Open Gameday Thread: Vancouver Canucks @ Anaheim Ducks

ROBBY:

I don't know about you, but I'm approaching my wits end. As I write this, my Chargers are currently down by 14 points to the lowly Oakland Raiders. Oddly enough, there are quite a few parallels between the Chargers and the Ducks. Both are talented teams that many expected to make the playoffs this year. Both teams got off to uncharacteristically good starts before hitting the skids and both teams feature star players that are badly under performing.

Simply put: I'm not having a good sports Fall so far. [Ed. Note: Thank goodness the Padres aren't playing...]

The Ducks had another team meeting on Thursday where they discussed how to turn the season around. We'll see if it helps. This is becoming an annual tradition. Call me a skeptic, but if the vision of a normally calm Teemu Selanne going off in Washington couldn't spark this team, I'm not sure that a rational discussion between the head coach and the players will help either.

The effort was certainly there against Nashville, but this squad runs the risk of not being able to take solace in that for too much longer. It's a results-oriented business, and if the Ducks don't start winning games soon, it won't matter how good they can be as the hole they've dug may well be insurmountable.

The Ducks face a Vancouver team that has also performed below expectations to begin the season. Through the same number of games as the Ducks, the Canucks sit only two points higher in the standings. Unlike the Ducks, Vancouver has actually managed to find the net, but have also given up goals at approximately the same pace.

The Ducks have played up to the level of their competition this season. Let's hope Corey Perry is motivated to prove that he rightfully earned the Hart and that the Ducks find a way to get a bounce.

Go Ducks.