Anaheim Ducks News for Monday

I am finally getting back into the swing of things after a week off.  There is a lot to report on as the Ducks have recalled Miller and a few other articles were posted today.

Build your on life size Rob Niedermayer Poster - Find out how - Link

Ryan Miller is recalled, a status update on the injuries and a few other misc. notes via MVN

Miller’s return is primarily due to the fact that George Parros is now on IR with his bruised knee, retroactive to last Wednesday. Although Parros skated lightly today, he is still not progressing fast enough to be reinserted into the line up.

Sami Pahlsson experienced a set back at practice on Saturday with new soreness in the abdominal area. As a result, he was not taken off IR and will not play against Dallas tomorrow evening. Even though he is on IR, he is still considered day to day. It will depend on how soon he recovers and if he does not have further soreness and inflammation.

Read the rest of this great post here - Link

Francois Beauchemin gets a little coverage in the OC Register

“Sometimes the minus is a stat you don’t look at specifically,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “His was minus-12 at one point. We talked to him about trying to do less, be safer, get your confidence from a defensive aspect first before you start to stray out on the other side of it. He’s been more conservative and he’s picked his times to jump into the play. That’s what we ask of all our defensemen.”

Read the rest here - Link

Official Ducks interview of Beauchemin

Having to deal with the absence of his defensive partner from the past two seasons, and as a result an increase in minutes and pressure, Beauchemin had some difficult adjustments to make in the early part of this season. That’s part of the reason the third-year defenseman saw his plus/minus rating this season reach a team low -12 at one point.

Read the rest here - Link

Ducks Weekly Notes has been updated

WINNING AT HONDA CENTER: Including a 14-6-4 record this year (excluding Sept. 30 "home" game in London, England), the Anaheim Ducks are 60-17-16 in their last 93 regular season games at Honda Center dating back to Nov. 25, 2006...the Ducks have a .673 winning percentage (103-39-37, 241 pts.) over the last 179 home games, earning at least one point in 140 of those 179 contests (19-6-8 in the last 33 home games of 2002-03 season and 19-11-11 in 2003-04)...Anaheim finished the 2006-07 regular season with a home record of 26-6-9, tying the club record for home wins in a season (26-10-5 in 2005-2006)...the Ducks also went 10-2 at home in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, clinching all four series wins at Honda Center.

Read this and much more here - Link

Bid to get your own game worn jersey

Beckett Media is proud to offer these authentic, game worn road white jerseys, from the 2007-08 Anaheim Ducks. These were worn in regular and pre-season games September through November 2007. This includes the September 29-30 NHL opening dates played in London, England! These are the first Ducks game jerseys in the new RBK EDGE style ever worn and offered. Five of these jerseys are the first ever worn by these players.

Read the rest here - Link

Beckett Select Auction Preview: 2007-08 Anaheim Ducks Jerseys from Beckett Media LP on Vimeo.

Anaheim Ducks News - Ducks win 4-3 OT

That was an awesome game! If you missed you can watch Hazy and Ahlers give you a review of the victory.

Photo of the Game

Getty Images

Game Reports

Scoresheet
Super Stats
Boxscore
Faceoffs
Play-by-Play Shots
Rosters
TOI - SJSANA

Photos and Videos

Official Photos - Link

NHL Highlights - Link

ESPN Coverage - Link

Three Stars and Beauchemin Interview

Post Game Review - By Hazy and John Ahlers

Anaheim Ducks official Coverage

One streak was snapped and another rolled on, as the Ducks virtually stole one from the Sharks 4-3 in overtime on a Francois Beauchemin goal just 33 seconds into the extra session.

Something had to give when the Sharks took their 10-game road winning streak into Honda Center, a place Anaheim had won five in a row. It looked late in the game like the Sharks would continue that streak, which ranked second all-time in the NHL, when they led 3-2 with less than a minute left in regulation. But after sending goalie J.S. Giguere to the bench for an extra attacker, the Ducks got a great bounce to tie the game 3-3 with just 27.7 seconds left.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN Coverage

The weather could not have been nicer for the sixth meeting of these two California teams. Last week it was raining and cold. This week it was back to shorts and flip flops. The Sharks played last night against Toronto, coming back to defeat them 3-2 after trailing 2-0 going into the third period. If Toronto had held onto their lead, the Ducks would only be 2 points behind them in the Pacific Division. The Ducks have been resting since Wednesday’s shut out against the same Maple Leafs.

Robo-goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, finally earned a rest, in spite of having started every single game for the Sharks this season. Thomas Greiss got the nod, making his NHL debut against the Ducks. Jean-Sebastien Giguere was the goalie of choice for the Ducks. The points couldn’t matter more. Ducks win, they pull within 2 points of first place in the Pacific Division. Ducks lose, the Sharks pull 6 points away, and they still have three games in hand. Would the Ducks realize this and play like they meant it?

Read the rest here - Link

ESPN Coverage

The difference in the series between the defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks and the Pacific Division-leading Sharks has been razor-thin this season, but with Anaheim holding a definite edge.

With the Ducks trailing by a goal, Doug Weight scored with 28 seconds left in regulation, then defenceman Francois Beauchemin scored 33 seconds into overtime Sunday night to rally Anaheim to a 4-3 victory over San Jose.

Read the rest here - Link

OC Register Ducks Blog report

FIRST-PERIOD SUMMARY
Rookie center Torrey Mitchell gave San Jose a 2-1 lead when he scored for the fourth time this season against the Ducks, short-handed, at 15:23. Mitchell converted a three-on-one pass from Mike Grier. The Sharks took the early lead on a power-play strike by Jeremy Roenick at 2:11, but the Ducks got even when Bertuzzi scored his eighth goal of the season, and second in two games, at 8:58. The teams combined for only 12 shots, eight by the Ducks, in the opening 20 minutes.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Game Day and other Analysis

BoC Gameday

I'm way too fascinated by the mechanics of the Ducks' post-Niedermayer, post-Weight improvement (first 34 games: 15-15-4, 2.38 GF, 2.82 GA; last 12 games: 8-2-2, 2.67 GF, 1.50 GA). It's not just that the Ducks have improved, but really, what is happening behind the scene in order to generate better results?
The table below only covers even-strength play (5-on-5, or 4-on-4, or with a goalie pulled, or whatever), and here's what it contains. In the columns to the left are the even-strength results for the 34 games before Scott Niedermayer joined the team; the columns to the right are the same results for the 12 games since. In each set, you can see the even-strength minutes, the goals-for per 60 minutes, the goals-against per 60, and the goal-differential per 60. The very last column shows the improvement, and everything is sorted by the second-to-last column (goal differential since Scott's return).

Read the rest here - Link

The LA Times analyzes the Ducks

Having pulled themselves into the thick of the Pacific Division race, the Ducks can take direct aim at the two teams ahead of them in the standings.
The Ducks play host to San Jose tonight and Dallas on Tuesday night in two games that could propel them into first place. But the results against each this season couldn't be any different.

Read the rest here - Link

AP Preview

The Anaheim Ducks have put together their longest home win streak of the season. They'll put it on the line against the San Jose Sharks, whose last road loss came in Anaheim - more than two months ago.

The Sharks go for their 11th straight road victory on Sunday when they visit the Pacific Division rival Ducks, who have won five straight at the Honda Center.

The Sharks (25-12-6) led 2-1 after two periods in Anaheim on Nov. 9, but couldn't close out the Ducks, who got a game-tying goal and the game-winning shootout tally from Andy McDonald for a 3-2 victory.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Vacation Catchup 2 - Misc. news

The Ducks have cool little tool - Link

Chris Pronger and the Ducks help fight cancer

Captain Chris Pronger Will Wear a Hockey Fights Cancer Commemorative Patch on his Game Jersey Which Will be Autographed and Donated to an Online Auction

The Ducks announced today that in support of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, Ducks captain Chris Pronger will wear a commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer patch on his game jersey this Sunday, Jan. 13 when the club takes on the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center (5:05 p.m.).  As part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of Hockey Fights Cancer, the Ducks join the NHL in a weekend of raising funds and awareness for the cause during games throughout the league from Friday, Jan. 11 to Sunday, Jan. 13.

Read the rest here - Link

Ducks help at the Aces got skills competitions

Aces Got Skills is taking place over a three day period. Events were held at Anaheim Ice (January 10), Glacial Garden Skating Arena in Lakewood (January 11)and Aliso Viejo Ice Palace (January 12). Corey Perry and Kent Huskins were scheduled to be present at the events.

Read the rest here - Link

Friday Practice news

Missing from practice was George Parros. Parros was the victim of a knee to knee hit in Wednesday’s game against Toronto. Wade Belak was the player who administered the hit and it prompted their second period fight. After the fight, Parros skated off to the dressing room and did not return. His knee was evaluated and it was determined to be bruised. Parros acknowledged being sore, but that he would likely try to skate at tomorrow’s practice and see how he feels.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Vacation Catchup Part 1

Chris Kunitz is interviewed on the latest  Duckcast - Link

Brian Bochenski profile and an upated on Pahlsson/May

Brandon Bochenski first had Orange County on his mind about two weeks ago.

His wife, Jennifer, bought a DVD box set of "The OC," the teen soap opera set in Newport Beach. A week later, on Jan. 2, Bochenski was traded from Boston to the Ducks.

The other, more important twist of fate is that Bochenski has gone from a peripheral player in Boston to a second-line wing for the surging Ducks.

Read the rest here - Link

May is ready

Brad May has been in the NHL long enough that he doesn’t need to be told that there’s always someone ready to fill your shoes.

Nothing is a certainty, even for a 17-year pro like May. The veteran moved closer to returning to the lineup Friday when he skated with the club. But he knows the Ducks have changed dramatically since he went down with a broken bone in his right foot in practice on Dec.15. They’ve gone 8-2-1 with first place San Jose in their sights.

Young players like Ryan Carter and Brandon Bochenski have capably filled roles held by injured Samuel Pahlsson and re-assigned winger Bobby Ryan. The fourth line of Todd Marchant, George Parros and Brian Sutherby had been intact for some time until Parros injured a knee.

Read the rest here - Link

Pahlsson is waiting.....

Samuel Pahlsson wants back in the Ducks' lineup but his sore abdomen isn't allowing it.
Pahlsson missed his eighth consecutive game Wednesday as additional rest has not helped alleviate inflammation in the area. The veteran center has been able to participate in practice but he isn't ready to go back up against the game's top forwards.

"It's frustrating," Pahlsson said. "I felt good for a while and it's frustrating when it comes back. And it doesn't get better. It's no fun to play when you don't feel good."

Read the rest here - Link

But he and May seem to be ready

Back at practice after a day off following their decisive victory over Toronto on Wednesday, the Ducks got some more good news Friday as forwards Samuel Pahlsson and Brad May went through a grinding session without a hitch.
Both appear set to return from injury for the Ducks' home game Sunday against San Jose, leaving Coach Randy Carlyle with this question:
Whom does he sit?
Pahlsson figures to jump back into his customary spot centering the checking line after sitting out eight games because of abdominal inflammation. If that's the case, the Ducks will have to find a new place for rookie Ryan Carter, who has shined in place of the veteran.

Read the rest here - Link

Pronger and Getzlaf are all stars

Back in his early days of junior hockey, Ryan Getzlaf was like many youngsters who dreamed of being a star in the NHL but also worried if they would ever be drafted.
Getzlaf's only worry now is dealing with impending stardom, after the Ducks' center earned his first All-Star game selection Thursday as the Western Conference reserves were announced for the Jan. 27 event in Atlanta.

A participant in the NHL's YoungStars game last year in Dallas, Getzlaf earned a spot in the showcase game as he leads the Ducks with 48 points. The 22-year-old center is on a career-best nine-game point streak and has 17 goals and 31 assists.

Read the rest here - Link

Ryan Getzlaf is an All Star

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf admits he’s still a kid at heart. He enjoys playing with his three dogs, enjoys watching football or Seinfeld re-runs and will watch plenty of hockey highlights on his off nights.

But don’t let that youthful exuberance fool you. When the 22-year-old Saskatchewan native laces on the skates and steps on the ice, he’s all business. As if leading his team in scoring during its Stanley Cup run last season wasn’t proof enough, now Getzlaf gets an opportunity to skate among the League’s elite after being named to the Western Conference roster yesterday for the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 27 in Atlanta.

"It’s a real exciting opportunity for me and I consider it an honor being selected," Getzlaf said. "I’ve looked up to a lot of the players that I’ll be playing with and against in the game. It’ll give me a chance to talk to them about the different experiences they have been through. I hadn’t made any plans for that day, so I’ll be there."

Read the rest here - Link

Perry not quite an all star (although he is)

Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Chris Pronger were obvious choices for selection to the Jan. 27 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta. The unfortunate part of the equation is the exclusion of right wing Corey Perry.

Perry is tied for eighth in the NHL with 23 goals, and ranks higher on that list than every player in the Western Conference except Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings, each of whom earned an all-star berth in fan voting to choose the game’s starters. And yet, Perry will not be going to Atlanta.

Read the rest here - Link

A profile on Bertuzzi

Since the smiles haven't been coming a lot the past two seasons, it's a relief to hear Todd Bertuzzi say he's "having fun" playing the game lately. The usually stoic Bertuzzi has reason to be happy, since he's playing his best hockey in a long time. It's something he had hoped would happen much sooner after he was signed by the Ducks over the summer. 
After back surgery and a concussion limited Bertuzzi’s 2006-07 campaign to just 31 total games (15 in the regular season and 16 in the playoffs) between Florida and Detroit, Bertuzzi was glad to be healthy to start this season. But while just getting comfortable with the Ducks, the Sudbury, Ontario native suffered another concussion after a hit from Minnesota enforcer Derek Boogaard on Oct. 14. The injury would end up costing him another 14 games.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News -Vacation Post

I am on vacation this week, but I thought I would post some links from today's news

Bobby Ryan sent to Portland - Link

MVN Coverage of today's Ducks Practice and the State of the Franchise - Link

Ducks blog has coverage of the state of t franchise - Link

Ducks trade Darryl Bootland(AHL) - Link

Burke and David Shoalts talk - Link

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.”

Read the rest here - Link

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.

Read the rest here - Link

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.

Read the rest here - Link

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.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Ducks Win 5-2

Photo of the Game (Parros was break dance fighting)

Gary Friedman / LAT

Offiical Game Reports

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

Photos and Video

Official Game Photos - Link

LA Times Photos - Link

NHL Video - Link

TSN - Link

Doug Weight Pre-game Interview

Todd Bertuzzi 1st Intermission Interview

Chris Kunitz Second Intermission Interview

Ryan Carter Interview

Three Stars and Chris Kunitz Interview

Travis Moen Post-game Interview

Corey Perry Post-game Interview

Official Ducks Game Coverage

Desperately looking for more goal-scoring, the Ducks found the net more times in an 8:07 stretch in the second period than they have in each of the last six games.
Travis Moen, Chris Kunitz, Chris Pronger and Corey Perry each tallied in that window, propelling the Ducks to a 4-1 advantage that would eventually develop into a 5-2 rout over Nashville at Honda Center.

It was the fourth straight home win for the Ducks, who extended their win streak versus Nashville at Honda Center to seven games, dating back to March 23, 2004. The win also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Predators.

"It’s nice and hopefully it continues," said Perry of Anaheim's sudden rash of offense. "It was one of those games where the puck bounced and went in for us. We needed a game like that to take the monkey off our back. It’s just those fractions of an inch either way. Finally tonight, we started getting the bounces."

Read the rest here - Link

Nashville Predators coverage

Four goals in a span of 8:07 in the second period proved to be the difference as the Anaheim Ducks ended the Nashville Predators three-game winning streak with a 5-2 decision on Monday night at the Honda Center.
Marek Zidlicky posted a multi-point (1g-1a) effort in defeat, while J.P. Dumont scored in his fifth straight game to build on a personal best and match a franchise record for longest goal-scoring streak.

The Predators possessed the game’s early momentum, and used it to draw a penalty to Travis Moen just four minutes and change into the game. On the ensuing power play, Nashville’s leading point producer from the blue line, Zidlicky, made the Ducks pay, belting a howitzer from the left point to give the Preds the lead at 4:59. Ville Koistinen set up Zidlicky for the one-time slap shot to pick up the lone assist.

Read the rest here - Link

LA Times Coverage

"Hopefully it continues," Ducks forward Corey Perry said. "It was one of those games where the puck bounced and went in for us. We needed a game like that to take the monkey off our back a little bit."
Travis Moen started the outburst with his second goal of the season and Perry closed it with his team-leading 22nd.
In between were scores by Chris Kunitz and Chris Pronger as the Ducks easily erased a 1-0 deficit after the first period.
Perry, Kunitz and Ryan Getzlaf each had a goal and an assist. Getzlaf, who has four goals in his last five games, extended his point scoring streak to eight games, tying a career high set earlier this season.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN Coverage

The Predators got the scoring started with a power play goal by Marek Zidlicky at 4:59. Travis Moen was in the box for holding. The Ducks were unable to clear the puck from the zone and Nashville took advantage with a quick pass by Ville Koistinen to Zidlicky, who took the shot from the top of the circle. The Ducks seemed flat and uninspired until the final five minutes of the period. Moen had a great chance late and was sent careening into the net by Ryan Suter after getting his shot off. Shortly thereafter, Doug Weight made a nice cross ice pass in front of the net to Corey Perry, who missed the feed.

Read the rest here - Link

OC Register Coverage

Four different Ducks scored during a furious eight minutes in the second period as the home team cruised to an easy victory agasnst the Nashville Predators Monday night at the Honda Center.

A few moments after Travis Moen was sent to the penalty box for holding at 4:12 in the first period, Nashville defenseman Marek Zidlicky put the Predators up by a goal, firing a slap shot from the top of the left circle. The puck just made it over Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s glove. That was the 46th power-play goal allowed by the Ducks this year. Only Carolina has done worse when skating short-handed, giving up an NHL-worst 48 goals through Monday night.

Read the rest here - Link

AP Coverage via TSN

Two power-play conversions and another goal on a delayed penalty enabled the Anaheim Ducks to enjoy a rare scoring binge against the Nashville Predators.

Chris Pronger and Corey Perry scored power-play goals 1:10 apart to cap a four-goal spurt in the second period, and the defending Stanley Cup champions beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 Monday night.

"We stuck with the same program that we've been sticking with the last few weeks - getting the puck in deep, cycling it and taking it to the net. Tonight we finally started getting the bounces," Perry said. "We needed a game like that to take the monkey off our back a little bit. I hope it continues."

Read the rest here - Link

Why the Honda Center was pink tonight

The Honda Center exterior was illuminated with pink lights Monday night to promote breast cancer awareness in Orange County.

The center went pink for a couple of hours prior to the Ducks game against Nashville.

Read the rest here - Link

Technorati Tags: Anaheim+Ducks

Teemu Selanne Retirement Update

Via the OC Register

Teemu Selanne has begun a skating program on his own at Anaheim Ice, but that does not necessarily mean the longtime fan favorite is set for a return to the Ducks.

Selanne, who was on the ice three times last week and plans to resume skating this week, is still trying to gauge whether he has the desire to return to the rigors of NHL play, he said Saturday.

"So far, I don't know yet," Selanne said. "I'm going to skate for a couple of weeks now, start pushing more and more, and then I will feel for sure if I feel good enough. The good thing is I have done everything I have to do if I want to come back.

Read the rest here (scroll down past the Phoenix Coverage) - Link

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.

Read the rest here - Link