The battle of the "UCKS"

I know there is so much to be said about the "UCKS" match up on Friday night and I’m not going to get into so many details, but here a few thoughts I had…

1.) Goals galore. If the NHL is looking for more offense to boost ratings, so far they are getting their wish! For the Ducks, who struggled a lot last year with a lack of offense and especially at the beginning of this season, they sure have managed to turn that one around! I don’t know about anyone else, but I love when I leave the Honda Center and I have no voice because I’ve been cheering the whole night. Now, it’s one thing to be celebrating goals and a completely different thing to be yelling because of bad plays/penalties/missed opportunities/laziness. Anyway, I appreciate what the Ducks are currently treating fans to and I’m glad they are finding a way to get goals when they are needed. True, they didn’t get 2 points on Friday, but a positive is they found a way to get it into OT in the first place with a great feed from Chris Kunitz to Corey Perry to tie it up in the third with less than a minuet to play. Those kind of goals really boost momentum for everyone.

2.) Speaking of Corey Perry…one of my favorite things to do is check out the player stats/standings on NHL.com. I really love it when I see Ducks players on that list and currently both Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne are on a few and listed in the top 10. It’s great to know that the Ducks have multiple players contributing just effectively as other players in the league. Think of where their names would be if they had been playing at this level since game one?! How can you not be thrilled to know that the Ducks have a pretty solid first line for the next couple of seasons! (YIKES! Have I spoken too soon?! Spector's Hockey)

3.) Where’s the D? The offense finally shows up, and the defense checks out? It seems to me that the Canucks had a few open goal opportunities in this last game and they capitalized on those opportunities to score 5 straight! That is a big fat NOT GOOD. It’s a good thing that our offense is on fire right now, because if not, it would have been a sad 5-2 victory for the wrong "UCKS".

4.) Goal tending. I love Jiggy. That guy has so much heart and so much passion. He shows that passion when he’s having an off night, he’s the first to be upset about it and when he gets pulled, you KNOW he’s more than unhappy about it. But on the same hand…I’m loving Jonas Hiller too. That guy has improved so much over the last year and it really shows. There are times when he makes a glove save, and I can’t even see the puck fly by on a slow motion replay! He’s really impressed me and I’m never disappointed to see him get the opportunity in net. Now, I don’t really think he had much to contend against during the shootout…(was it just me or did seem like EVERY shooter was very lackluster? No one really seemed to have any “moves” except for maybe that Getzlaf goal.) but after 13 rounds…you can’t blame the guy for letting one by.

5.) Emotionally drained. After such a highly intense game against the Red Wings 2 nights prior, I can’t be upset about the outcome against Vancouver. Both games were VERY intense and so overwhelming for the Ducks. I just hope they aren’t too emotionally drained that they can handle the Flames…

So speaking of the Flames…you can file them under the 22…24…26 teams that I don’t really care for in the league (maybe I should just admit now that unless it’s the Ducks, I don’t like ANY other team in the league). Anyway, they are hot right now (ha…flames…hot…ha!) winning their last 6. They too got off to a rough start like the Ducks, (not as bad, but close) and have clearly found their groove. One thing I do have to say about this though…I don’t dislike Todd Bertuzzi, but we’re paying ½ his contract right now, and I’d really like it if the Ducks would kick his butt. So, how about you do that guys?

GO DUCKS!

OH!!!!! I finally did see that Chris Pronger video (and the hit on Datsyuk)...and I stand by my statement. Keep doing your thing Prongs!