So, the wise-guy reporter suggested, perhaps Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf should have visited a dentist sooner.
“Seriously, eh?” Getzlaf responded after matching club single-game records for assists and points with five helpers in Wednesday night’s 5-4, overtime victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings at Honda Center.
In four games since he underwent unplanned dental treatment Oct. 21 in Toronto, Getzlaf has put up 10 points, including three goals. In six games before having a virus removed from his gum and missing a 3-2, shootout triumph over the Maple Leafs later that night, Getzlaf had one assist.
Maybe all the Ducks should have root canals.
Getzlaf began his big night by setting up a Teemu Selanne one-timer. Getzlaf’s second assist came when he again fed Selanne, and Selanne’s ensuing backdoor pass intended for Scott Niedermayer deflected off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja and past goaltender Chris Osgood.
Like the first two, Selanne’s third goal came on the power play, after Getzlaf had roared into the Detroit zone on right wing and passed back to defenseman Chris Pronger, who faked a shot before dishing to Selanne for another one-timer.
Brian Sutherby’s go-ahead goal at 12:56 of the third period came after Getzlaf crunched Niklas Kronwall near the end boards, knocking the Red Wings defenseman off his skates and enabling Corey Perry to swoop behind the net and feed the onrushing Sutherby, who was just coming off the bench.
And perhaps Getzlaf’s best play led to defenseman Francois Beauchemin’s decisive strike 1:39 into overtime. Driving toward the net, Getzlaf undressed veteran Detroit defenseman Brian Rafalski, who hooked Getzlaf to no avail, and Beauchemin converted a mid-air deflection after Osgood had poke-checked Getzlaf.
“He’s unbelievable,” Selanne said, marveling at the 23-year-old Getzlaf. “He still doesn’t know how good he can be. I can’t see any reason why he couldn’t be the best player in this league. He has everything.”
So how did Getzlaf rank his performance?
“It was up there,” he said. “To contribute as much as I was able to was a big thing for me — just confidence-wise, going ahead. For me, it’s just a matter of keep on getting better, and keep pushing. Not every night you’re going to be able to get that many assists, but if I can contribute in other ways, that’s a big thing.”
While Getzlaf “had no idea,” a very interested spectator was former Red Wings superstar Steve Yzerman, who now serves as a vice president with the club. More important, Yzerman is the newly named executive director for Team Canada and will have the primary voice in choosing that nation’s 2010 Olympic team.
“That’s far from my worries right now,” Getzlaf said.
Maybe so, but you can bet that if Getzlaf wasn’t already on Yzerman’s short list to be in Vancouver in 2010, he is now.
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Why do the Detroit Red Wings fall so easily? And why is this league rewarding this style of play?
The Ducks are not respected around the league by other teams, GMS, coaches, the media and the refs. It kind of goes back to being owned by Disney, I am grateful they financed this team and helped start them but it also produced an imaging problem.
In answer to your question, i believe the red wings fall so easily because they expect and usually do get the calls. Mind you, no one fell for the tripping penalty called on Kunitz. Aren’t you supposed to fall when tripped?
The league rewards this style of play, I think, because Detroit is a powerhouse team and has done much for Hockey. The Ducks are still slowly climbing the ladder of respect and we have a long way to go.
The Ducks got called cheaply against the Red Wings because they are the “golden team” of hockey. It is like playing the Red Sox, Yankees, or USC. No matter what they are always going to be liked by the media and leagues. They get the calls to help try and keep up the “winning” tradition. But how does the league explain the other poorly called games?
Hey, I think I was the first one to joke that the problem was the tooth!!! (read blog entry Ducks’ Getzlaf down in the mouth) Don’t try and say that some reporter said it first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks Detroit is a bunch of divers. The reason they get the calls is because they’re Bettman’s butt bunnies who don’t fight.
jason, you are definitely not the only one who think the red wings are divers. For such a great team, they sure do have a hard time staying upright on their skates. Ducks dont have that problem. But then again, the ducks don’t seem to be able to “buy out” ref calls either….
Being a KINGS fan i do not like to say much about the ducks…but getzlaf is awesome. hes got moves for sure. (REFERENCE) toe drag in OT last night!!!