Well, the games may not count, but the boys sure do keep things interesting. This is another game that I thought we would get slaughtered. Yeah, one of the creepy twins (Daniel Sedin) isn't playing, nor is Kevin Bieksa, but Vancouver is still pretty good.
The Ducks might have actually won this one had the Vancouver Canucks left Roberto Luongo in the game. Bobby Lu was pulled in the second period, after allowing 4 goals on 15 shots. How bad was Bobby Lu playing? With the exception of a Corey Perry goal (37th on the season), he was scored on by three completely unlikely Ducks: Devante Smith-Pelly, Rod Pelley, and Ryan Getzlaf. Say wha? Yes, Ryan Getzlaf.
Before everyone jumps all over me for pointing out this stat on Getzy, I'll say that his play has improved dramatically the second half of the season - which has made his lack of goal scoring completely bearable. Anyway, the last time Getzlaf scored a goal was on March 2nd at home versus Calgary. I believe I also heard on the telecast that the last time he scored a goal on the road was in October.
Tonight wasn't Jonas Hiller's best game of the season, but he certainly kept the Ducks in it. Especially in the third period, when at almost 15 minutes in to the period, the Ducks had registered only 1 shot on goal, and Vancouver was having a million power plays in a row.
SK was at the game tonight. I didn't see any fights in the stands, so I'm assuming she made it out of there alive. That would have been a totally different story had the Ducks ended up winning. She'll have a report for us when she gets back from her Ducks stalking vacation around western Canada.
GOOD
-- New Bash Brothers! Tonight, Luca Sbisa, Matt Beleskey and Devante Smith-Pelly lead the team with 4 hits a piece. Beleskey was insanely aggressive, sometimes too much, but that's his game. I say this a lot - the Ducks are so much better when they are physical.
-- I love playing against Robert Luongo. In two meetings with him this season, his GAA is 4.92 with a SV% of 0.849.
-- Bobby Ryan had a great night with 3 assists. He actually looked comfortable out there. This is what I expect of Bobby every night, even more so now that he's said he's ready to take over once Teemu hangs 'em up...in 2019.
-- Since these last three games have no impact on the Ducks, Bruce Boudreau is throwing together all kinds of line combinations. Some of the unconventional ones worked out, like on the 3rd and 4th goal. The 3rd goal was Ryan-Pelley-Smith-Pelly with the goal scored by Pelley. The 4th goal was Smith-Pelly-Koivu-Ryan and Smith-Pelly was the goal scorer. Almost looks like a four player line...
-- I don't know what got into the usually fundamentally sound Canucks, but they were turning the puck over like crazy tonight. I would expect that more of us, not the team that's tied with the Rangers for the best in the NHL.
-- The power play scored for the first time in at least 6 years (give or take a couple days). The penalty kill went 5 for 5, as well. On the latter, it kinda helped to not have a creepy twin there and possibly Toni Lydman.
-- Jonas Hiller played pretty well tonight. He wasn't great, but he definitely kept the Ducks in it by stopping 35 of 39 shots in regulation and overtime. He even stopped a David Booth penalty shot in the first period...
BAD
-- ...Speaking of penalty shots, oh man, Hiller needs to work on that in the off-season. On the second shot scored by Alexander Edler, Hiller barely moved. It was like he was frozen. The game winning shot scored by former Duck (for approximately two-ish weeks) Maxime Lapierre, Hiller did some sort of belly flop that left my dad and I saying, "What the hell?"
-- I do love me some Saku Koivu, but I'm not sure I agree with BB using him second in the shootout - or in the shootout at all. My preferred lineup would be #1 Bobby Ryan, #2 Corey Perry, and #3 Teemu Selanne.
-- George Parros was a healthy scratch again tonight. I can justify it against Vancouver because Aaron Rome isn't in the lineup, and he's the closest thing Vancouver has to an enforcer. Yet, if he doesn't play against Edmonton, I would be hard-pressed to believe that is a good sign for his future in a Ducks uniform.
UGLY
-- I forgot how completely allergic to leads the Ducks are. I should be comforted by the fact that they did get the lead three different times in the game, but at the same time, they lost the lead three different times.
-- During the second intermission, John Ahlers and Brian Hayward were discussing the Ducks roster going into next season. They counted Justin Schultz like he was going to be there and didn't even mention his unsigned deal. Bad magumbo, if you ask me.