Steve Palumbo: Ducks hit the road for the first time this season

Lets' see the line allotments stay the same for all at around 15-16 minutes... That has sure seemed to help keep guys fresh.

Looks as though Comtois pulls into the lineup...

Play that steady D and don't hang JG out to dry and we should come out with 2 pts.

Got out of the car and it was 1-0 Detroit. By the time I started following the game again it was 3-1 Ducks. Ricky and Jacob got the goals not the fourth line. Nice win but not reading too much into it. So far they’ve beaten two teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year and aren’t expected to this year, and a good team that’s playing poorly right now. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts but talk to me in December.

Got out of the car and it was 1-0 Detroit. By the time I started following the game again it was 3-1 Ducks. Ricky and Jacob got the goals not the fourth line. Nice win but not reading too much into it. So far they’ve beaten two teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year and aren’t expected to this year, and a good team that’s playing poorly right now. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts but talk to me in December.
- DiggerCal

Nuts to that ....
After the disaster of last year I’m celebrating every win even if it’s over my beer league team.

Team is so much quicker and faster -
JG simply a Monster -

This year (besides playing a faster game overall) they're crashing the net, something that was sorely missing under Carlyle. First 2 goals last night came directly from rebounds that were put in.

The post was our friend last night, and whoever watches in game video deserved the #1 star. We played an okay roadie. We still have 3 more to go on this trip. Pitt is missing their #2 and #3 centers, and Boston may have lost Rask last night. Fingers crossed we can win a couple more.

Lundestrom looked pretty comfortable between Rakell and Silfverberg. Guhle played a solid game. There is still some stuff to clean up, but a lot of the youth is playing at the level we hoped for and the overall pace is way ahead of last year. Yeah, they got outshot (again), but Detroit has a pretty good 1st line that can generate chances. The overall balance is pretty refreshing - 8 goals from 8 different scorers so far this season and every line seems to be able to make plays. I will dare say that Derek Grant has already been more effective this season than Kesler was all of last season.

It isn't all smoke and mirrors like it was last year. Pitt and Boston, despite any injuries, will be good tests. I don't expect the Ducks to win them both, but if they can at least be competitive, it might lend credence to the otherwise crazy idea that this team could make the playoffs.

DBinOC