Well...
Where do I begin on this Friday morning. How about by first saying, I imagine there will be many edits to this particular blog, as it seems that I STILL can't put into words last night.
I want to set up my yesterday a bit first. I want it to be known that much like I felt the trade coming on, I also felt a bit "iffy" about the Ducks chances yesterday before even getting to the game. There are some mornings when I wake up, and I can already sense a loss. It's sad I know...sad that I even have these feelings and feel that I have to voice them, and worse that well, I'm usually pretty dead on.
So yesterday at Staples meant a few things. One, I hate going to Staples. Two, probably had the best seats of my hockey watching life. Three, fantastic company (more on that in a bit). Four, having to deal with being in someone else's house. Five, Kings fans are more annoying than most. Six, listening to fans promote who they hate. Seven, finding it necessary to disclose this stupid list in the first place.
Like I said, probably the best seats thus far. I know I've mentioned before my young hockey "age", but I've definitely been to my fair share of games without being a season seat holder (a fact of my life I'm hoping to change for next season). About 98% of my game experience has come thanks to Ramon and Mini who are season seat holders and take me to many games...for which I'll forever be grateful. In addition, this year, UJ has become a fan. This means...getting to go to even more games and always means fantastic seats. No matter what, I can't complain about where I'm sitting, I just want to be there. I want to walk into the office the next day, much like today, with NO VOICE. I love being there cheering on the Ducks and I love it even more when they give me things to cheer about. So that being said, last night takes the cake in terms of viewing pleasure. In addition to the great seats was fantastic company. UJ, for one, who was able to witness a very exciting game as well as the general group sitting around us. For the most part we were surrounded by Kings fans. There were a few near by Ducks fans, and one in particular was most enjoyable. We were joined by a gentleman who works with Chris Prongers' brother, Sean. He was so nice as to pass along a message to him that I'm eagerly awaiting his next blog post (which if you haven't read, is fantastic, I suggest you do so). Sean Pronger says he's working on it. The three of us talked alot about Ducks hockey, how great Bobby Ryan and Jonas Hiller have been playing lately (that was BEFORE the game I mind you) and a few thoughts on other players as well...::coughmorrisoncough:: Just as the third period was about to start he turned to me and said something like this...
"So here's the game plan, we need to get at least one goal here in the first ten minuets to get back into this thing." I suggested that it would be just fine with me if we got that first goal in 5 minuets, hell, I'd even take one in the first 2. Well, 2 minuets later thanks to Bobby Ryan, the game was tied. Neither of us had any complaints! It was a pleasure meeting him and I hope to see him at Honda Center in the future.
Bobby Ryan.
This was my thought last night after the game when he was the only thing I could think about after a poor showing by the majority of the Ducks' roster.
Last year during his 20 or so games that he played in a Ducks uniform he was a 3rd round pick at best...that might even be pushing it.
Last night...no, this season...he has been showing the NHL why he came in #2.
It was a real treat to see what he single handedly did last night. I say single handedly because for the most part, there was NO help from anyone else. I have a question. What do you think the mentality of the "veteran" players was last night after the game? Do you think they looked over at Ryan and thought to themselves, "Wow, not only did that kid just show us what he's made of, but he made us look like fools. We did NOTHING to help him but stand around on the ice for 50 minuets."? (they did manage to play a bit there in the 3rd, thanks in part to the Ryan spark.)
One thing I did notice last night, and please...someone correct me if I'm wrong. But I BELIEVE that Bobby Ryan was put on the 4th line again with Ryan Carter and George Parros during the beginning of the 3rd? I know Carter got an assist on the 2nd goal, and I was watching the replay of the beautiful pass from Ryan Getzlaf on the 3rd goal which means he was on the ice during that play as well. It just seems he played much of the rest of the night alongside Carter and Parros. I must say though, I think a Ryan-Carter combo would be fantastic (I'm going to go ahead at this point and officially say that I love the "Ryans"...all three of them, and yes Carter is my favorite.)
So yea, there were some other notes to make as well about last night.
I can't believe JS Giguere was in net to start the game. I figured with the way Hiller had been playing, the way that he showed up against the Kings the previous game, he was a guarantee for last night. Guess I was wrong. I do think however, that if he was in net to start the game, the Ducks may have pulled out a victory. I can honestly say that I don't feel like I've seen Jiggy at 100% so far this season. He's had some great games, don't get me wrong, but just not 100% Jiggy. I've mentioned this elsewhere as well, but I am starting to feel like maybe Hiller is on the upward end of the slope and that Jiggy is on the downward end. Unfortunate. If you didn't see the game last night, here's a good idea of what happened to Jiggy.
“I didn’t think he was square to the puck in the first goal and I didn’t think he was square to the puck…the puck, in my mind, should not go in from those angles on the stick side on both goals. So, I made the decision,” Carlyle said.OC REGISTER
--
Tonight, the Lightning come to Anaheim (get over it Ramon). I don't think I've ever actually watched them play, so this will be a first for me. Hope to be there...
GO DUCKS! Go show Bobby Ryan that just because you're not all Rookies trying to keep your spot on the roster and are willing to work your butts off too, that you're going to play as hard as he does. THANKS!
No comments:
Post a Comment