Back Off the Ledge + Anaheim Ducks Game Night
By Ed Stein
No need to worry Anaheim Ducks fans, all is not lost after a few poor outings. The Ducks try to get back on track tonight in Toronto.
Keep Calm and Play On
So the Anaheim Ducks got whacked in Montreal on Saturday afternoon against a team on a three-game losing streak. No Big Deal. So goalie Ryan Miller got beat like a rented mule by “offensive weapons” like Joe Morrow, David Schlemko, and Logan Shaw. No Big Deal.
So they made Antti Niemi, a goalie with a goals-against average over 4 and with his third team in a little over a half a season, look like the second coming of Patrick Roy. No Big Deal.
Its no big deal because getting worked up about a February road game which was:
- A) in the middle of a five-game road trip over 3,000 miles from home.
- B) in the middle of winter in Canada.
- C) against the most storied franchise in NHL history.
Even if they tank the rest of this trip, it’s not worth hitting the panic button. Why? I’ll give you a few good reasons.
First of all its only the beginning of February, the playoff race won’t be settled this week. Next, these five games are on the road, and out of conference, if a team is going to lose games, these are the ones. Third, the Ducks have been point gathering machines since getting healthy in late December; a brief slump is to be expected. Finally, the teams Anaheim are battling with for a playoff spot are stacked up like cord-wood and none of them is pulling away.
Game Night: Anaheim Ducks @ Toronto Maple Leafs
The Ducks face another original six team tonight taking on Toronto at the Air Canada Center. Earlier today, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun tweeted about how eager Anaheim is to turn things around.
Ducks held a team meeting/video session this morning. Clear in talking to Ducks players today that their performance in the last 2 games not acceptable in their eyes. Should be a good one with the Leafs tonight.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 5, 2018
After an early hook in Ottawa, Ryan Miller has something to prove tonight as he minds the Ducks net. Reto Bera, a will again back him up, however, John Gibson practiced this morning and may be able to start tomorrow night. Coach Randy Carlyle may switch up his lines again as a result of Anaheim scoring three goals in two games.
Forwards
Rakell-Getzlaf-Silfverberg
Ritchie-Henrique-Kase
Cogliano-Kesler-Brown
Wagner-Vermette-Perry
Defensemen
Fowler-Bieksa
Lindholm-Manson
Beauchemin-Montour
Next: Where does Corey Perry fit?
Goalies
Ryan Miller
Reto Berra