Winner
The Ducks lead the Western Conference Finals 3-2 after another overtime game. This time the Ducks pulled the game out during bonus hockey as opposed to the previous two OT contests. during the series. A win tonight puts Anaheim into the finals. If they lose, game seven will be at The Pond, Saturday night. All of the Duck-verse is rooting for the former.
To tell the truth, I'll be happy when this series is over. The constant sniping and trolling has worn me thin. I'd rather talk hockey than who did what to who five years ago. When Kings fans, who post here, say its getting out of hand, that is a good indication things are indeed a bit out of hand. The other reason I'll be glad to go to the next round is very selfish. I need more sleep. The late games combined with an elevated heart rate that comes form close contests and overtimes is playing havoc with my circadian rhythm.
I jest. At this time of year, I relish every bit of good hockey. It helps carry me through the summer. I'd rather be writing about the playoffs than who the Ducks might draft with their late first round pick in the upcoming draft.
Credit Where Due
A couple of days back, I wrote a “Notes to Self… blog. Under Ryan Getzlaf, I had, “We can score 10 goals in three minutes, but as the captain I have to remind the team that the other guys don't quit." Hello!
The Ducks jumped out to an early lead, but Chicago didn't tap out. Joel Quenville stuck with his goalie, Corey Crawford even after yielding three Duck scores in the first period, telling NBC's Brian Engblom between periods, “We have too much invested.… His faith was justified. Crawford held tough and his team rallied.
The Blackhawks deserve their props for coming back from 3-0 and 4-2 deficits. A lesser group of players very well could have packed it in for the night and looked to regroup at home.
Chicago certainly isn't going to ease up now, because there is no tomorrow for them if they lose. Coming back the way they did last game is like adding STP boost to an already high octane fuel mix. There will be plenty of energy from the home side tonight.
Calling Freddie Out
As unusual as it seems, Frederik Andersen must improve his concentration level. He has to be mentally drained at this point and its quite understandable. This is the big stage however, and money players must step up. Over the past two games, Andersen has allowed nine goals on 68 shots, that's an .867 save percentage. Frankly it isn't good enough. Jonathan Toews game tying goal with 38 seconds remaining Monday was as close to inexcusable as it gets for him. Maybe the only positive to come from Andersen's poor performance was that his teammates, for the first time in what feels like forever, stepped up for him and won the game.
WCF Game 6 – Ducks @ Chicago
Even with his recent lapses, Frederik Andersen will be back in goal tonight. There is almost no way Boudreau makes a change now and he shouldn't. Andersen has been outstanding for the better part of two months and two bad games don't justify a switch.
If there were to be a change in the lineup, it should be Chris Wagner inserted back on to the fourth line. He plays a solid checking game, in limited minutes, he averaged 2.5 hits a game and its always good to have an extra face off guy available (33-55, 60% in the regular season), just in case. Wagner was a game time decision in Monday night before Boudreau opted to go with Tomas Fleischmann, so his addition to the lineup would not be a surprise.
I thought Fleischmann was OK in game 5, but certainly replaceable. Rickard Rakell looks like he may have hit a wall. His only point of the playoffs came in game three of the Jets series. Additionally, as this series has worn on, Ricky Rack has looked over-matched in the faceoff circle. A rest may due him good. Here is tonight's expect lineup:
Forwards Maroon-Getzlaf-Perry Beleskey-Kesler-Silfverberg Cogliano-Thompson-Palmieri Two of Fleischmann, Wagner, Etem or Rakell with Sekac
Defensemen Lindholm-Beauchemin Fowler-Despres Stoner-Vatanen
Goalies Frederik Andersen John Gibson
- Ed