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Two poor efforts leave the Ducks fuming

October 22nd, 2009, 7:00 am · 11 Comments · posted by Eric Stephens, Staff writer

To paraphrase a bit from the late Oscar-winning actor Peter Finch (pictured), the Ducks are mad as all heck. The real question is whether they’re not going to take it anymore.

newnetworkConsider that after three days of stewing over a 5-0 home beating at the hands of St. Louis, their response Wednesday night was falling behind to Dallas by three goals and being severely outshot by the Stars in the process.

That the Ducks rallied to make it a close game in the third period did not assuage any ill feelings. In fact, the temperature seemed to rise in the dressing room afterward.

When asked if guys are fed up, Ryan Getzlaf said, “I think so. I am. It’s kind of at that point where we’ve got to decide if we’re going to play and we’re going to be a good hockey team. I’m more fed up with myself than anything.”

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle was seething between each word that he uttered in his postgame news conference.

“My message is that obviously what we did prior to this game and to the previous game against St. Louis wasn’t enough,” Carlyle said. “Because the results in the hockey game are one where we got beat 5-0 and then in the other one, we were down 3-0 in our building until the third period.

“We showed some spunk but we’ve got to be prepared to play all six periods like we played the third period. And we as coaches have to take responsibility for that.”

The Ducks have the next two days to decide when they’re mad enough to take it out on the next opponent, which is a solid Columbus team that made its first playoff appearance last season.

“I think there’s definitely frustration,” captain Scott Niedermayer said. “That’s part of an NHL season. You have to be able to deal with that and put that aside as quick as possible. So that’s really our job right now.

“The way we played in the last little bit of the game is how you do it and you’ve got to be consistent with that effort. A couple of days of practice with that same attitude and start the next game the same way.”

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 11 Comments

  • Shaquille Bzhezinsky says:
    October 22, 2009 at 8:19 am

    It’s amazing how the team that has so much talent, plays so poor. Seems like pieces of the puzzle do not fit.
    Maybe Ducks GM Bob Murray has different opinion?

  • JohnP says:
    October 22, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I think it’s too early to be looking around for options or answers in other players or a new coach. That being said, Randy needs to put the finishing touches on a talented team that hasn’t realized it yet. To take a page from the current World Series situation, the Yankees had a horrible start to their season but once the talent on the team clicked…well most of you know the rest. The team isn’t doing ANY of the basics…bottomline. Someone mentioned ‘did they even have a training camp?” Hell i’m not so sure and how can Ebbett be accused of not performing when the rest of the team looks like this? Getz finally gets a goal…where’s Ryan? Selanne started off hot…where’s Koivu? Sbisa was going to learn from Nieds…while Boynton sits…why’d they pick him up.

  • Chaz says:
    October 22, 2009 at 8:46 am

    I hate HATE saying this but we looked lost out there on the ice for the first two periods. Why do we insist on reserving our play for the third period only?

  • Alisa says:
    October 22, 2009 at 9:45 am

    I agree. We absolutely look like a lost team out there. Our PP looks HORRIBLE. Getzlaf and Sbisa running into each other behind the Ducks net on a breakout on the PP when there are no other Stars players around? Give me a break.

    What Getzlaf did last night on his goal, why did he wait until this many games into the season to take the reigns himself and do something?

    Ryan, he’s not using his size, his strength, his skill.

    Koivu, he’s been almost non-existent.

    I don’t understand why Boynton sits either. What the heck did we sign him if he’s going to enjoy the view from the pressbox?

    I thought we weren’t going to keep Sbisa in Anaheim unless he was a top 4 defender. He’s not getting those minutes, so why don’t we just send him down to Lethbridge, or give him a real opportunity to play?

    Our dmen on our 2nd PP unit are Eminger and Sbisa? Give me a break. Eminger? He’s a better PP man then Boynton? Seriously?

    It’s painful, PAINFUL, to watch this team on the ice right now. I think that the players need to look at themselves in the mirror and they’ve got play harder, be more assertive, be more aggressive.

    The wheels haven’t quite fallen off yet, but it’s starting to get bumpy.

  • bb says:
    October 22, 2009 at 10:23 am

    If other players would bring to the ice what Marchant brings Every Shift - we’d be Ok…

  • Ducked Up! says:
    October 22, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Sbisa needs to go back to Lethbridge. We are banking too much on a 19 year old kid that lacks the strength and grit to play big minutes at the NHL level. He has the talent but he’s trying to make home run plays every time he touchs the puck and ignores his passing options. Have you noticed how many times he tries to go end to end with the puck?

  • ASeg says:
    October 22, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    Little effort, very disappointing. Its amazing seeing the team “experts” picked to be in last in the western conference holding on to first. Should have stayed home and watch the Avs/Wild game on Center Ice and saved the drive to Anaheim….

    Disappointing season, Ryan and Koivu are non factors… only reason they won vs the Flyers, Teemu Selanne’s 3 goals… otherwise it would have been another game like last night.

    I hate when the fans boo at the end of bad periods and games…. but I’m getting it more and more.

  • ref you suck says:
    October 22, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    I’ll use the restaurant analogy- Keep serving bad food to your guests and they will leave. Not that the Honda Center food is horrible or anything but the hockey has been 10 times better in recent years. The empty seats are a reflection of it. As a season ticket holder- we spend a lot of cash on the night- tickets, dinner, parking, baby sitting, etc. I remember when I used to look forward to the games. I wish I could now. Get it together Ducks!

  • backcheck says:
    October 22, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    This line from ES scares me, “The Ducks have the next two days to decide when they’re mad enough to take it out on the next opponent,”

    One good game maybe? And then what?

  • Lynne says:
    October 22, 2009 at 2:51 pm

    I said the same thing last night. The Ducks were not even on the ice for the first 2 periods..then suddenly they showed up in the 3rd period. OMG, it is just very painful to watch with the talent we have on thsi team.

    I think we should be playing Boynton too. He is pretty good and has that veteran experience.

    Maybe RC needs to start sitting some people down. Get them hungry to learn how to play hockey again.

    I also said to some of my fellow season seat holders, they need to set in a room and watch that game tonight..every second, every stupid play, every mistake…all 3 periods of it. If they had to sit through with what we had to sit through, it would be a much better team.

    I have faith in this team, but they better turn it around now..still have alot of games to make something happen.

    GO DUCKS…2009-10

  • Jeffrey says:
    October 22, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Love this quote from Getzy….When asked if guys are fed up, Ryan Getzlaf said, “I think so.

    I THINK SO???????

    I’m fed up, and I’m not even on the ice playing….how the hell can not be…I think so???? Either you are or you’re not!!! You are the corner stone and the future of this franchise Getz….You’d better start acting like it…and right now. You should be seething, litterally foaming at the mouth. Unless this is a calculated plan to get rid of Carlyle and get a new coach….you guys should be ashamed of yourselves with such pathetic play.