Ducks vs. Les Habitants, Bell Centre

OH YEAH BABY.

Now that's what I like to see. At the end of the Eastern Canadian swing of the Ducks' road trip, the Ducks play a great great game in the, as we are constantly reminded, historical home of the Montreal Canadiens. (All I can think of when I hear that team name is Dan and Casey on Sports Night) We started out strong, 2-0 in the first six minutes, and then slipped on the PP again. Once again, the third and fourth lines came out like gangbusters, another goal for Kent Huskins, another assist for Big George. I love seeing him racking up the points, proving he's not just another piece of muscle. Second goal of the game? Ryan Getzlaf, assist from Corey Perry. Two games in a row with points from the people who are supposed to be scoring points for our team! Yay! Of course, then the Habs scored twice and took us into the first intermission tied at 2. And we started so well... The biggest shock for me in this period was when Corey Perry (?!) got into a fight. And won it. WHAT?! Since when does Perrs take five for fighting and Parros not? Since tonight in Montreal, apparently.

The Habs opened up the second period scoring (pause for the author to make gagging noises and ugly faces), but that 3-2 lead didn't last long because along came... Corey Perry! Yes, a Gordie Howe Hat Trick for the right winger with a talent for instigating. I love my boy... After that, the period is all about Anaheim, both in the back of the Habs net and, unfortunately, often in the penalty box. I'm not sure how Perrs's diving call came about, I swear the Habs player actually got him. One of the Habs ended up in the goal crease behind Carey Price (who was switched in for Jaroslav Halak after the Perrs goal) and put his hand down on the puck, stopping a second Perrs goal, and Perrs took a penalty shot. And missed. Oops. Doesn't matter though, because we finished out the period up 5-3, thanks to a Kunitz goal and an absolutely lovely short-handed rush goal from Travis Moen. Even my mom though it was a beautiful play. He slid between two Habs, grabbed the puck and just flew down the ice to bury it in the net. That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it.

Third period meant... Time for another Anaheim goal! On the power play, Anaheim crashed the net and Teemu Selanne put it away. You could just feel the crowd at Bell Centre go still. 6-3 Ducks. And these are the Habs who are a favourite Cup contender? I don't think so. They managed one more in a fairly uneventful third, mainly marked by the Habs getting frustrated and the refs letting them play. But at the end, 6-4 Ducks. Giggy stopped 47 shots, Scotty Niedermayer played almost 28 minutes, and the season is looking just a little brighter from this part of the hockey world...

Season Opener: Ducks v. Sharks @ HP Pavilion, 10/9/08

It's a new season, yay!

So... Thoughts so far:

LEAFS BEAT WINGS! YAY! Take that Wings.

Not loving PrimeTicket's new game animations, the scores are not so easy to read. Bah.
I do like the Ducks Quest for the Cup comic book style game opener. It's funny.

I approve of being nearly halfway through period one with no Ducks penalties, but we're not doing so well in the shooting/scoring place in the world and I really think we gotta work on that. Corey Perry, my hopes for the season rest on you. You killed in the preseason, keep it up, man.

Elsewhere in the NHL, we wonder where the Bruins defense went. I mean seriously, the Avs got 20 SOG in the first? Dude. Step it up, guys.

Joe DiPenta is playing in Sweden? Weird.

Jeremy Roenick is earning my displeasure. Stop hittin' m'boys, Roenick, or we'll send Parros after you and then you will be flat.

HAH. Sharks take the first penalty. Now we get to see if Ducks have stepped it up on the special teams. I don't wanna see what we saw last year. C'mon, are we the hockey Clampetts?

Guys, there are four of you who are not Corey Perry, someone clear a path for Perrs. The man is a better sniper than you, help him out.

Top of the second. Why does Chris Pronger have a playoff beard already?

Apparently, because he needs it. Sharks first blood. Jonathan Cheechoo, you're on notice.

Followed by two Ducks penalties in a row. GUYS, THIS IS NOT GOOD. DO YOU WANT TO LOSE?

Oh, fuckalle. 2-0 Ducks. You boys better freaking step it up.

And ANOTHER penalty. I'm gonna come down there, guys. Haven't we talked about this penalty thing? This is why my dad says you're thugs.

And it took nearly five minutes for NHL.com to catch those two points. It registers the goals, but not the points. Well done, NHL.com. Your GameCenter is FAIL.

I feel like the Ducks have given up. I'm not feeling good about this. Two absolutely All-Star PP units and we can't score, we can't even keep it in the zone? I am appalled. This is not how we start a Cup run.

*BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP* 4th Duck penalty of the period. Bump that noise...
FOR REAL. LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LATER AND WE'RE ON THE PK AGAIN. *BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP*

Minute 4 of Period 3, Ducks penalty. Holding, tripping, hooking... Either we're sucking royal, or the refs hate our breathing guts.

3-0. I'm losing all faith.

I'm thinking 'WE SCORE! FINALLY WE SCORE!' And two minutes later... they score again. 4-1 Sharks, 3:54 left in the 3rd. Buggeralle this for a larke.

FINAL: 4-1 Sharks. NOT GOOD, BOYS.