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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Anaheim Ducks News for Tuesday

Inside Ducks TV, Nashville vs Ducks - Link

The New Element has been posted

A cool set of highlights - Link

Kids Club Party Report - Link

Parros getting a cut - Link

Game Day Preview

An unfamiliar foe makes its way to Anaheim Wednesday night, as Toronto comes to Honda Center for the first time since 2003. And the new opposing faces are a welcomed sight for the Ducks.
“It’s just nice to see a different team,” Todd Bertuzzi said. “I think after awhile you get tired of the meetings when you know the opponent each and every time. It refreshes things.”
Rated by Forbes magazine as the most valuable NHL franchise, the Maples Leafs, also an Original Six member of the league, are not your average Ducks opponent. With them comes a large fan base.
“I’m sure you’re going to see more than your ample share of blue and white in the stands because there are lots of transplanted Canadians in California,” Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said. “It’s easily the most recognizable hockey franchise. Having played there a number of years ago and with the branding that’s taking place in the game, Toronto is front and center.”

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Ducks looking forward to the Leafs

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle hails from Sudbury, Ontario, the home province of Toronto, so it is safe to assume he was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan growing up rather than a Montreal Canadiens follower.

"Those were the days when it was French vs. English in northern Ontario," Carlyle said. "It made for a natural rivalry."

Carlyle also spent his first two NHL seasons with Toronto. Several of his current players are from the area, and it is with a bit of nostalgia and adrenaline that they will host Toronto on Wednesday in a rare Southern California appearance by the Maple Leafs.

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Getzy and Perry in the All Star game?

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have carried the Ducks offensively through the first half of the season and rank among the top Western Conference forwards.

On Thursday they will learn if it is enough to make their first All-Star game.

Perry is third in the Western Conference with 22 goals, behind Calgary’s Jarome Iginla and Henrik Zetterberg of Detroit. Getzlaf is sixth among Western Conference forwards in scoring with 17 goals and 29 assists.

Iginla and Zetterberg were named starters on Tuesday. Western Conference reserves, selected by the NHL’s operations department in conjunction with league general managers, will be announced on Thursday. The All-Star game is Jan.27 in Atlanta.

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One more look at Getzlaf and Perry

The hockey world took notice of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring but the true recognition of whether they've arrived as stars might come Thursday.
It is when the NHL will announce the rest of the lineup that will represent the Western Conference in the league's all-star game, which is Jan. 27 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The starters were announced Tuesday.

Both Getzlaf and Perry have credentials that could earn the 22-year-olds a first-time nod in the midseason showcase.

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Anaheim Ducks Game Day Preview

Via the AP

The Nashville Predators look to continue capitalizing on fast starts in order to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games Monday night when they visit the reigning Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks.

The Predators (20-18-2) have totaled six first-period goals their last two games, doubling their output from the previous 11 contests in which they went 4-7-0.

They used two first-period goals to get a 4-2 win over the Ducks (21-17-6) on Dec. 8 after failing to get on the scoreboard until the third period in a 3-1 loss at Anaheim on Oct. 17 - their fifth consecutive defeat at the Honda Center.

Nashville scored three times in the opening period Saturday to beat Minnesota 4-1. The quick outburst has Nashville in position to win four consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 24-March 3.

"We have to come out strong," Predators right wing J.P. Dumont said. "We are playing with confidence and that is huge for us. I don't know why it is happening, but I'm glad it is. We are a different team, a tougher team, when we have the early lead.

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Anaheim Ducks News for Saturday

Game Day Preview from the AP

Coming off a win last night at home over Chicago, the Ducks will look to keep the momentum going tonight when they face Phoenix at Jobing.com Arena.

Anaheim beat Chicago 2-1 at home on Friday for its second straight win and sixth in its last eight games. Corey Perry scored his team-leading 21st goal 16 seconds into the contest and added an assist for the Ducks.

"For whatever reason, not very often have we scored the first goal. But we build momentum as the game goes along," Anaheim's Sean O'Donnell said. "It's certainly not a habit we want to get into. Our goal has to be to play the way we want to play for 60 minutes."

Perry has three goals and an assist against the Coyotes this season, with two of the goals and the assist coming Nov. 3, in the Ducks' 5-2 win at Phoenix.

Giguere, who was battling the flu Friday, could be back in goal in Saturday after watching rookie Jonas Hiller make 20 saves against the Blackhawks.

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Doug Weight interview via the OC Register

Doug Weight was lucky. He was young when he got hit in the face, by the business end of hockey.

He was 21, in fact, playing for the New York Rangers and visiting Edmonton with his girlfriend Allison, who is now his wife. A couple of hours before the game, he was informed he would not be playing Edmonton, but would, in fact, be playing forEdmonton, in exchange for Esa Tikkanen.

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Game Day Preview via the AP

Vancouver was without defensmen Mattias Ohlund for a second straight game due to neck spasms. He is doubtful tonight, while Ryan Kesler is questionable due to a head injury suffered on Sunday against Colorado. He also did not play on Thursday.
Anaheim lost for just the second time since the return of Scott Niedermayer yesterday. Since he stepped back onto the ice after deciding not to retire, the Ducks have gone 4-1-1 with the reigning Conn Smythe trophy winner in the lineup.

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Anaheim Ducks News for Saturday - Game Day Preview and a few other things....

So, I have been a bit lazy in writing my usual notes here.  But now that the major part of the holidays are past, you can expect my comments again.  The Ducks have been playing great since Scott has come back.  Some of the articles below get into some of the specifics of how important his return has been.  So onto the news!

Scott for MVP?

On Thursday night, though, he managed to get my wheels spinning. We had just got home from my mom's birthday dinner in time to catch Doug Weight score the winner against the Oilers, and my dad offers, "You know, if the Ducks keep this up, that Niedermayer guy should be a shoo-in for the MVP."
My brother and I immediately laugh it off. "No way," I reply. "They'll never give it to a guy who misses 34 games voluntarily. It's not even possible."

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Scott takes a day off

And, on Friday, Scott Niedermayer rested.
It was what the Ducks, in particular Coach Randy Carlyle, are fond of calling "maintenance." No cause for alarm but more an eye fixed on the schedule -- back-to-back games starting here tonight and Sunday in Vancouver -- to merit the defenseman sitting out practice.

The Ducks haven't lost in regulation (4-0-1) since he returned, so it has been so very simple, right? No, Niedermayer just makes it look that way.
"It hasn't been easy, there's no question," said Niedermayer, who logged 21 minutes 37 seconds against the Oilers on Thursday. "There's been a few different issues I'm working through."

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Game Day Preview

Corey Perry notched his team-leading 20th goal for the Ducks, who have won a season-high tying four games in a row overall as well. Jean-Sebastien Giguere needed just 15 saves to pick up his 15th win of the season.
Anaheim is 9-9-1 as the road team this year and will wrap its trek on Sunday in Vancouver.
Calgary has lost three in a row overall and begin a three-game homestand tonight. The Flames were on the road Thursday, but fell in defeat, 5-3, against the Canucks to snap a six-game road winning streak.

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Anaheim Ducks News - Game Day Preview

Ducks vs. Oilers via the AP and Fox News

It may have taken three months, but the Anaheim Ducks are finally playing like a team capable of defending their Stanley Cup title.

The Ducks try to match a season-high four-game winning streak Thursday night when they continue a four-game road trip against the Edmonton Oilers.

Hindered by the early season absence of starting goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks (18-15-5) won only four of their first 13 games. They won a season-best four in a row from Nov. 9-17 before going 5-7-2 in their next 14 contests.

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Anaheim Ducks News - Ducks @ Sharks Preview

AP

The Anaheim Ducks have at least one point in seven straight games against the San Jose Sharks. That accomplishment, however, has been by no means easy.

The Ducks hope to continue that success against their Pacific Division rivals on Saturday night at HP Pavilion when the teams meet for the third time in seven days.

Although Dallas currently leads the Pacific, there is little doubt that both Anaheim and San Jose will be part of the race for the rest of the season, making any game between the teams particularly important.

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MVN

Although it will be the third time this week that the Ducks meet San Jose, there are “always things to improve.” Carlyle knows it will be a “hostile environment” that his team is entering, but one where the Ducks have met much success in the recent past. The Ducks are a different team since Scott Niedermayer has returned and newcomer Doug Weight has joined the line up. Niedermayer has already infused his calming presence in the locker room and on the ice. The Ducks seem to be panicking less, persevering more. They have been more disciplined regarding penalties. Most importantly, they are starting to earn more points.

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Game Day Preview - Ducks at Sharks

Via the AP and Fox Sports

Even with Scott Niedermayer back in the lineup, the Anaheim Ducks couldn't find a way to beat the San Jose Sharks in the teams' most recent meeting.

The Ducks have another chance to top the Sharks for the third time this season and avoid a fourth straight loss overall as the Pacific Division rivals conclude their home-and-home series Tuesday night in San Jose.

San Jose (18-10-4), which is tied with Dallas for the Pacific lead, won 2-1 in a shootout at Anaheim on Sunday for its seventh victory in its last nine games.

It was the fourth straight meeting between the clubs - third this season - in which the outcome was decided in a shootout.

"There are always really good games against Anaheim," said Sharks center Joe Thornton, who scored the winner in the shootout Sunday. "Every game we come here or they come up to us, it's always an exciting, low-scoring game. We've been having a lot of shootouts against them, so it's nice to win one."

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Anaheim Ducks News - Ducks vs. Canucks Game Preview via Yahoo Sports

Looks like we may not have to face Luongo

A recent slump may not be among the Vancouver Canucks' most pressing concerns, but playing without star goaltender Roberto Luongo for any length of time should be.

With Luongo expected to sit out again due to a rib injury, the Canucks will try to avoid their season-high third loss in a row as they continue their five-game road trip on Wednesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

Luongo, the Hart and Vezina Trophy runner-up last season, was hurt during a 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 2 when a hard shot found a gap in his uniform. He then recorded road wins in Chicago and Nashville and played Saturday in a 2-1 shootout loss at home to Pittsburgh despite the worsening injury

On Monday, Luongo skated in warmups but didn't play in a 4-2 loss to Los Angeles.

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