Before I write anything else or anyone posts something else, the Ducks showed an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude last night. They could have very easily quit or gone with “we will fight another day,… but they didn't. A salute to coach Randy Carlyle who decided to go for it down three goals with just over three and a half minutes left in regulation. I can't see Bruce Boudreau pulling off the same thing. Additionally, the Ducks used almost the same players throughout their rally. It is a positive statement about both the athlete's conditioning and determination. That shouldn't get lost in the controversy.
My Brief Story
Last night was one of those nights when my wife wanted me to spend some extra time with her. Of course, I wanted to watch the game. I compromised, she watched Netflix on the television while I watched the game on my computer with headphones on. After the second period, she could tell I was in a bad mood and suggested we get some sleep. Another compromise, she fell asleep and I listened to the rest of the game on radio. If you get a chance to hear the Ducks audio of the final minutes, it will be a treat.
Lets Talk About It
I admitted I didn't see the third goal live, but I've seen the replay 30 times. When Rakell put the puck in the net with 15 seconds left, play-by-play man Steve Carroll's voice broke. Steve and analyst Dan Wood threw around terms like unbelievable and instant classic. Then came the review. Listeners could tell by the broadcaster's comments that they were also a bit unsure of goalie interference while watching the replays. Upon further review play stood as called.
This morning I watched the rest of the game from about the 16 minute mark on for context. There are a few indisputable facts:
1) Benoit Pouliot should have put the game away at 18:19, but hit the post when he had a huge chunk of open goal to shoot at. 2) The Ducks out-hustled Edmonton in the final minutes of the third period. 3) Edmonton did a horrible job clearing the crease on the Ducks first two goals. 4) Mark Letestu blew a chance to clear the puck out of the Oilers zone right before the third Ducks goal.
The Goal. Darnell Nurse was all over Ryan Kesler. He pushed Kesler into the crease. Further, the Ducks center was sandwiched between Nurse and Oiler goalie Cam Talbot with no way to get out of there. Kesler's glove got stuck between Talbot's knee and leg pad. Stop!
At that point, what should Kesler do? The answer is to get up and get back in the play. He needs his left hand to do that. He was pulling his hand out, not opening the five hole. The referee on the ice called it a goal, Talbot did not protest. You can bet that if a goal is scored and the goalie feels he was interfered with, he'll say something especially with the stakes as high as they are.
The review was inconclusive, therefore the goal stands. There is nothing there to glean intent other than Nurse trying unsuccessfully to beat the crap out of Kesler.
About the time the goal was scored Nurse put an elbow into Kesler's head/neck area which pushed RK17's face into Talbot's blocker. Shortly after Nurse took the Ducks center down backwards and tried to put on a modified dragon sleeper. Was Nurse aware of the goal at that point? Maybe, but the replay on that is inconclusive. All in all Nurse didn't do his job on the play and it cost his team.
Edmonton's loss isn't on the refs, they had ample opportunities to put the Ducks away and didn't.
Parting Props
John Gibson got over his second period rough patch. Over the final 54 minutes of the game, he was “money… and gave the Ducks a chance to comeback and win. Talbot, in a losing effort, stopped 54 of 58 shots, while not allowing a goal in 57 of the first 60 minutes and through the first overtime including 8-for-8 on the penalty kill.
Ryan Getzlaf's play in the post season has been nothing short of magnificent. So far, he is the MVP of the playoffs.