Personal Note 1: I'd like to thank those who their condolences to my family on the passing of my mother-in-law. To top off a crappy week and a half, which included two 12+ hour road trips, my three kids and I all came down with the stomach flu. It was the kind of week can only be wished upon a playoff opponent.
Give Two, Take One
As a brief review the Ducks had a “fair… week against conference opponents. They gave away two points as they blew third period leads in both Winnipeg and Edmonton coming away with only one point in each contest. Anaheim did manage to pull out a third period victory in Calgary Sunday night which regained them first place in the Pacific Division.
Random Thoughts
* Patrick Eaves has earned himself a big fat raise with his career best 30 goal season. Off the ice he may look like he belongs in a Geico commercial, but on it he has been a breath of fresh air on a team that was having a stale season before the bearded wonder showed up. #fearthebeard
* Speaking of raises, Jonathan Bernier proved he can backstop a team down the stretch. He will be a hot free agent this off-season.
* Shea Theodore belongs on this team. He is certainly ahead of Korbinian Holzer and I think he's slightly better than Brandon Montour.
* The atmosphere in Edmonton will be electric during the playoffs.
* When I'm his age, I hope I look 75% as good as Sandy Koufax looked at Dodgers opening day.
* It was strange to see the Ducks play Sunday night without their pair of Scandinavian defensemen.
Calgary @ Ducks
Tonight the Ducks finish up their home and home series with Calgary. They have dominated their visitors from Alberta at the Honda Center, winning 24 straight. Another win tonight could go a long way to the Ducks playing Calgary in the playoffs, with the home ice advantage.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle has not announced a starting goalie yet. He probably wants to get John Gibson some additional ice time before the playoffs, but Bernier is a solid option as well. Things on the Anaheim blue line are just as muddy. It looks unlikely that Hampus Lindholm will overcome his UBI and return to the lineup. Sami Vatanen injury woes may keep him out of the game as well. Up front, expect the status quo. Here is the projected lineup:
Forwards Ritchie-Getzlaf-Eaves Rakell-Vermette-Perry Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg Wagner-Thompson-Shaw
Defenseman Fowler-Montour Theodore/Vatanen-Manson Theodor/Holzer-Bieksa
Goalie Gibson or Bernier