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Throwback Night: The Return of Bobby and the Masked Duck |
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Tonight will be the first of several 'Mighty Ducks' throwback nights in commemoration of the team’s first 20 years in the NHL and it also marks the return of Bobby Ryan.
-This is Ryan's first chance to face the traded this past summer. The 26-year-old spent his first six years in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks after being drafted by them in 2005. In case you forgot, Ryan was an offensive machine for the Ducks. In the 378 games in which he wore a Ducks jersey he collected 289 points and 147 goals. Ryan scored 30 or more goals in four consecutive seasons from 2008 to 2012 and had a career high 71 points (34g 37a) in 2010-11.
Ryan has been very good for the Ottawa Senators; picking up two goals and two assists in the team’s first four games to lead the team in both goals scored and overall points.
With Ryan leading the way the Sens are off to a slow start. Ottawa in just 1-1-2 in its first four games and are winless since opening night. On the bright side, each game has been decided by a single goal with two decisions coming via the shootout.
Tonight's game is the fifth of a six game road trip out west for Ottawa and is the first of two meetings between the Ducks and Sens.
-The Ducks are hoping to extend the current winning streak to four with a victory tonight against Ryan and Senators at the Honda Center. The Ducks dismantled the New York Rangers 6-0 on Thursday night in the team’s home opener.
For the Ducks, Jakob Silfverberg has been even more impressive. He leads Anaheim with four goals and five points in four games.
A win tonight and the Ducks are off to their best start since 2011-12.
-Ryan was clearly a fan favorite during his time in Anaheim. His return to the Honda Center is a little bitter sweet. In a way it finally puts an end to the Ryan years by providing some closure to his tenure. The last couple of seasons were rough on him with all the trade rumors and verbal jabs between he and the team. The arrival of Silfverberg and his quick start has taken away some of that bitterness. I'm hoping that it's Jakob and not Bobby that puts on a show tonight for the Honda Center fans.
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This evening the Ducks will wear the original Mighty Ducks jerseys from their inaugural season in 1993. In addition, all fans in attendance will get a 1993-94 team photo to take home with them and 14 players from the clubs first season will be in attendance to celebrate 20 years of Anaheim Mighty Ducks/Ducks hockey.
Here is Jonas Hiller's custom mask for this season....
Vintage Selanne...
Ah, the good old days.
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