Open Gameday Thread: Phoenix Coyotes @ Anaheim Ducks
by SK eleven on Jan 18, 2012 3:57 PM PST
in Gameday
Email
PrintPhoenix Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks, Jan 18, 2012 7:00 PM PST
The Ducks are on a 5-0-1 run, but, I, for one, am definitely not getting excited about it. I have many reasons that point to this, the Magumbo (or whatever you all call it) and October are two brilliant examples.
First off, I'm definitely not going to go on a tangent of all the wonderful things that Anaheim has been up to recently, I'll leave that to you in the comments. I'm also not about to get my hopes up on a win streak when we've seen the Ducks fall to their own disgusting habits before.
I still watch every game with a bit of hesitation, especially when it seems the Ducks are weakened with just a few moments of pressure from the opposition. I'll admit, when the other team scores my head drops and my expectations for a full recovery are diminished greatly. I still have the visions of November's Ducks dancing in my head.
Have there been positives to draw upon? Oh, yes, definitely. But I can't bring myself to talk about them. Are the players, lines and defensemen awakening and taking ownership of their roles and expectations? Again, possibly, but I won't talk about those individuals here.
Prepare for the worst, expect the bad, be shocked as all hell when it isn't awful.
So, instead, lets glorify how great the Phoenix Coyotes have been thus far. Already 2-1 against Anaheim this season, overall their record is practically the opposite of what the Ducks are boasting with 49 points (21-18-7). They're battling it out in the Pacific Division like champs, not far behind San Jose and Los Angeles, and only 1 point behind Dallas. They're 11th in the Western Conference, but that's only 2 points out of 8th. Mike Smith (who?) has done wonders for them in net. Most importantly, they're struggling this month and hungry to pick up a win.
Here's an obvious coaching tip, don't get so comfortable Anaheim...you're going to have to battle hard for the rest of the season.
Now that we've seen you win, there are no excuses.
276 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Genuine. Love it. :)
GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com; contributor - Anaheim Calling
SKeleven on Twitter
by SK eleven on Jan 18, 2012 5:39 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I was jokin when i said a couple weeks ago we just needed to win 13 or 14 in a row...
but seriously now.. we just gotta win like 7 or 8 more in a row.
These constant trade rumors
seem to really be helping the team. The latest is Bobby Ryan to Toronto (I’m almost certain that at some point in the near future we will have acquired the entire Leafs team, Lupul included). And I promise, no more mentions of Tebow, or any organizations linked to him, either inside of sports out outside of sports.
You don't know how happy I am to hear that
Let’s talk about other NHL games or something other than the Broncos. We can talk about football again after the Super Bowl and/or when the Jaguars make the playoffs. Go Jags! :D
I love
how BB is pissed at the lack of coverage of the Ducks. I honestly thought he wouldn’t point that out, but he did. Love it. :)
I really love his approach
He’s very positive and complimentary toward his players. After years of Carlyle grinding them down, I think it’s a good thing to have someone behind the bench that’s rooting for them to succeed, instead of waiting to crucify them for mistakes. It’s just positive reinforcements instead of negative reinforcement.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:12 PM PST up reply actions
It's better than what we were saying in November
To start each game.. I don’t wanna say anything further to tempt the Magumbo lords though
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 7:12 PM PST up reply actions
That might already be too much
They are sensitive
What a huge break
Wow. Nice job to bail him out, guys.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:13 PM PST reply actions
We are watching something truly special right now with him
This must have been what it was like for Caps fans watching Mike Green. But the good thing is that Sbisa appears to be a much better defender than Green.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:15 PM PST up reply actions
So I've noticed under Boudreau
That Bobby almost always feeds the puck to defensemen at the point instead of cycling now. Perry and Getz will still try to cycle but it seems like Bobby’s job is to feed the d-men at the point.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:23 PM PST reply actions
Oh man
Great D and even better chance by the Finns
Seriously?
I feel like its a rite of passage for former ducks to score on us. Brad Winchester anyone?
Im not home so can’t watch the game atm.. how do the boys look? Was chips goal weak, screened, redirect, ext?
by Hockey Phreak on Jan 18, 2012 7:30 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Hmm he giving lots of big rebounds or just that one?
by Hockey Phreak on Jan 18, 2012 7:32 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Well the goal was scored off of the 2nd rebound
But to be fair, he wasn’t given much of a chance to stop the 2nd rebound
He's had a couple of big ones
But he’s generally done good at directing them away from Phoenix players. This was a multiple rebound situation.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:33 PM PST up reply actions
Wow
How the hell did that get through? After all of Smith’s incredible stops, I’ll totally take that.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:32 PM PST reply actions
I fucking hate those guys.. Doan is an overrated piece of shit and there’s no word in english that’s nasty enough to describe Torres
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 7:38 PM PST up reply actions
Persistence!!!
Loving the effort by the boys tonight!
Fuck, please don’t let Blake get hurt. That guy is our good luck charm.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:35 PM PST reply actions
Hopefully he’s ok, but that was a comedy moment right there when they were celebrating and realized someone was missing. “oh shit”
by bhlloy on Jan 18, 2012 7:37 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
What a harsh way to get an assist blakey
by J_Camp on Jan 18, 2012 7:40 PM PST via mobile reply actions
RPG has really been dominant the past five or so games
Sort of makes me wonder why we couldn’t have gotten them together earlier this season. Carlyle seemed to have no patience for that at all.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:41 PM PST reply actions
yeah really
that bothered me with RC toward the end. he never kept lines together long enough for them to get going.
Sbisa and Lubo look really, really good out there together. Like they actually know what the other one is going to do
by bhlloy on Jan 18, 2012 7:41 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
What the fuck is wrong with you?
by Hockey Phreak on Jan 18, 2012 7:45 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
How do you expect hockey to gain a foothold out West
when you consistently fuck over and/or ignore those franchises in your national media decisions?
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:49 PM PST up reply actions
Alternatively
Do you realize that there are actually teams outside of the Original Six?
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
Did Jim Balsilie screw your girlfriend or bully you as a child or something?
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 7:58 PM PST up reply actions
If you haven't done it yet
(and most of you haven’t—I’m so disappointed), go win my extra tickets to the Skills Competition. It really is a good time.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 7:59 PM PST reply actions
Do it for bragging rights!
You’re completely welcome to guess, just indicate that you can’t accept the prize
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:03 PM PST up reply actions
I listen to a talk show based out of Dallas
And they’re Stars fans. Gone on road trips with them and everything. They were really bummed when Smith was traded.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
that is a good question
I think he got the whistle before the puck crossed the line, also I think maybe Torres helped him a bit and that might be why it might not be called a penalty, if the idea was even there in the first place.
Ducks have had some favorable bounces too.
Two Coyotes shots have hit posts and stayed out.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:17 PM PST up reply actions
Definitely
This game could easily be like 4-2 either way at this point, though.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:19 PM PST up reply actions
Frankie looks positively orgasmic after scoring
God I love the our third line now. Hooray depth scoring!
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:23 PM PST reply actions
Brookbank
Will you please beat the crap out of Shane Doan??? He just threw you into your own goalie.
Seeing Beauch fight him would make my fucking year
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 8:29 PM PST up reply actions
I still can't believe
Gagner tried to fight him.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:30 PM PST up reply actions
oops
Read that as Beauch..
Still I would love to see Shame get his ass kicked
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 8:31 PM PST up reply actions
You like that over dramatic glove save? lol
by Hockey Phreak on Jan 18, 2012 8:31 PM PST up reply actions
What a fucking glorious play
Bonino with one of the best passes I’ve ever seen. Holy shit.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:30 PM PST reply actions
It was
But Bonino accepted a hard pass and made such a soft pass to Blake. He could have laid down and knocked it in with his body.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:32 PM PST up reply actions
Holy shit third line. Bonino looks amazing BB has completely turned around his game
by bhlloy on Jan 18, 2012 8:31 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
I know Murray has made mistakes
But this run has proven that the blue print can work. This is exactly how it was supposed to work. The problem was that everyone outside of Teemu Selanne got off to a miserable start this season.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:31 PM PST reply actions
The other thing that should be noted.. Besides the Edmonton game, our top line hasn’t even produced in the last 5 games, including tonight. That is depth scoring. Obviously, Hagman on waivers wasn’t in his game plan. However, credit should be given as he stated he’s tried to get him for over a year now. I liked our lineup going into the season. I thought we needed a bigger centerman than Cogliano and needed a little more experience in the bottom 6. However, I was okay with it. I don’t know how we got off to such a brutal start, but I am happy to see our team starting to play a bit better. Now if only the top line can finish some of their great set ups.
I know it's an incredibly unpopular position to give Murray credit
But I’m totally with you. I thought we were a better team on paper this year going into the season than we were last year. The fact that everyone got off to horrific starts didn’t help in the least. But the depth scoring has not been a problem this year.
Yes, he should be held responsible for the weak defense. But he said his big priority this offseason was creating a third line that could score and it looks like it’s paid off.
As for the top line, they at least look more and more like the RPG we’re accustomed to. They’ll start finishing those chances pretty soon.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:39 PM PST up reply actions
You guys are lucky
Daniel isn’t reading right now. This tread alone would have probably x5 as long with x5 the amount of Murray bagging.
I agree with you everywhere except for the defense part. I actually liked our defense heading into the year. Obviously, we didn’t have a number one d-man or a big mean physical d-man like we all would have wanted. I blame Murray for not getting a big physical Hal Gill type player, but to be fair he has tried that route with Andy Sutton and got burnt bad.
I thought Vis – Lydman
Beauch – Fowler
Sbisa – Brookbank, was a decent D by committee setup. Unfortunately, everyone started poorly, and have played poorly until lately except for Beauchemin. Things just didn’t work out for the majority of the year.
I think Lydman sort of fooled everyone
And his horrible play this year has really hurt us. I think it was incumbent upon Murray to get a credible big Dman after the Andy Sutton debaucle, and he didn’t do it. So I blame him for that.
But I can’t fault him for everyone simultaneously sucking. He really has no control over that.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
I finally get Murray. This whole time he wasn’t buying unneeded parts for a Carlyle team, here’s merely been setting the team up for Bruce these few years…
UNRELATED: Handel is the most overrated composer ever...
by Bleys on Jan 18, 2012 8:51 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
No way at 4m. Probably not at 2.5. For less than that if we don’t need the space, why not? I think you’d have a hard time arguing what he brings isn’t worth 2m for a year
by bhlloy on Jan 18, 2012 8:35 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
At this point Hagman is a bigger priority
But if Blake will take $1 million for a spot on the third line, it’s fine by me. Guy has energy that rubs off on his teammates.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:34 PM PST up reply actions
No
I love what blake has done since coming back, but he’s like 38 I think (did not fact check that) Id rather fine a younger third line energy/two way guy.
He probably won't
This team is producing like crazy right now. Maybe he takes the fourth line role, but I wouldn’t touch any of the top three lines right now.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:37 PM PST up reply actions
Good question. I guess he goes on the fourth line, in retrospect I’m sure we’d rather have him playing top line minutes in juniors
by bhlloy on Jan 18, 2012 8:38 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Haha, the Blake-Cogliano-Bonino line. I had to think up a nickname, and BLOG seemed to be the easiest. Either that, or the BBC.
Florida leading Colorado right now 3-2. Hopefully they can seal it off. Colorado has the least games in hand between the bottom 7 in the West, so anything loss for them is a gain for us. GO PANTHERS!
WINGS!!!
Beleskey with his second goal of the season. Where the hell has this been all year?
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:54 PM PST reply actions
Beleskey has a hell of a shot. Trouble is, I think its an accident when it hits the net
by Duncan.M on Jan 18, 2012 8:54 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I love coming home to find the Ducks winning 4-2 . . .
followed immediately by a goal. WOOOOOOOOOOO! :D
www.LosAngelesRams.org
CALIFORNIA ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1937 • 1947 • 1951 • 1957 • 1959 • 2002 • 2007
When in the hell is the last time
we scored five goals without any contribution from RPG? Holy shit, man.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:55 PM PST reply actions
No points for
Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Koivu, or Selanne. And five goals. Damn.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:56 PM PST up reply actions
You're right
I was going off what they were saying on the broadcast.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:58 PM PST up reply actions
He's a totally difrerent player from earlier this season
Probably helps that BB is giving him the time to develop that Carlyle never would.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 8:59 PM PST up reply actions
RPG has played a really strong game
Despite not finding the scoresheet. Very similar to the game against Vancouver.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:01 PM PST up reply actions
A lot of times that happens
He’s in the zone all by himself. On that last chance, it seemed more like he was trying to dangle and wait for support than trying to go it all alone. And they did recover the puck.
Just not sure what the guys is supposed to do when it’s him all by himself and three players on the opposing team.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:04 PM PST up reply actions
He may legitimately be feeling some heat from Sbisa's strong play
Not in a negative sense, but I think Sbisa’s stellar play could be getting him to up his lvevel.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:03 PM PST up reply actions
I set the record straight earlier today on Leafs fans thinking Kessel is better than Getzlaf. Check out my top comment.
by JuMowbray on Jan 18, 2012 9:03 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Phil Kessel
Rode a hot streak earlier in the year, often seen as the losing piece in a big trade and picked last in the all star draft
Could be better but I’m kinda intoxicated so :)
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 9:11 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah when I posted they had just scored. I don’t see them as a threat for the 8th spot as much as some of the other teams ahead of them.
It’s amazing how we have 4 more games in hand than them, but it’s still sad that they can top off 7 points ahead of us. We need them to start losing.
We need a lot of teams to start losing. At this point, the Ducks just need to take care of business and we’ll see where they stand come late February/early March.
www.LosAngelesRams.org
CALIFORNIA ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1937 • 1947 • 1951 • 1957 • 1959 • 2002 • 2007
I get the whole “the Ducks need to take care of business, and let everything else fall in place” argument, but it doesn’t hurt when other contenders lose. So I’m still going to be watching the standings, as it’s still important.
Pessimism is running through my veins right now (visit CGB to find out why), so I am positive that no other team is going to help me out. Hahaha. The way I look at things, they are going to need 60 points in the second half to get a shot at a playoff spot.
Also, your a Sac. Kings fan, right? How are things going with the arena search there? Just curious to see if they are going to try and move again. Haha.
www.LosAngelesRams.org
CALIFORNIA ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1937 • 1947 • 1951 • 1957 • 1959 • 2002 • 2007
I wouldn't be too worried
Anyone outside of the Central Division has been so wildly inconsistent that they will even out eventually. If the Ducks keep playing like they have, then they will be in contention when they need to.
Has anyone noticed
That people who post trade speculation are all insane? It seems that every fan thinks that their garbage is worth a struggling teams star. Here’s an idea: Blake and a 7th round pick for Rick Nash. That makes sense right?
Was thinking about this same thing when I was at dinner today. It’s like everyone wants to turn their garbage into gold, without giving up an asset of value. So dumb. Some extremely bad trade proposals out there (mainly on TSN forums).
I saw one earlier today that was: Edmonton acquires Ryan Suter; Nashville acquires Shawn Horcoff and Eric Belanger.
If the Ducks hold on
BB would be even as a head coach. Good for him.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:17 PM PST reply actions
Kurtis Foster was a shootout participant in a must-win situation. Anything can happen with Carlyle.
by JuMowbray on Jan 18, 2012 9:20 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Best player on the season. While I still think Murray gave up way too much, he should be given credit for having the guts to bring Beauch back in the first place
by bhlloy on Jan 18, 2012 9:40 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
It's really nice to see us star to bury those breakaway chances
Would have helped if we could have done that earlier this season.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:20 PM PST reply actions
The one great thing Wisniewski did
Was fuck up Doan that one game
by Dixie Normus on Jan 18, 2012 9:24 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe even more impressive
is the fact that we didn’t get the first goal in this one. The team has a ton more moxie now.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:23 PM PST reply actions
Three Stars
3) Cogliano
2) Bonino
1) Beauch
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:24 PM PST reply actions
More proof
I should be a professional hockey writer :)
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
They got a standing ovation to end the game
Remember like 10 games ago when they were getting booed off the home ice?
I try not to remember the entire first half of the season . . .
www.LosAngelesRams.org
CALIFORNIA ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1937 • 1947 • 1951 • 1957 • 1959 • 2002 • 2007
Points in 7 straight games
Ties our longest streak from last season.
by PhantomPretender on Jan 18, 2012 9:30 PM PST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Anaheim Calling
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
CK Photo Galleries
