Wow, what a few hours can do to a team

I'm just SPEECHLESS...that's right...no expletives!

Steve Montador is with Boston. Ducks get F - Petteri Nokelainen.

Samuel Pahlsson (OMG...I can't believe they traded Pahlsson! I'm soooo...wow....just speechless!) to Chicago. Ducks get D - James Wisniewski and undisclosed pick (whatever that means).

Kent Huskins and Travis Moen to rival San Jose (WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!?). Ducks get F - Nick Bonino, G - Timo Pielmeier and a Conditional Pick.

Prospect Eric Cole to Atlanta. Ducks get F - Erik Christensen.

WOW! eltoro reminds me...I/we/fans/Ducks asked for this shake up. We all wanted a change and something to offer a spark. I just didn't think it would look like this! I'm stunned, totally surprised. I can't lie, I'm terrible with knowledge on a good majority of non Ducks...but I really don't recognize any NEW names here. One thing I can say is this...this roster just got ALOT younger! But as for analysis. I HAVE NO IDEA!!!

I'm not going to recognize ANYONE at Friday's game!

More importantly I'm beyond sad to see these 2 3 4 5 guys go. It's been one hell of an emotional day week. Seeing Chris Kunitz leave and now Steve Montador, Sammy Pahlsson, Travis Moen and Kent Huskins. I wish them luck, they're all finding themselves on very talented teams with a huge opportunity to win another Stanley Cup. I put my figurative money on Boston about a month ago...I think I'll be keeping it there since they didn't do too shabby here on deadline day themselves.

But more importantly...to the old, new, young, veteran, revamped and refurbished...GO DUCKS!!!

Getz no points...you Getz no win...

First and foremost, Girl with a Puck would like to extend condolences to JS Giguere and his family on the recent loss of his father, Claude. Undoubtedly, this can't be an easy time for Jiggy, and I'm sure many kind thoughts are with him at this time.

On to the game...

Normally, no matter how the Ducks played, I really look forward to getting thoughts onto this space. Not today for some reason. I don't know if it's because I'm so utterly disappointed in the showing the Ducks put forth, or if it's because I know I'm going to do alot of complaining and I really hate that. Ugh, so let's get started.

I think the biggest challenge the Ducks faced against the Rangers was the clear and obvious breakdown on DEFENSE. Turning pucks over and being unable to clear the puck from the Ducks' defensive-zone proved to be the downfall. Need proof? ALL 3 goals for NY were unassisted. Essentially, too many Ducks were given the credit for goals not scored by the Ducks!

For the first time since being called up, Brett Festerling really showed his rookie status. He seemed overwhelmed. In addition, Scott Niedermayer was not his usual self, giving up pucks and making sloppy passes. And ultimately, Kent Huskins gave up the puck in the Ducks' end, only to result in the GWG for NY.

Still missing is the Power Play. Unable to get set up effectively in their offensive end, the Ducks are continuing their score-less streak on the PP. I wonder if we're going to be seeing a slight mix up in that area of play soon. The reward at this point will hopefully be some confidence for the team.

Careless and undisciplined attitudes really affected the team as well. Chris Kunitz had a high sticking penalty at the end that resulted in a double minor. That put the nail in the coffin for the Ducks and to top it off, Ryan Getzlaf received 2 minuets for slashing that was clearly a penalty of frustration. I think that for the first time since Getzlaf started sporting that "A" on his chest, he let his emotions get the best of him. He's really matured during this first half of the season, and with the exception of last night, that has proved very well for him. No doubting he got an earful after the game. Again, just to point out...when Getz doesn't get a point...the Ducks don't win. Ew.

I was so bummed to hear the Honda Center turn into a Rangers advertisement last night. You all know how I feel about broadcasting who you hate and it was so awful to hear the Ducks fans chanting "Rangers Suck"! I know I know, it was in part because TOO many Ranger fans were cheering "LET'S GO RANGERS", and to counter act that, fans did what they could. It was just ugly. Maybe if the Ducks had given more to cheer about it would have sounded differently.

So I do actually have fantastic news...and that is how PROUD of the Ducks fans I am right now!! Getzlaf is SECOND in the line up right now according to the leader board. LET'S KEEP HIM THERE AND PUSH FOR FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to try and post a link for voting on every blog from here until the All Star Game. Although, if you have unlimited text messaging, it's way easier (thank heavens I do, cause if not, my phone bill would be INSANE!)! So, text "Ducks" to 81812 or go here and get to work! Niedermayer and Pronger are closing in as well and Jiggy is just behind that Luongo guy!

GO DUCKS!

Let's go Streaking!

Some really great things came from the win against Calgary on Sunday…
One, it got the Ducks back on track...allowed them to forget the craziness of the Canucks OT loss. Two, the Ducks snapped a big win streak for Calgary while maintaining a few of their own. Their own 7 game point streak (currently the longest in the NHL...how is that possible after going 1-5 to start the season?!) Not to mention keeping the Flames winless at the Honda Center during the regular season for the last 3 seasons. Plus, they didn’t let Jarome Iginla score (when he does, they win) and they only let Todd Bertuzzi get 1. I’ll take that.

The really good news of the night…Kent Huskins wasn’t badly injured. I admittedly missed the original play while at the game, and I even missed the replay (I was busy texting my friends about the play). I did Tivo the game and watched at home. I thought the guy was knocked out. Huskins has been saying that the comforting thing for him was that he remembered the play, and I know for fans, just seeing him skate off the ice was great and of course seeing him back on the ice, even better.

The goal of the night goes to Mr. Chris Pronger. Talk about patience and finding the 5 inches of space between the arm, the pads and the post. I LOVE watching Pronger shoot...and I really LOVE watching Pronger score!

Also, did anyone else notice how just about everyone who went to the box was quickly joined by Corey Perry moments later? It's like he was feeling bad that someone was spending time alone. He quickly joined Nathan McIver after his fight and again joined Ryan Carter after his. The Ducks really don't need you to be such a team player in the penalty box though, thanks. Speaking of Carter...great to see him get a goal too. It seems like no one really noticed that he started the game on the second line and spent the 2nd and 3rd period on the 4th line. I guess it doesn't matter where he's playing if he's going to be shoving pucks into the net.

Back to Perry for a sec...I was really bummed to see that penalty in the first period called on him. I thought that his goalie interference call was WAY more questionable than the one committed just a few nights ago by Selanne. I mean, come on...if you're going to be calling goalie interference on Teemu Selanne and his push of a player into the goalie, then it should have been called the same way for Calgary. On the same note, his goalie interference during the 2nd was just as crazy. If you're going to leave your crease and hang out there like that, you're asking for interference ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE FORWARD AND PRACTICALLY CAUSING THE COLLISION!!!! It's a BS call. It kinda gets me fired up after having dealt with it over the last few nights. BUT...Perry...dude, the extra talking didn't help!!!

Something else that was noticed during the game was the extra beatings Chris Kunitz seemed to be taking. That guy was getting beat up left and right with penalties and sticks to the face and NOTHING was called all night! In fact there was only ONE penalty charged to Calgary all night (excluding fighting majors). Come now...there is no one in the league that plays that clean of a game.

Anyway, that game is in the books and even though the Ducks didn't play well, they still got the win...something they really did well in 06/07. Let's just keep that in mind.

So...those Kings. ugh. I'm going to be at the Staples Center tonight and I’m really excited about it! (Thanks UJ!) Unfortunately, I'm 0-1 at the Staples Center (I experienced the 3-1 loss back in January) and I'd really like to get myself to .500 tonight. On the same note, I'd really like the Ducks to give the kings a little bit of that 6 goal medicine that was forced upon us 3 weeks ago. I worry though because the Ducks never play the Kings well. I don't know why. I wonder if it has anything to do with that whole..."you're only as good as the weakest player on your team” mentality. I mean, it's awfully hard to play hard when the other team is just kinda fumbling around right?

Okay, I'm not a team basher, so I'll stop.

Finally…and I’ve avoided this cause I knew it would get me heated…the Mats Sundin drama. You know…it was enough when we had to deal with it when it was Scotty and Teemu, but I’m not really on board with ANY of this Sundin…STUFF!

First of all…we don’t even know if the guy is planning on coming back!! The signs do point to yes since he’s been doing “work” here in Southern California. BUT…WHY OH WHY WOULD THE DUCKS WANT TO DISRUPT WHATS GOING ON HERE!? They are finally all on the same page and doing great! It’s clear that things are clicking and even more apparent that messing with this chemistry would be BAD! BURKIE…THE DUCKS DON’T NEED TO SIGN EVERY PLAYER WHO CONTEMPLATES RETIREMENT FOR A FEW MONTHS. Just cause Scotty and Teemu did it, you know two players who ALREADY had chemistry with the team, doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. I’d be extremely upset if we lost just about anyone on this current roster. With rumors swirling around possibly moving Kunitz…let’s not get started on how UPSET I would be with that! I KNOW I wouldn’t be the only one upset about that move. IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE!

ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let’s go Ducks…I, just like Adam Brady, don’t want to hear I LOVE LA at all tonight!!!

Go Ducks!

Oh yea…that whole election thing is going on today…it’s a big deal or so I’ve heard. GO VOTE!