Ducks Lose to Nashville. Again.

by PhantomPretender on Dec 10, 2011 9:33 PM PST in Gameday

I'm normally an optimistic guy but I think this is the loss that pushes me over the edge. Up until now, I was trying to cling to some hope that things could turn around. Be it bounces, or track records, or a new coach, I thought that there was wiggle room for the Ducks to make something of this season.

There's not.

Once again, the Ducks lost to a team that I just can't stand losing to. Though the final was 3-2, the Predators controlled much of the game. Nashville overcame the frustration of having two goals called back and found a way to persevere. The Ducks, incredulous at the penalty to Brandon McMillan for tapping Jordin Tootoo in the stomach, collapsed in the third period.

It just sucked. There were some positives, sure. But I've never felt in my years of writing at AC that doing this was a chore. Tonight, it feels that way.

The Good

The third and fourth lines played their asses off tonight. Andrew Gordon scored the first goal of the game on a great feed from Brandon McMillan and both Nicklas Hagman and Maxime Macenaeur put in standout efforts. I really wish some of our other players would work as hard as our bottom-six did tonight. There are a lot of reasons why the Ducks lost tonight, but the third and fourth lines should be rightfully lauded for their efforts.
Dan Ellis played a pretty good game. I don't think he gave up any particularly soft goals, and he made some fantastic saves in the first period, including a sprawling dive to deny David Legwand. He looked solid in net tonight and he turned away 25 Nashville shots. It's probably worth giving him some more playing time at this point to build his trade value and flip him to a contender.
Teemu Selanne continues to find ways to get it done. The Finnish Flash recorded his 900th career point in an Anaheim sweater tonight and I shudder to think what this season would be like without him. I feel terrible for Teemu, because he seems to be one of the only guys that gives a damn right now. I can't imagine how frustrated he must be, and yet he still brings it every night. Truly a class act.
The Bobby Ryan as a center experiment seemed to go OK tonight. Bobby finished with a 42.9% winning percentage in the dot (best among Ducks centers, more on that later) and generally played a good game. He did only register one SOG, but his line with Selanne and Andrew Cogliano generated chances. Overall, I thought Bobby was more engaged and he seemed to take his defensive responsibilities seriously. I wasn't wild about his decision to fight Mike Fisher after the third goal, but I understood he was trying to give the team a spark.

The Bad

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry need to figure things out. I know playing with Kyle Palmieri didn't help (more on that later), but they have to find a way to contribute. These guys are supposed to be the leaders of the team. I'm not exactly sure what's happened to them, but they're spending so much time in their own end when they're on the ice and they're just not generating many chances. To make things worse, both Perry and Getzlaf each had a prime scoring opportunity tonight that they failed to convert. I'm not sure where things go from here with these two, but something has to happen. They need to be better.
The power play just looks lost right now. Bobby isn't the right guy to man the point and when the Ducks were able to get set-up with the man advantage tonight. They made a lot of cross-ice passes without throwing the puck at the net. I once again feel like they're trying so hard to make that perfect play, and it's just not panning out. The Ducks only managed 3 shots in their 4 minutes of PP time.
Team defense was once again sketchy when it mattered most. The first and third goals were the result of some pretty soft defensive play and there were many other chances where defensemen pinched and created odd-man rushes for the Predators. Aside from Francois Beauchemin, nobody looks like they have a clue on defense right now, although Nate Guenin made a few heady plays. I really didn't come into the season thinking the D would be so bad, but clearly it is.

The Ugly

That's not the way to convince anybody to keep you on the NHL roster, Kyle Palmieri. When he wasn't releasing shots from just inside the blue line, Palmieri was indecisive at best with the puck, constantly looking to Perry and Getzlaf for guidance. I understand that Kyle probably wanted to work with the twins and complement their game as much as possible, but his inability to make any decisions on his own ultimately derailed that line for much of the night. After seeing his play tonight, I really wonder how he's managed to tear up the AHL. [Ed. Note: Palmieri started the night on left wing - his off wing. After struggling a few shifts, he switched wings with Perry, and still looked lost. He'd make great trade-bait. Just sayin'.]
Remember when I said that Bobby led all Anaheim centers with a 42.9 winning percentage on faceoffs? Anaheim only won 17 of the 48 draws tonight for a ghastly 35% winning percentage. Aside from Ryan, Anaheim's centers finished at 36.8% (Getzlaf), 25% (McMillan), and 16.7% (Macenauer). No matter how you slice it, that's ugly.
The "slashing" call on Brandon McMillan was an absolute farce. I don't even know how the most partisan Nasvhille fan could defend Jordin Tootoo's actions on the play. I can't find a video, but Tootoo basically took a run at McMillan and took his legs out from under him. No call. McMillan and Tootoo exchanged words before McMillan gave Tootoo a tap to the abs that wouldn't have knocked over my one year-old son. Tootoo, as is his MO, sold the call like he'd been punched in the stomach. Even after Tootoo backed off because he realized he looked foolish, McMillan was still penalized. If anyone has the video, please post it. It was that absurd. And, predictably, the Predators scored on the ensuing PP to take a lead that they would not relinquish. In a season of disappointment, the McMillan penalty was just rubbing salt in the wound. I'm not sure what Corey Perry sacrificed to win the Hart last season, but the hockey gods seem to be taking their pound of flesh.

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Comments

Right there with you.

I give up on this team, because from the beginning it seems like Getzlaf and Perry have given up on trying. I don’t what’s wrong with them, but clearly they don’t even look like 4th liners right now. The only positive I can take out of this game is that with RC we probably would have been shut out. The biggest knock on this team has been depth, but right now lines 2-4 are doing their job and its our Defense and 1st line that can’t just DO WHAT THEY ARE PAID TOO. I don’t know what its gonna take but this group on Defense CAN NOT get it done. As far as the top line goes, maybe a scratch is order. Bring up some young guys who actually care.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 10, 2011 10:27 PM PST reply actions

I think this is amazing

Just looked this up. The Ducks are 7-0-2 when they hold the opponent to 2 or less goals. This team has only won 1 game when the opponent scores more than 2 (a 4-3 win over Vancouver, that they almost lost and probably should have). Whether its goaltending, the Dmen, forwards playing team D, or all of the above that stat is very telling of what ails this team.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 11:40 PM PST up reply actions

Some other interesting stats

While I’m bored thought I would share: Getzlaf has already eclipsed his PIM from last season, on pace to have his lowest point total since 06-07, on pace to finish as a minus player for the first time in his career, and is oddly enough on pace to finish with the same PP numbers as last year.

Perry: on pace to have lowest point total since 07-08 season, on pace to finish as a minus player for the first time, is on pace to finish with 2 more PP points than last year, on pace to finish with 115 PIMs, and has 0 shorthanded points this season in comparison to 5 last year (4 of which were goals)

Ryan: first minus season, on pace to have lowest point total since 07-08, is on pace to finish with half as many PP points as last year (currently no PP goals), and on pace to finish with about 60 less shots as well.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 11:53 PM PST up reply actions

I think we may be caught up in how bad we are doing, but when you consider we had 12 million sitting out tonights game in injured players its going to hurt.

by DavidBL on Dec 10, 2011 10:37 PM PST reply actions

I’ll agree that loosing Koivu hurts and not having Lubo does hurt the defense, but I’m still not going to pretend that Blake is going to solve anything. When RC was here I think Blake would have helped just because RC only plays vets and therefore it would have eased people’s TOI. Koivu has played well, but he doesn’t solve our top line issues or the fact that our Defense is atrocious right now. Could Lubo help with Defense? Yes, but he’s not going to make us a good team in that regard, just slightly less crappy.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

as much as I myself bag on Blake he’s still a proven NHL player even if a 3rd liner at this point. Not much else on our roster is atm so 3 veteran players, 2 in key positions.

by DavidBL on Dec 11, 2011 3:17 PM PST up reply actions

I’m with you on Palmieri, I think he’s the forward prospect we can afford to part with..

by kvd123 on Dec 10, 2011 10:39 PM PST reply actions

This game was tough to watch.

I’ll agree that lines 2, 3 and 4 showed spark in the offensive zone (when we were there), but NOBODY was home defensively. Nashville didn’t just control this game, they worked us like they were on a PP even at even strength. They had lots of puck movement while we were standing around. I can’t count the number of loose pucks they beat us to. Just like the last game, we couldn’t get the puck out of our zone with any regularity, and it’s hard to start a rush when you can’t do that. Maybe they’re getting mixed signals about what to do defensively, or maybe it’s just that old habits die hard.

I can’t help but wonder if Boudreau and Murray have already agreed that this season is shot, and are assessing what they have, both in skill and mindset, to plan for changes in the offseason.

by JLL on Dec 10, 2011 11:59 PM PST reply actions

Agreed

I think having a better Defense creates a domino effect though, and would solve a lot of problems for the forwards. I bet the forwards are tired of being in the zone chasing pucks because the Dmen are letting forwards do what they want and can’t clear puck creating too many chances in their own zone.

I completely agree with you about them evaluating talent right now. I think trades are coming before the deadline, but I don’t see Selanne getting moved. Mainly because he wants to play for the Ducks and with Koivu. I don’t know a lot of teams that need both a center and a winger and they can take on that much salary at the deadline. That being said Bonino is gone probably (with Holland and Rickard in the system) and Palmari is probably being shopped. Etem, DSP, and Schultz are probably the only untouchables at this point. I’m excited because maybe Murray will be able to swing a move for a no1 Dman. I don’t think its going to be a Nashville guy, but maybe there’s someone out there willing to deal. Maybe a Andrew MacDonald from NYI or Fedor Tyutin from CLB?

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 12:26 PM PST up reply actions

Adding to that list

Of possible Dmen to look at: Andrew MacDonald, Fedor Tyutin, Tim Gleason (or maybe Joni Pitkanen), Mattias Ohlund, and Jan Hedja. These are teams within the bottom three of their conference and are likely out of the playoff picture. I really like those first 3 players and think they could go a long way to helping us shore up our D. Maybe a package of Bonino, Palmari, Blake, and a Defenseman (either prospect or current NHL player) could get it done?

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 1:11 PM PST up reply actions

When we move Bonino, we’ll have nothing to show for moving Moen and Pahlsson, because I’m pretty sure Pielmeier isn’t going to make it.

I feel your joy about a potential deal, but I always find myself torn. I wan Murray toake a good deal, but am never convinced that he can.

by Daniel AC on Dec 11, 2011 1:13 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I know I'm going to get killed for saying this....

But I thought he did a good job with the Beauchemin trade. He reconized a need and used parts that were excess to get it. Are those parts playing well for their other team right now? Absolutely, but there is no guarantee that they would have played well for us. Beauchemin is playing well for us, and thats what matters. Will he overpay? If he’s trading with Burke absolutely. But I don’t think Burke has the pieces he wants. I think Bonino and Palmari can be sold for quality pieces mainly because of their AHL success and Palmari is very highly thought of among prospects. I think the problem with a lot of Murray’s deals is that no one knows who these guys are because they play on the west coast. If you look at the Beauch trade, we gave them a forward returning from a serious injury and a prospect for a proven top 4 guy having a somewhat rough year. That sounds like a decent deal, just not in retrospect given how well those two guys are playing.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 1:27 PM PST up reply actions

I don’t know, I liked how Lupul was playing here.. it was just Carlyle refusing to give him the ice time he deserved, plus we gave up a blue chipper. Frenchie has been pretty solid this year, but he still has the odd terrible costly give away, plus we could have just resigned him a few years ago. I think it was the 2nd worst trade he’s made since he’s been here personally, next to giving up Kunitz.

by kvd123 on Dec 11, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions

I think people here were under the impression that Gardiner was struggling, but when I looked at college hockey blogs, he was considered one of the top guys in the NCAA. I think the real problem I have with the Beuachemin trade is that he never should have had to make it in the first place. He didn’t even try to re-sign the guy. Lupul may have been coming off an injury, but the Ducks certainly didn’t give him a chance to play his way back into the top 6. They sold him out to the third line and expected him to produce on his own, which he still managed to do a little bit of.

I think, again, you make the exact point: Murray didn’t really know what he was giving up in that Beauchemin trade. He didn’t know the true value of his players. Let’s face it, Murray is at best negligent and at worst inept.

by Daniel AC on Dec 11, 2011 2:52 PM PST up reply actions

Alternatively, he was trying to do all the things you criticise him for and went out and tried to get a guy he ‘knew’ would fit RC’s system. Thus trying to support his coach. In saying that, it did ‘work’ last season. Im not saying that we should of had to give up those players. But he made his bed in hiring and extending his coach (and i really liked RC – i feel for him). So he got rid of players that didnt fit in RC’s plans and got one that had worked before. Thats what a good GM should do. The complaint should be that he didnt do it often enough.

by BennyLightning on Dec 11, 2011 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

Saying it’s what I wanted him to do is kind of like saying you want your dog to stop peeing on the rug and he starts peeing on the bed. Yes, it’s kind of what I wanted him to do, but he also executed it so poorly the gain was negligible. A good GM would have recognized Beauchemin’s importance to the team and never let him walk in the first place. With Niedermayer constantly in flux on whether he would come back or not, it seemed to make sense to keep the guy who had settled in as his defensive partner. More importantly, he would have been the guy who would have stuck around after Scotty left.

I agree he didn’t do it often enough. However, even when he did do it, he didn’t do it well.

by Daniel AC on Dec 11, 2011 4:58 PM PST up reply actions

And thats why i dont have a dog.
BUT, im just talking about the one decision. one thing at a time. Yes he could have kept him in the first place, and that led to him having to bleed assets to get back. But for the sake of this argument then im just looking at the trade to get him back.
Yes he over paid, but thats most likely because beauchemin just isnt that good. At the time lupul clearly wasnt in RC’s plans (and relatively expensive), and gardiner was seen as surplus to needs. Based on potential he maybe should have aimed higher, but he was going for a player proven to be useful in his coaches system.
Im not saying i agree with all of murrays decisions, in fact i didnt even like this one (mostly because i dont like the player), but it was the right thing to do in that immediate situation.

Besides we could have a worse GM…could be the rangers

by BennyLightning on Dec 11, 2011 5:33 PM PST up reply actions

Sather makes ridiculous FA signings the way Murray bleeds assets. Still, NYR ain’t exactly struggling right now.

I see your point, and it’s definitely a fair one, I just have a lot of trouble removing that context, because signing Beauchmin was so basic to me. He isn’t a #1 guy, but I’ve always felt that Beauchemin has a tendency to complement #1 guys very well. Weber and Beauchemin would probably be a great pairing. I was so mad when we let him walk, because I’ve always felt that Beauchy was a good team. He hits well in open ice, has a solid shot, and has the sense to stay back for guys when they play too much of an offensive game.

I don’t know. I just feel Murray got taken to the cleaners on that deal. I felt that way when we made the deal, and I feel that way now. Wouldn’t we all be happier with this top 6

Lupul-Getzlaf-Perry
Ryan-Koivu-Selanne

by Daniel AC on Dec 11, 2011 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

I can agree we got cleaned up on the trade. But if the coach isnt going to play a guy then there is no point him being on the team. That to me is a coaching issue and somewhat separate. Saying that i do believe that it would be nice to have loops, i always like him.

new york may not be struggling, but can you really see them ever challenging for a cup? For a big spending team thats unforgivable. As a cash team, the best we can really hope for is perennial playoff appearances, and we’ve largely had that. i have no complaints in that department. This year….well we discussed in preseason that i believed this was a wasted year waiting for young players to develop, and i still think they should be doing that, in fact i think possibly they should push that more, now that the season is long gone. It might even in this situation, as painful as it is, to write the season off completely, play hte kids in every situation and look at a high draft pick….going off topic..

As an aside, i htink that if new york do waive avery, the ducks should jump on him

by BennyLightning on Dec 11, 2011 5:54 PM PST up reply actions

I’ve loved Hagman, but I think we should have picked up Avery on re-entry waivers. He was coming in before Hagman was.

As person, I tend to think that leaders are the most responsible for what happens. When I was on my college speech team, I frequently took responsibility for how my teammates behaved and performed. To that point, I think if Carlyle wasn’t going to play Loops, Murray should have done something. That’s his job.

I think Sather tried to buy his way into contention, and then realized his mistake. That roster is now full of some pretty solid young players in Callahan, Dubinsky, Staal, and Anisimov among others. Lundqvist is one of the 5 best goalies in the game. They might be contenders in a season or two.

by Daniel AC on Dec 11, 2011 6:17 PM PST up reply actions

Benny has already addressed many of my points

But a few things to add. Your point about wouldn’t we be better of with a top 6 with Lupul in it? Of course we would! But you forget where we would be without Beauchemin on our Defense then. Which would be horrendous. My point was that Murray assessed what he had, looked at what available top 4 defenseman there where, and then made an educated move. In today’s NHL there is such a premium on good Defensemen, and Murray knew he was going to have to give to get. He had a coach who didn’t want to play an expensive player coming of a YEAR LONG injury. Someone was going to want something besides Lupul. He looked at his farm and saw Gardner, a player very similar to Fowler and Sbisa. And realized that he was the odd man out. Did Toronto get more of what they needed? Yes, they got a top forward and a puck moving Defenseman who will probably be in their top 4 for many years. But you have to give to get, and Murray gave away what he could afford to give away in order to get what they needed to get.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 6:17 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, but he got something he should have never needed in the first place. I’m sorry, but you it’s impossible to look at that trade in the void of “We didn’t have Beauchemin.” We should have had Beauchemin. It’s not like the guy left for more money somewhere. Murray didn’t even try to see if he’d give the home team discount.

More importantly, if the Beauchemin trade is the best we can point to in the “things Murray has done right” column, that’s a completely different issue.

by Daniel AC on Dec 11, 2011 8:07 PM PST up reply actions

Well I wouldn't call it a highlight of his tenure

He’s had much better decisions: Lubo trade, resigning Selanne all these years (he doesn’t deserve that much credit for it but he did keep here), drafting Fowler/DSP/Etem, signing Lydman and Koivu, getting BB, keeping the team afloat last year by signing Mara and Lilja, signing Emery, trading for Ellis, restocking the farm system, and resigning Bobby Ryan were all better GM moves.

That being said I’m looking at this as a single move. Just the trade. I know we can look at it and say he never should have left, but that’s a whole other story. If he didn’t reacquire Beauch, but rather traded for someone of similar skill that had never played for the Ducks before how would feel?

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 8:52 PM PST up reply actions

It would still be a horrible deal. Lupul for Beauch is a fair trade, a younger top 6 forward with a high ceiling for an older top 4 defenseman. I could maybe buy that we needed to throw in an AHL guy or a low pick. Adding Gardiner, who is a legit top 5 prospect and as Daniel said was one of the top guys in college means we got completely taken, plain and simple.

The point isn’t so much we gave up some things we weren’t using to get something we did, the point is it’s a horrific use of assets. And honestly, Beauch shouldn’t have cost that much. Murray got bent over by his mentor.

by bhlloy on Dec 11, 2011 9:32 PM PST up reply actions

You’re leaving out that Lupul was a health concern. That aside, yes I agree that we got the worse end of the deal, but again you have to give in order to get. Defensive Dmen are a commodity in today’s NHL, just ask Anton Volchenkov’s contract.

by Kevin Riach on Dec 11, 2011 11:29 PM PST up reply actions

well Bonino was also one of the top guys in College.

Our scouts said before the trade, that Gardiner wasn’t NHL ready.
i think that’s the reason murray thought he was tradeable

by Freakle on Dec 11, 2011 11:38 PM PST up reply actions

might be slightly overstating gardiners effectiveness in the nhl thus far, also.

by BennyLightning on Dec 11, 2011 11:50 PM PST up reply actions

He did leave for more money. That’s exactly why he left. Toronto was willing to pay him 3.8. The Ducks were thinking 2, 2.5. We didnt make an offer because we weren’t in the ballpark. It wasn’t stupid to let Frankie go, it was stupid to let him go then give up Gardiner and Lupul to get him back.

by Ryanb903 on Dec 12, 2011 12:47 PM PST up reply actions

Aside from Selanne and Elis, the rest was ugly. I had the same reaction about Palmieri – how is that possible that hes tearing up the AHL??? Hes a slower and much less physical version of Blake. He certainly doesnt look like a future of this team. Sorry to say, but it looks quite inevitable that Bob will need to sell a lot at the trade deadline, including Selanne to gather something for the future.

by Riko on Dec 11, 2011 12:18 AM PST reply actions

Maybe it's a good thing I'm overseas this season...

I’ll retract that come opening day of Spring Training and of the regular baseball season, when I won’t be able to watch The Machine in person until September at the earliest. :(

by BrentSchmidt on Dec 11, 2011 3:51 AM PST reply actions

Why so hard on Tootoo?

Put a Ducks jersey on him and make it the #10 and you’da never known the difference on that play. In fact, since Toots was the best player on the ice last night, now y’all know how the rest of the league feels about your Perry. Although I can’t remember the last time Tootoo speared somebody like your Perry did to Toots last game. And how bout Perry acting like he’d been shot on the Weber hit?

We both got one of them agitator / actor / cheap shot artists. Only difference is that Tootoo uses his body as a weapon whereas your Perry uses his stick.

Just providing an alternate perspective.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 11, 2011 2:09 PM PST reply actions

Nobody on our team embellishes hits the way Tootoo does

Sorry. And when Perry takes shots at people, he doesn’t shy away from the response. Yes, Perry can be a douchebag. But he backs it up with his play. If someone taps him, he’s not going to act like he gets shot.

I know he’s your player, but he does dirty things and then over reacts when people respond. He took a run at McMillan plain and simple. It probably should have been a penalty. Then, after clipping the dude from behind, he doubles over when he gets tapped in the stomach.

I really wish I could find the video of this so you could realize how absurd this sequence was. You probably didn’t see the video they showed on the Ducks broadcast, but it was pretty damn egregious. I’ve stayed out of a lot of the Tootoo crap over the past year, but this was flat out embarrassing. Professional hockey players shouldn’t do that kind of crap.

Again, I’m not pretending to have some kind of moral high road. Perry can be a total pest on the ice. But everyone throws chops and hits after plays. Even Sidney Crosby. To act like your team doesn’t and therefore should be allowed to embellish is pretty ridiculous.

by PhantomPretender on Dec 11, 2011 2:28 PM PST up reply actions

Coupla points:

Sorry. And when Perry takes shots at people, he doesn’t shy away from the response.

Perry is a coward and he was a cheap shot the entire playoffs last year. Then when Klein challenged him to fight, he backed down. He DOES shy away from the response. He jabbed at Pekka’s nuts with his stick, he speared Tootoo last game, and he will NEVER answer the bell. So that statement is an out and out lie. Your reasoning that:

But he backs it up with his play.

Well, Tootoo certainly backed his performance up with his play. Best player on the ice Saturday.

I know he’s your player, but he does dirty things and then over reacts when people respond. He took a run at McMillan plain and simple. It probably should have been a penalty. Then, after clipping the dude from behind, he doubles over when he gets tapped in the stomach.

I doubt it was that bad. And you are allowed to hit people in hockey, that’s a part of the game. Just cause McMillan didn’t like it, doesn’t make it OK to use the stick as a weapon.

I really wish I could find the video of this so you could realize how absurd this sequence was.

I saw the stick work and thought it was a penalty. I too wish you could find that doggone video!

To act like your team doesn’t and therefore should be allowed to embellish is pretty ridiculous.

I never gave any hint to this. In fact, I think the league should suspend divers and floppers. But they won’t. What’re you gonna do? Suspend guys like Perry and the Sedins and Kesler during the playoffs for diving? Of course not. I think it makes hockey too much like European soccer. It’s shameful.

But we both got one of those guys. We got Toots and you have your Perry. Only difference is that your Perry won the Hart last year and can score goals. But he’s a cheapshot artist in the meantime.

Again, just one guy’s opinion.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 7:46 AM PST up reply actions

haha, you have “one” of those guys. your whole team is like a mexican soccer team when it comes to flopping

by dontmesswiththestache on Dec 12, 2011 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, because other soccer players don’t dive! Why you gotta go racial?!

This comment is at least half humorous, maybe more.

by Daniel AC on Dec 12, 2011 1:19 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Nice name.

I actually think he got the best of McGratton in that fight.

Haters gonna hate, just acknowledge that your Perry does it too.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 3:05 PM PST up reply actions

Perry gets absolutely killed out there, every single game.

how could a thinking human beeing even pretend that he had to sell anything on that Weber hit.

i see that you have to defend Tootoo, but that’s a whole other level. Perry backs his Pest plays up, and doesn’t fall on the ice like a little girl after feeling a little push with a stick.

doesn’t anybode has this video? it was one of the most embarrasing things i have ever seen in hockey.

besides, Perry and Tootoo don’t even play in the same league, Perry is a Hart Trophy winner, Tootoo is a 3rd line agitator.

by Freakle on Dec 11, 2011 2:41 PM PST up reply actions

This.

by kvd123 on Dec 11, 2011 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

I actually like Tootoo as an energy player, it’s just the diving that needs to stop, he’s a good enough player that he doesn’t need to stoop that low. The guy has no respect for the integrity of the game.

by kvd123 on Dec 11, 2011 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

The guy has no respect for the integrity of the game.

Now YOU are embellishing :)

Tootoo has not been agitating as much the past two years. And I’m not convinced he dove this past game either. Fact is, he just plays hard and hits MFers. And MFers don’t like that, which is why they hate Tootoo.

Anyhow, it eas a great game Saturday, and here’s to HATING THE DUCKS AND THEIR CHEAP SHOT ARTIST COREY PERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Feel free to swap in Predators and Tootoo where appropriate!!!

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 7:57 AM PST up reply actions

And I’m not convinced he dove this past game either.

either you are stupid, ignorant or you just haven’t watched the game.
go troll your own blog and leave us alone

by Freakle on Dec 12, 2011 8:16 AM PST up reply actions

All I'm saying with that is that I saw the Duck hit Toots with the stick.

I didn’t see how much force he used nor did they replay that on the jumbotron. I saw it once out of the corner of my eye and thought it was a penalty. I mean, you can’t hit a dude with your stick, right?

I think it was a legit penalty, but y’all don’t. On the other hand, I certainly wouldn’t take y’all’s word for it. Funny how nobody can come up with that video. Almost like y’all are claiming to have seen a UFO!

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 8:49 AM PST up reply actions

you have to remember the Getzlaf rulebook with duck fans, pfpp

a duck slashing/spearing-legal
an opponent getting slashed/speared and putting their hand over where they were hit-diving
an opponent gliding into a player anticipating the hit- running/charging

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Dec 12, 2011 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

Aha, got it!

My bad, never mind.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

Remember last postseason when Vancouver scored the series-clinching goal against Nashville on a power play because Tootoo was called for diving? Gee, maybe we have a good reason to think Tootoo is an embellishing diver.

Fight on!
EMAW!

by Shackleford on Dec 12, 2011 9:45 AM PST up reply actions

remember last season when Perry cup checked Rinne and backed down from Klien? maybe we have good reason to think of him as a sissy.

and yall think tootoo is a diver because your team continually gets called for penalties committed on him, and instead of blaming the players for actually committing the penalty, yalls captain blames the victim. When at the end of the day, if the ducks players didn’t give tootoo anything to “embelish” there wouldn’t be any penalty, but then yall would have to find another scapegoat.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Dec 12, 2011 9:51 AM PST up reply actions

Here's the difference

Ducks fans readily admit that Perry is a dickhead on the ice. He runs the crease, hits goalies and does cheap shit. Perry himself has said the same thing, I don’t remember the exact quote but it’s something along the lines of “I play my best when I get under the skin of everybody on the opposing team.”

None of us have a problem saying that Perry is an asshole – calling him cheap is just going to get agreement from most Ducks fans. Yet Nashville fans can’t accept that Tootoo is an embellishing diver. Again, Vancouver’s series-clinching goal was scored because the refs wised up to his act and penalized him for doing an impersonation of a European soccer player.

Fight on!
EMAW!

by Shackleford on Dec 12, 2011 10:26 AM PST up reply actions

Actually the worst call of that series....

….was on Weber when Kesler chicken-winged his stick for a 2min penalty in OT of game 3. And that GWG was in the first period (I think) so to say that he cost us the game may be a bit of a stretch.

That was a poorly reffed series. I’m not saying that the best team didn’t win, I’m just saying it was poorly reffed.

Does Toots embellish sometimes? Yeah. Dive sometimes? Yeah. But he rarely gets those calls. Exhibit #1 is that Vancouver series from last year.

And good on you for admitting that Perry is that.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 11:46 AM PST up reply actions

Everyone gives Perry shit for running the crease. I am not saying that he doesn’t but it is beyond his control. He is not a great skater. Hell that is the reason he fell in the draft. Alot of scouts didnt think he had NHL skating ability. Great hands but poor feet. Look around for a Getzy interview when they were rookies and Getzy basically said that the reason he ran into goalies is he couldnt stop worth a damn.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 1:09 PM PST up reply actions

So that means Perry isn't a diver / cheapshot artist?

Check yourself bro.

I haven’t made one single excuse for Tootoo. At least be honest about what Perry is, in addition to being a great offensive player.

Perry backs his Pest plays up, and doesn’t fall on the ice like a little girl after feeling a little push with a stick.

Like tapping goalies in the nuts well after the whistle to hinder their play? You can’t “back up your pest play.” Not unless you fight that is. And when he was challenged by Klein or Tootoo he backed down every single time. Getzlaf is another whiner, but at least he’ll throw down when he has to. Perry? I think not. In fact, we all KNOW not.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 7:50 AM PST up reply actions

besides the fact that there are fights against other NHL players. just watch Perry fight Datsyuk.
Not accepting a challenge from a borderline player like Tootoo or a third pairing defender like Klein isn’t “not backing up your play”, it’s just smart.
Let Weber challenge him to a fight, and i bet my house on Perry accepting that fight

by Freakle on Dec 12, 2011 8:18 AM PST up reply actions

LMAO...that's a bet Freak.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 8:41 AM PST up reply actions

I think that would happen in a heartbeat. Taking Weber off the ice for 5 is well worth any forward going in the box.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 1:05 PM PST up reply actions

You think Perry would fight Weber?

Cause you’re crazy if you do. Weber would……………… I’ma not even go there.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 3:08 PM PST up reply actions

Did I say Perry would win? No but he would get Weber off the ice for 5. Thats worth taking a few shots.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

Such an event might make him ugly.

D’oh!!!

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 3:59 PM PST up reply actions

Commupance

All you gotta do is look up Sean Avery on Wikipedia and see that guys like Avery and Tootoo don’t end up helping their team. Sure in the short term Tootoo got the call last night. Sure it got them a goal and probably the win. But you look up Avery on Wikipedia and you see his name ain’t on the Cup. My guess is as long at the Diveville Divedors keep up their anticsthey won’t have a Cup either and that’s satisfying.

Pretty sure Shea Weber knows it too. That’s why he signed for one more year so he could pick his team over the summer. He seems to be an honorable guy and there are too many dishonorable little girls who wear skirts masquerading as men wearing Divedor sweaters for his liking.

by CoachZ on Dec 11, 2011 8:30 PM PST up reply actions

Weber can’t choose where he goes this summer. He’s still an rfa.

by Daniel AC on Dec 12, 2011 7:49 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Nice coach :)

Kinda like how the Ducks are on the cusp of another cup? LMAO at you.

And nobody is comparing Tootoo to Perry in terms of skill. Just with regard to cheapshots. On the other hand, at least Toots has a record of dropping the gloves, unlike your Perry.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 7:53 AM PST up reply actions

Perry also dropped his gloves a few times. that’s just a false statement from you

by Freakle on Dec 12, 2011 8:19 AM PST up reply actions

How many times do I have to tell people to not mess with the Preds fans. They are just bitter, and rightfully so. When your organization’s best moment is one playoff series win, you’d better talk as much trash as you can, because there certainly isn’t any substance to their organization.

by Daniel AC on Dec 12, 2011 8:38 AM PST up reply actions

You are what you are.

And right now you are the Columbus Blue Jackets. Did you hear that? You are the worst team in the NHL.

I also happen to be a St. Louis Rams fan, and I never justify my team by referring to the Greatest Show on Turf days. I simply point to the fact that we pick first or second in the draft every year because that is what we are.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 8:44 AM PST up reply actions

No shit the Ducks aren't good this season

Ducks fans have acknowledged that this year’s team has been underachieving and awful for a variety of reasons. Congratulations on going 3-0 against a snakebit team.

Oh well, disappointing seasons happen. At the end of this season Anaheim will still have more Stanley Cup championships and Western Conference championships than Nashville. Do they make shirts for winning a quarterfinal series? I’m looking for a Christmas gift for a friend of mine in Nashville and can’t seem to find any division, conference or Cup Predator gear.

Fight on!
EMAW!

by Shackleford on Dec 12, 2011 9:40 AM PST up reply actions

lol

The true sign of a crumbling team and franchise, the fan base clingy desperately to their one cup win while insulting the teams who haven’t been as lucky.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Dec 12, 2011 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

The true sign of fans of a team that has never won anything....

….Is to refer to the other teams that have won something as “lucky”.

by TheBigJT2000 on Dec 12, 2011 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

Except we have reason to believe that maybe things will get turned around soon

Barring an incredible turnaround, this season is lost, but next year the Ducks will still have the nucleus of the team that finished fourth in the Western Conference last season. We know what these players are capable of, but hey, down seasons happen. I’ve never seen a team in any sport as victimized by bad luck, bad bounces and all around shitty luck as much as the Ducks this season.

It’s not like Anaheim has lost every core player to free agency, retirement, old age, etc. The pieces are there, but for whatever reason they’re performing like a Yugo instead of the Corvette they were last season.

Fight on!
EMAW!

by Shackleford on Dec 12, 2011 10:31 AM PST up reply actions

Fair enough.

And the latter arguements are in response to the fella bragging about winning the cup 5 years ago as proof that the Ducks are better than the Preds.

I can’t stand Perry, but I actually like the Ducks kindof. Them bouncing the Sharks in the playoffs was mustseeTV.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 11:50 AM PST up reply actions

I cant stand Tootoo

He is a diver sorry no way around it. Despite that one guy I really like the rest of your roster Shea (Captain Blackbeard) Weber, Rinne, Blum (cause he is a OC kid and I want him back here someday so he can play infront of Mom and Dad) , Hornqvist (cause he works his ass off infront of the net) Smith, and Fluffy (McGrattan – still pissed you poached him). Oh I also hate Fisher but thats cause he stole my future wife. Damn him.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 1:02 PM PST up reply actions

Blum to Milwaukee.

FYI.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

So then the asking price is cheap.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 5:03 PM PST up reply actions

Nah.

Great prospect, bad start to the season.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 13, 2011 6:16 AM PST up reply actions

16-5 record in the 07 playoffs

They lost only one game each round except against Detroit. They lost 2. Yeah the Ducks got lucky. No skill at all.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 12:51 PM PST up reply actions

He refers to the Datsyuk fight.

Now that’s cannon fodder.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 12, 2011 8:45 AM PST up reply actions

God these Nashville fans are so annoying.. Rub it in all you want about us having a crappy season. Your team is obviously just so amazing. We should get on our knees right now and bow down to all of you. Tootoo is a saint.

If you have something nice to say, feel free to say it. If, however, you do not, don’t waste your time here. We are proud fans of our franchise and don’t care about your trash talk.

by dkk on Dec 12, 2011 10:46 AM PST reply actions

Yeah Nashville stay classy

I think Pred fans are the only ones we dont like to welcome around here. I think we at AC are pretty damn welcoming but some of these people have really worn out their welcome. Hell I’ll take the Shark and Wings fans that will drop by over a Pred fan anyday. That might be first nice thing I have ever said about a Shark fan.

by Newport Rebel on Dec 12, 2011 12:46 PM PST up reply actions

Hey now...

we aren’t all the same. Just some people can’t be civil. Both teams have fans like that. Anyways…. i hope the ducks can turn this season around. You all are better than how you’ve been playing. You don’t deserve to be down there with the Bluejackets. You have looked better since the coaching change, just something still seems to be missing. Anyways good luck against the Yotes on Wed. Hope you win.

by Herzausstein on Dec 12, 2011 2:32 PM PST up reply actions

Tootoo definitely isn't a saint

I’m sure noone in Nashville will try to convince you otherwise. Though we may not of accomplished as much as you have as a franchise, we are proud fans of our franchise. It sets some of us off when people disparage our players. If you don’t want to see the homer’s and have them come trash talk then get your people to not trash talk the Nashville players. From what i’ve seen here most of the TN trashtalk stems from the disparaging comments towards tootoo. Just saying…. anyways…. look on the bright side. This is only one season… it’s not a lifetime. You all can turn it around if you can just get everything to click right. You have the talent… but from what i saw during that game…. i didn’t see the hunger to win in the eyes of the ducks. They played flat for the most part. We’ve had a stretch or two like that …. it can be fixed. Just gotta figure out how

by Herzausstein on Dec 12, 2011 2:45 PM PST up reply actions