While I was listening to the game, I was beginning to think that neither team actually wanted to win it. Actually, no, I take that back. Edmonton wanted to win the game for their fans as it was their last home game of the year. Edmonton's fans on the other hand, probably didn't want to win because it wouldn't help their draft position. Either way, it was a booooring game. To be quite honest, I was watching the Kings and Sharks most of the time.
Also, another game without a fight in the stands, so that means SK has survived a game in Edmonton. She's off to Calgary next!
GOOD
-- Jeff Deslauriers played moderately well. If Jonas Hiller is going to continue to be a workhorse again next season, Deslauriers will make a good, cheap, seldom-used backup. Dan Ellis' contract is up this year and he's coming off of major sports hernia surgery. We don't know if he's ever going to be the same again, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Ducks let him walk.
-- Ryan Getzlaf is an offensive machine! Two goals in two games. For those of you keeping track at home, that's 11 goals for Getzy on the season. (The more impressive, and very Getzlaf-like number, is the 45 assists.) On the game winning goal scored by Getz, it happened after Ryan Whitney rocketed a puck around the boards. The puck landed practically on Getzy's stick as he was waiting behind the play. From there he hauled ass all on his own and put the puck behind Devan Dubnyk. Bruce Boudreau had a great quote on why Getzlaf scored the game winner, "He had no one to pass to."
-- After scoring tonight, Bobby Ryan is one goal away from his fourth consecutive 30 goal season. Of active NHL'ers, the only other person to accomplish the same milestone - Alex Ovechkin. He's got one game left to hit his goal.
-- We know that the Ducks have struggled on the face-off dot all season. It only takes one game against the Oilers to get everyone's confidence back: Getzlaf 15 for 20, Saku Koivu 8 for 12, Rod Pelley 9 for 15, and Nick Bonino 4 for 8.
BAD
-- Lubomir Visnovsky left the game in the second period after two shifts after taking a massive hit from Shawn Horcoff. He is said to have an "upper-body injury" and is day-to-day. With only one game left, we probably won't see Lubo again this season.
-- The game may not count, but the Ducks were out shot 2 to 11 in the first period. By the end of the game, they were out shot 17 to 26.
-- Giveaways were horrible! The Ducks had 23 to the Oil's 13. Repeat offenders during the game: Luca Sbisa (4), Saku Koivu (3), Ryan Getzlaf (3), Lubomir Visnovsky (2), Sheldon Brookbank (3), and Jeff Deslauriers (2).
UGLY
-- Both the Sharks and Kings made the playoffs tonight. They'll be annoying for the next two weeks until they're eventually bounced.