a taskmaster who wants things done his way, but don't accuse him of not being able to listen.
Before a game against Calgary in late November, a struggling Todd Bertuzzi went to Carlyle to discuss the possibility of moving to the left wing instead of the right-side spot that he has played for most of his career.

With his effort to mesh Bertuzzi with Andy McDonald and Chris Kunitz failing, Carlyle took the suggestion and put it into action.

Read the rest here - Link

The Dad's

If the Ducks manage to cap a perfect three-game trip by beating the Dallas Stars today at American Airlines Center, they might want to consider putting fathers of the team's players on their payroll.

Including games against the Phoenix Coyotes and Kings last season, the Ducks are 4-0 when the club has played host to players' fathers on what has become something of a trend with teams around the NHL. The Ducks posted a 2-1 victory Thursday at Nashville and a 4-2 triumph Friday at Minnesota.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Ducks win 4-2

The streak continues and now we are second place in the conference!

Photo of the Game

AP Photo by Jim Mone

Game Reports

Scoresheet
Super Stats
Boxscore
Faceoffs
Play-by-Play Shots
Rosters
TOI - ANA|MIN

Photos and Video

Official Photos - Link

NHL Highlights - Link

Sean O'Donnell Pre-game Interview

George Parros with his Dad and Parros Cam

 

Post game show and Todd Bertuzzi Interview

AP Coverage via ESPN

Todd Bertuzzi has rediscovered his scoring touch and his passion. He has linemates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to thank for that.

Bertuzzi scored twice, Ryan Getzlaf had three assists, and Anaheim's streaking top line lifted the Ducks to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

"I'm having a blast," Bertuzzi said. "I think it's kind of like being 33 and playing 23, when you're playing with those two. They keep you young. Not only on the ice, but in the room."

Read the rest here - Link

MVN Coverage

Jonas Hiller made several key saves, but after Bertuzzi’s second goal, the Wild’s fate seemed to be sealed. Coach Jacques Lemaire did not even pull his goalie for the extra attacker at the end. The Ducks dads, who continue with the team on their road trip, were ecstatic from their suite at the Xcel Energy Center. Last year the dads were 3-0 and this year they are 2-0. Can they make it a perfect trip on Sunday against the Stars?

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Non Game news

Here is today's non game news.

The Stadium Loft has posted an extended version of their commercial featuring J.S. Giguere

 

An Article on the Dad's trip

The Ducks' normal traveling party grew significantly on this three-game trip and the players couldn't be any happier.
For the second consecutive year, the Ducks brought along the fathers of their players on an all-expense paid hockey vacation that will continue through Minnesota and end in Dallas on Sunday.

Most of the dads made the trip as they will room with their sons and dine with them in the ultimate bonding experience. On Thursday, they watched the Ducks' 2-1 victory from a suite in Sommet Center.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Duck News - Ducks win 2-1

And now the streak is 5 and take the lead in the Pacific Division! But they unfortunately lost as well. In spite of the score Chris Pronger injured his knee in the game - Link Hopefully this will heal quickly and he will be back shortly.

Photo of the Game

Frederick Breedon / AP)

Game Reports

Scoresheet
Super Stats
Boxscore
Faceoffs
Play-by-Play Shots
Rosters
TOI - ANA|NSH

Video and Photos

NHL Highlights - Link

Photos - Link

Doug Weight and Ryan Getzlaf Interview with Dads

MVN Coverage

For the first time this season the Ducks have put together a five game winning streak. Their fifth in a row came on the road with a 2-1 defeat over the Nashville Predators. The Predators had earned points in seven of their past eight games, the eighth being their January 7th 5-2 loss to the Ducks. The win put the Ducks one point ahead of San Jose, who were scheduled to play Dallas later on in the evening. A Stars win over the Sharks would leave the Ducks in first place in the Pacific Division. A Sharks win would bounce them back over the Ducks into first place.

Read the rest here - Link

Predators Coverage

The Predators out shot the Anaheim Ducks 34-16, but were limited to just one goal by Anaheim netminder JS Giguere as the Ducks edged the Predators 2-1 at the Sommet Center on Thursday night.

Anaheim opened the scoring at the 15:12 mark of the first period when it converted its second power-play opportunity of the night. The Predators caught an unfortunate break when Jarred Smithson broke his stick while killing the penalty. The Ducks maintained possession of the puck in the Predators zone, preventing Nashville from making a line change or handing Smithson a new stick from the bench. Anaheim patiently worked the puck around the perimeter, setting up Mathieu Schneider for a slapshot from the left point. With Todd Bertuzzi setting a screen at the top of the goal crease, Brandon Bochenski skated through the slot and redirected Schneider’s shot for his second goal of the season.

Read the rest here - Link

OC Register Coverage

Goals by Brandon Bochenski and Corey Perry, and 33 saves from goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere were the key ingredients Thursday night in a 2-1 Ducks victory over the Nashville Predators at Sommet Center.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Non Game News

Not too much news today, but I've got a few videos gems for you.  Enjoy!

Burke has sympathy (?)

As the front office watch with the Toronto Maple Leafs continued Wednesday, the parties involved got some much-needed sympathy from fellow NHL executive Brian Burke.

The Anaheim Ducks' general manager, who recently denied media speculation that he would one day join the struggling hockey team, did not hide his disappointment at the overall treatment of John Ferguson Jr.

Read the rest here - Link

I call it the Niedermayer Effect

Numbers have never truly defined Scott Niedermayer's impact on a team, but there is one set that is the clearest gauge of what he has meant to the Ducks since he ended his dance with retirement.
10-2-2.

Before the defenseman's return, the Ducks were an inconsistent bunch stumbling along with a 15-15-4 record that had them sitting outside the Western Conference playoff picture. Since the return of Niedermayer, the Ducks sit one point out of the Pacific Division lead.

Read the rest here - Link

Ducks shopping Edmonton's first round pick

Some might argue that unless another NHL GM loses his sanity and overwhelms Anaheim’s Brian Burke with a trade offer nobody in their right mind would reject, there’s not a hope in hell Burke trades the first round pick he received from Edmonton in exchange for Dustin Penner.

Read the rest here - Link

J.S. Giguere's Commercial

 

Doug Weight Interview

Anaheim Ducks News for Wednesday

Well I've got another Teemu Selanne retirement update and a few other news items featuring Chris Pronger, Jonas Hiller and more!

Teemu Selanne Retirement Update and a little on Drew Miller

Teemu Selanne doesn't have a decision yet, but at least he has a timetable.

"I'll take this week, and next week and we'll see how it goes," Selanne said after a 90-minute workout Tuesday morning at Anaheim Ice.

It's the most specific time frame Selanne has offered for a decision on ending his unofficial retirement. The Ducks' all-time leading scorer began a skating program earlier this month and said he would have a decision sometime in January. The team has not pressed him to make a decision.

Read the rest here - Link

Varius has some reasons for Teemu to play

It can be said that Teemu Selanne, also known to many fans as “The Finnish Flash”, was on his way downhill after landing with the San Jose Sharks and then Colorado Avalanche. He failed to win a Cup in Denver with best-buddy Paul Kariya. He seemed to be done for. However, Ducks’GM Brian Burke decided to take a chance on him. Selanne did have knee surgery and a lot of time to rest during the lockout. Selanne also had some of his best years in Anaheim, so Burke took a gamble that paid off greatly. For just 1 million, he bought himself a 40-goal scorer as Teemu found himself a new man.

Read the rest here - Link

Pronger is going to savor the all-stars

”As a defenseman, you really just have to enjoy yourself at the All-Star Game since it’s obviously a show for the offensive stars in the League,’’ Pronger told NHL.com. “The games played over the past few seasons have been pretty high-scoring affairs and we defensemen get hit in waves. I still feel there comes a point in the game when the competitive juices start to flow for us (defensemen), and we begin to play at a higher level. You certainly want to put on a good show, but at the same time you don’t want to get hurt.’’

Read the rest here- Link

A nice profile/interview of Hiller

"For people who aren't close to the team," he says, "they probably think I sit on the bench all the time and do nothing."

Hiller is the Ducks' backup goalie, No. 2 at a position that accommodates only one. His team played 60 minutes Tuesday against Dallas and Hiller, predictably, played none of them.

He did skate in warmups, faced some shots from his teammates and even extensively stretched his groin muscles.

Then he retreated to the locker room, put on a baseball cap and later assumed his usual spot, near a collection of water bottles and the wooden bin that holds the rest of the Ducks' sticks.

Read the rest here - Link

Ducks vs. Predators Preview

The Anaheim Ducks have been a much improved team with Scott Niedermayer in their lineup. Most of that success, however, has come at home.

The surging Ducks play 12 of their next 13 games on the road, a difficult stretch that begins Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.

A career high-tying three points from Niedermayer and another strong performance by goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere helped the Ducks (25-17-6) to their fourth straight win, 4-2 over visiting Dallas on Tuesday.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN Update on a lot of things

The Ducks headed out of town this morning with a four game winning streak, second place in the Pacific Division (one point behind San Jose) and fourth place in the Western Conference.  The Ducks have put together two previous four game winning streaks this season - November 9 - 17 and December 18 - 27.

The Ducks will try to put together their first five game winning streak in Nashville on Thursday.  They also visit Minnesota on Friday and Dallas on Sunday before heading home.

Read the rest here - Link

Casino Night is coming.....

“Casino Night is always such a fun and fantastic event with a great new theme every year,” said Ducks owner, Susan Samueli.  “What remains constant, however, is our commitment to raising funds for Orangewood Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit that positively impacts the lives of foster youth in Orange County.  We are proud to partner with Orangewood and support this important cause.”

Partygoers will have the chance to place bids on a variety of silent auction items and enter in opportunity drawings throughout the evening.  Silent auction and opportunity drawing items include tropical/mountain vacations, Ducks tickets and autographed merchandise and jewelry.  Admission to the Cotton Club VIP Lounge was $500 each and general admission tickets were $100 each.  For more information, please visit http://casinonight.p11.com/.

Read the rest here - Link

Scottie for the Hart Trophy?

There's not supposed to be any room for part-timers, at least not when it comes to considering candidates for major individual trophies.

Good thing, too, 'cause if they were awarding the Hart Trophy for league MVP honors solely on the basis of impact, without consideration to the number of games individuals have played, it would be a runaway race between two contestants.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Ducks Win 4-2 (Yeah this is late, Sorry!)

Photo of the Game

AP Photo by Mark Avery

Game Reports

Scoresheet
Super Stats
Boxscore
Faceoffs
Play-by-Play Shots
Rosters
TOI - DAL|ANA

Photos and Video

Official Photo Link - Link

Game Video - Link

Ducks TV - Link

Corey Perry Pre-game Interview

Scott Niedermayer Interview

 

 

Anaheim Ducks Game Coverage

If you wanted any more indication the resurgent Ducks may be the class of the Pacific Division, you got it tonight.
Two nights after beating division frontrunner San Jose, the Ducks used a dominating second period to dispatch previously second-place Dallas 4-2 at Honda Center. Scott Niedermayer, Todd Marchant,, Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Bertuzzi each had goals, as Niedermayer added two assists to tie his career best with three points.

It was the seventh straight victory at home for the Ducks, and their first win against the Stars after three straight losses. The Ducks are 10-2-2 since Niedermayer rejoined the team on Dec. 16.

Read the rest here - Link 

MVN Coverage

Coach Randy Carlyle observed, “Our power play got us some big goals tonight   We were able to shut down their power play  The were 0 for 3.  In the games that we previously lost to them, we lost the specialty teams battles.  It’s amazing how much of a factor that can be in your success.”   That success translated into two points that really mattered.  The Ducks moved one point ahead of Dallas to take second place in the Pacific Division.  They are now one point away from first place San Jose, who lost this evening to Phoenix, something that was cheered lustily by the fans when it was announced.

Read the rest here - Link

Dallas News Coverage

What a difference a Conn Smythe Trophy winner makes.

The Stars had ravaged Anaheim this season, winning the first three games against the Ducks by a combined scored of 10-2.

But that was while Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer was contemplating retirement.

On Tuesday, Niedermayer had a hand in just about everything good the Ducks did as Anaheim took a 4-2 win over the Stars and moved to 10-2-2 since his return.

Read the rest here - Link

LA Times Coverage

Two nights after a dramatic comeback victory over the Sharks, the Ducks pulled even closer to the division leaders with a thorough 4-2 victory over Dallas to finish off a four-game homestand without a defeat Tuesday night at the Honda Center.
Scott Niedermayer had a goal and two assists in his best game since he ended his hockey sabbatical on Dec. 5 and returned to the defending Stanley Cup champions. Todd Marchant, Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Bertuzzi also scored as the Ducks (25-17-6) jumped past the Stars into second place, one point behind the Pacific-leading Sharks.

Read the rest here - Link

OC Register Coverage

Sure, the Dallas Stars seemed to have something of a whammy on the Ducks, winning the first three games between the teams this season. But that was before.
Now that standout defenseman Scott Niedermayer is back in the Ducks lineup, things were dramatically different Tuesday night at Honda Center. Niedermayer matched a career high with three points, including a goal, in a virtuoso performance that highlighted a sparkling 4-2 Ducks victory.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Tuesday

Hello all, one more player to add to the IR list.  Rob Niedermayer is out with a leg issue. Other than that, it was a slow news day.

Here is a pick of Sammy and Giggy with the cup - See the original here - Link

Picks from the State of the Team - Link

Ducks Injury update via MVN

The Ducks held a light optional practice yesterday and this morning they were back to the usual pre-game routine. Missing from action was George Parros, who was put on the IR yesterday after news that he would be out longer than a week with a bruised knee. Rob Niedermayer was also missing due to a leg injury suffered “either last game or in the practice before,” per coach Randy Carlyle.

Read the rest here - Link

Another update on injuries

The Ducks will be without two-thirds of their vaunted checking line Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars at Honda Center, with right wing Rob Niedermayer joining center Samuel Pahlsson on the sidelines.

Niedermayer suffered a groin injury early in Sunday’s 4-3, overtime victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks, and though he made it through the game, the results weren’t good when Niedermayer tried to skate Tuesday morning.

Read the rest here - Link

The Kits for Kids drive update

The Ducks announced today the overwhelming success of the second annual Kits for Kids Donation Drive. Ducks fans and supporters donated over 1,600 Wild Wingers Kids Club kits to patients at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) during the holiday season.  A majority of the kits were personally delivered by the entire Ducks roster during the team’s holiday visit to CHOC on Dec. 20, 2007.

“We’re so pleased with the response from the community to our donation drive,” said Ducks Director of Fan Development Matt Savant.  “Seeing the faces of CHOC patients light up when they received their kits was priceless and we hope to build on this success for next year’s drive.”

Read the rest here - Link

A profile on Beauchemin

It isn't often that Francois Beauchemin has scored a game-winning goal in overtime.
In fact, the Ducks' third-year defenseman couldn't recall Monday if he had scored an overtime goal in junior hockey or the minor leagues.
"That's not something you really think about," said Beauchemin, a day after his second goal of the season beat San Jose, 4-3. "But I'm glad that it happened."

Read the rest here - Link

Game Day Preview Via the OC Register

Hello darkness, er, Dallas, my old friend. …

If there is a way to gauge how much they have changed, or not changed, over a near two-month period, the Ducks could not have landed at a better point in their schedule than tonight.

The Dallas Stars come to Honda Center having beaten the Ducks by a combined score of 10-2 in three meetings. The teams play each other eight times this season but last met before Thanksgiving, a 2-1 Dallas victory on Nov. 21.

Read the rest here - Link