Getting Boarded
Before I get to the preview of tonight's game, the accompanying message Ducks boards has to be discussed. So lets go over a few things, bullet point style.
* I love to see opposing points of view. Two people can see the same thing two different ways and completely disagree about what happened. Furthermore, I support a fan's right to express his/her opinion on the message board. I don't support acting like a five year old. Which brings me to...
* The Jim Rome rule. Please express your opinion, I even encourage the fans to put up some good smack, but some of the recent stuff posted is weak. Anyone with a 70 I.Q. Can write “you stink… or “your team and your fans are losers.… So, in the spirit of Van Smack's #1 rule, “have a take and don't suck.… If you have something to say, say it; but for Pete's sake back it up with something. Even simply the word “scoreboard… is better than a blanket “you stink.…
* No more complaining about things players did or didn't do several months and years after the event happened. For example, I am a NY Giants football fan. I don't get on football boards and bitch that Ray Lewis shouldn't have played in Superbowl XXXV for the Ravens because he killed someone the year before in a bar fight (who cares if he was never found guilty of murder). Without Lewis, Big Blue would have won the game. An extreme example, but it points out the silliness of what's been going on.
* Finally, Duck fans SPEAK UP. Please don't let other team's fans run your board.
WCF Game 3 – Ducks @ Chicago
Tuesday's triple OT loss was heartbreaking, but not devastating. There is no need for panic or dismay for the Duck faithful. Any intelligent fan knew the Ducks weren't going to sweep this series. Lost in the shuffle of the defeat is that Anaheim held the high powered Blackhawks scoreless in roughly five periods of hockey after surrendering two power play goals in the opening six plus minutes. Additionally, Chicago's seventh defender Goal Post made several key stops to keep the Hawks in the contest. With a little different puck luck, the Ducks could very well have won the game.
The Ducks need to come out and play their style of hockey. Stupid penalties must be eliminated. Chicago is a good team and facing them in their arena with literally one hand tied behind the back is a recipe for failure. If they keep the big picture in view and take one of the next two games, they will win back home ice advantage.
Expect to see the same group from games one and two. Why make a major change, when the current group has played well for the most part.
Forwards Maroon-Getzlaf-Perry Beleskey-Kesler-Silfverberg Cogliano-Thompson-Palmieri Sekac-Rakell-Etem
Defensemen Lindholm-Beauchemin Fowler-Despres Stoner-Vatanen
Goalies Frederik Andersen John Gibson
- Ed