On paper, the preseason opener against Phoenix was a close one, but the Ducks were never really in danger of losing it.
Some thoughts about the game last night:
- So, that Bobby Ryan kid is pretty good, eh? None of his three goals for the night were particularly pretty, but they were effective. Honda Center was only about half full last night, but you wouldn't know it from the volume of the "Bobby" chants.
- Joffrey Lupul, on the other hand, seemed like he spent most of the night warming up. He wasn't skating particularly hard and lagged behind a few plays. Then, when the team needed him most, he potted a very slick shootout goal over Jason LaBarbera's shoulder. It's good to see him back in a Ducks uniform, and the shots that he did manage to pop off make me very interested to see how he looks on the seemingly-inevitable line with Selanne and Koivu.
- Apparently, a happy Mike Brown is a dangerous Mike Brown. The guy was all over the ice, ramming everyone he could into the nearest board and smiling about it afterwards. Prior to tonight's game I had stubbornly hoped Brownie to stay on the fourth line with George Parros. However, if he can keep up the tenacity that he had tonight, he'll be better used on a checking line* with Todd Marchant and...
- ...Evgeny Artyukhin. Seriously. Evgeny Artyukhin. He may have displayed stone hands last night, but they couldn't weigh him down. The man was all over the ice mopping up everything that Brown left behind. A few of his hits were awkward and he invited a couple of holding calls (the thankfully didn't come), but with a little time to refine his skills he could wind up being a major role-player this year.
- Who greased up the sticks before the game? They were falling out of players' hands left and right - Dan Sexton's most of all (but that didn't stop him from notching two assists, so I suppose it's alright).
- It occurred to me while watching the game that it can't be easy to be Peter Holland right now. When you're looking up the roster and seeing Ryan Getzlaf, Saku Koivu (!) and Todd Marchant as surefires, plus have guys like Nokelainen, Carter, Christensen and Ebbett all ready and willing to play Center ahead of you, you know it's going to be a long road. Unfortunately, it also seemed to occur to Peter Holland that it can't be easy to be Peter Holland right now. His little mistakes built through the night, and by the end of the game he was sitting on the bench, hanging his head like a scolded grade-schooler. He definitely needs some more time to develop.
- As does Timo Pielmeier. The goal he gave up was mostly due to Sheldon Brookbank's sudden and inexplicable decision to take a nap with the puck in the crease, but some extra lower-body strength on Pielmeier's part would have been enough to keep that puck on the right side of the line.
- Hiller looked pretty good out there, even if the goal he gave up was an unfortunate one. He has to work on that rebound control, though. There were too many juicy second chances just waiting to be had. It's a good thing, then, that Phoenix is apparently too cool to capitalize on second chances.
- If you've noticed how little I've said about the defense, it's because less is more in this case. Luca Sbisa was decent, but was veering way too low whenever he got a chance (I caught Mike Brown covering the point while Sbisa was crashing the net on two separate occasions; it really ought to be the other way around). Poor Steve Eminger mostly looked lost out there. Brookbank and Mikkelson both made too many little mistakes for the outing to be considered a true success, and Brian Salcido didn't fare much better (though he was definitely the best of the three returning Ducks defenders and showed some much-needed tenacity). Only Nick Boynton really held his own out there. Then again, we're talking about the preseason opener, so there's plenty of time left for three of these guys (and/or maybe possibly Brett Festerling) to rise to the call.
- Last but not least, Troy Bodie won a few hearts last night with his fight. If and when he gets called up to the big game, I'll be happy to see him. That said, he's another one of those unfortunate bubble players who's probably too good for the minors, but won't be able to cut it in the majors. Maybe if he grows a moustache...
All in all, it was a fine showing for the flock of new Ducks. Call it premature if you like - you won't be wrong to do so - but I'm sensing very big things for this team.
Until next time...
-The Raving Duck
*Yes, I know that there have been rumblings of the Ducks attempting to roll three scoring lines at the expense of a true checking line, but I won't believe it until I see it. The configurations of Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan, Selanne-Koivu-Lupul, Marchant-Brown-Artyukhin, and Parros-Nokelainen-(probably Carter) seem too solid not to try in most situations.
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