Anaheim Ducks Weekly Round Up

Anaheim Ducks weekly roundup: 11/10/14-11/16/14

11/12 Anaheim over Los Angeles: 6-5 S.O. win

The Ducks returned to last year's form with a comeback win over the reigning cup winners from Los Angeles.  Anaheim was down 5-3 with under six minutes remaining in regulation before tying the score off of goals from the Ryans, Kesler and Getzlaf.  Ryan Kesler may be proving himself as the missing piece to a cup run, his stellar play on this night resulted in 2 goals and 1 assist, he also scored in the shootout along with Jakob Silfverberg.  Jason Labarbera is proving to be a reliable veteran back up, he was inserted in goal mid game, replacing Freddy Andersen who just didn't have it that night.  Labarbera was a solid closer who also stood tall during the shootout, saving 14 out of 16 shots in regulation in just over a half an hour of ice time.  The 3 stars of the night were Ryan Kesler with 2 goals, an assist, and a shootout goal, Jakob Silfverberg with 1 goal, 1 assist, and a shootout goal, and Ryan Getzlaf with the game tying goal.  This was a much needed win over  fellow contender and division rival.

11/15 Los Angeles over Anaheim: 3-2 O.T. loss

Sadly the Ducks did not have the same resiliency in tonight's game, falling 3-2 to the Kings, the same team they had beaten 3 nights before.  Etem and Kesler scored for the Ducks who were up 2-1 at one point but could not hold onto their lead, giving up a short handed goal to Toffoli and 2 power play goals by Kopitar and the game winner, a tap in off the stick of Jarret Stoll just over 2 minutes into overtime.  It comes as no surprise that Freddy Andersen made 34 saves on 37 shots, an solid outing and effort considering he was only 7 for 10 just 3 nights before.  A couple of penalties and unlucky bounces led to the Ducks' demise.  A footnote to this game is that Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin were held out of their 5th and 3rd straight games both due to the mumps.

11/16 Florida over Anaheim: 6-2 Loss

Well, good news was that Corey Perry returned, bad news being that he could not help much in a disgusting 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the lowly Panthers.  Hampus Lindholm and Andrew Cogliano scored for the Ducks and Nick Bjugstad led the way for all skaters with 2 goals and 2 assists.  This game also marked the return of scrappy forward, Kyle Palmieri who had just come off an ankle injury, missing the first 18 games of the season.  This game is just a sad one for Anaheim, these guys are a contender and Florida is a cellar dwelling relocation candidate, averaging around 10,000 fans a night who most likely cheer for the other team.  The Panthers have some young talent, but there is just no excuse for this bad of a loss to a  team whose average age probably doesn't reach high above 25.  Ducks need to hit the x's and o's hard, can't be losing to a team like these especially when they start a perennial back up goaltender, hopefully Perry and Palmieri were just a little rusty and will be fully prepared to contribute ASAP.  Franky Beauchemin was out for his 4th straight game, he's a solid D man that the Ducks need back desperately.

Addition Notes

Ducks saw the return of Kyle Palmieri and Corey Perry, two forwards who contribute in all facets of the game and the Ducks missed dearly.

Francois Beauchemin is still out with the Mumps, his return will be a good one, he is a top 2 d man who is responsible on both sides of the puck.

Ducks played 5 straight Overtime games, going 1-4 in those match ups.