Losing to Atlanta might be a good thing.

by BuckyHermit on Oct 15, 2010 11:39 PM PDT

Some people might think I'm crazy for this (not that I'm denying that either) but I think tonight's loss to Atlanta is a good thing. It was frustrating and disappointing, for sure, but the biggest difference I've seen lately compared to the first three games of the season is... control.

When the Ducks started the season 0-3, a lot of people were ready to give up on the season. Besides the losses, I think the most concerning thing was HOW the Ducks lost. The Ducks were getting badly outshot, generating close to no chances, hanging Hiller out to dry, and so forth.

However, tonight's loss to Atlanta was different. The Ducks held a 2-goal lead for a while, outshot the Thrashers, generated chances and so on. Yes, they blew the lead. Yes, the calls didn't exactly go the Ducks' way. Yes, they lost in a shootout. But there was one thing that the team should take away from this -- they had control of the game, and they had control of the eventual outcome.

They were the ones who grabbed a lead and lost it. They controlled much of the play. Their downfall was their own fault. Those signs should be encouraging in the way that in a game like tonight's, the only people who can beat the Ducks are the Ducks themselves. They're no longer getting badly outshot and running up the PIMs, and seeing the game get out of hand and out of control.

The Ducks are now in control of their own destiny. Now it's just a matter of seeing what they do with that control.

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It was ATL.

It was the Thrashers. The Ilya-Kovulchuk, Ondrej Pavelec-less THRASHERS.

Playing their # 2 Goalie.
Ducks were at home.
The calls DID go their way.
They had 7 power plays, and scored on 3
They gave up 3 of their 4 power plays in the third period, and were scored on 2 of them.
Thy were outshot 4 to 1 in OT.
They had a guy, Stewart, who hadn’t score more than 2 goals in a season, – score a hat trick AGAINST them!
In the shoot out, no one really got off a good shot from either team, except the game winner.
HIller’s GAA is still 4.
Selanne had 8 shots. 2nd most was a defenceman! Lydman!!! with 5.
They did play a good 50 minutes.
But it takes 60 to win. Not 65. Not 65+.
They should’ve built on the positives from the Vancouver win. A win against a team considered Cup Contenders. Not regress against a team not even considered playoff pretenders. So where does that leave the Ducks?

Sorry, but I don’t see any positives out of this result.

by red8ball on Oct 16, 2010 11:00 AM PDT reply actions

The thrashers are vastly improved, maybe you should check their roster before you discredit them so much.

by kvd123 on Oct 16, 2010 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I too stopped reading after that first line. In Mason’s so-called off-year last year, his save percentage was down exactly .03 from his so-called dominant (but really just shutout fueled) great year in St. Louis. That team was starting to get outshot pretty heavily.

Also, people were pretty high on Atlanta after they beat the Capitals, and while some of that has gone away with Kane not scoring and a pair of losses, the role players have picked up the slack, which is usually the sign of a good team. I know Dustin Byfuglien’s shot on the power play was huge for them against us. If anything, the Ducks are the terrible team right now and should be happy to take ANYONE to overtime. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a power ranking that puts is in the middle third of the league.

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 16, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Agree to disagree.

I respect that.
I just feel there are certain games that the Ducks should win. At that was one of them. With the positive coming out of the Vancouver game- beating a superior team to ANH or ATL, I feel the Ducks played a notch or two down. The PHX games was better, but again, I feel that’s a game they should win. They won, but failed to play for 60 minutes, again. I do like that they avoided the penalty box. Perhaps they got too emotional with the Doan hits. It’s still early. And they’re building, getting to know to play with each other, and I get that. But in the ultra competitve West, and specifically the Pacific Division… there’s not a room for trail and error.
I like the way the D looked in the PHX game, a lot more. I was impressed with Lilja. Having him and Lydman, and Fowler looking impressive (sans the board collision), I’m feeling much better about the back-line.

My .02.

by red8ball on Oct 18, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, as I noted in the gameday, it’s a perception thing, and the Ducks are that god awful team that everyone SHOULD beat right now. That’s how Phoenix felt about them; I’m sure that’s how Atlanta felt about them. The Sharks had a whole week off after Stockholm, and the Thrashers still wooped ‘em. So I doubt they’re very down on themselves. Definitely agree to disagree on perceptions, since I think you have to actually watch a team play to break free of that perception, and no one watches us play. I actually do watch Thrashers games, but generally no one watches the Thrashers either.

Systems mean a lot in the NHL, especially if your coach expects you to be married to his like Carlyle does, so styles are going to make fights. Teams have always had our number whether they were good or not. There were plenty of times the Ducks SHOULD have beaten the Kings, but to watch those games, it was rarely about Anaheim’s lack of effort.

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 18, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions