WCF: Anaheim vs Minnesota

[Guyute]

Starting this Saturday.

Schedule:

1 Sat. May 10 Anaheim at Minnesota ABC, CBC, RDS 3 p.m.
2 Mon., May 12 Anaheim at Minnesota ESPN, TSN, RDS 7:30 p.m.
3 Wed., May 14 Minnesota at Anaheim ESPN, TSN, RDS 9 p.m.
4 Fri., May 16 Minnesota at Anaheim ESPN2, TSN, RDS 10:30 p.m.
*5 Sun., May 18 Anaheim at Minnesota ESPN2, CBC, RDS 7 p.m.
*6 Tue., May 20 Minnesota at Anaheim ESPN, TSN, RDS 10:30 p.m.
*7 Thu., May 22 Anaheim at Minnesota ESPN, TSN, RDS 7:30 p.m.

[folgersnyourcup]

This should be very interesting. Vancouver just seems to be clinging on for dear life right now. They'll be very lucky to escape this series with a win against the surging Wild. Whoever gets out of this series though will have to play again on Saturday. That's 4 games in 6 days.....fatigue has to play some part in game one of the WCF's. I honestly think the Ducks will have a much better chance against Vancouver though. If the Wild win, they will have a huge amount of momentum having won three straight. If Vancouver somehow survives this series they will feel battered having been crushed twice and played so many games in so few days.... Plus, the Canucks have the big scorers the Wings and the Stars which the Ducks have been able to neutralize so well while the Wild are like the Ducks who play for the most part looking for a mistake and spread all the goals around instead of having to rely on the top guys like Vancouver.

I was rooting for the Wild these past two games to try and drag this thing out to 7 but now I hope the Canucks are able to finish them off at home for the Duck's sake. The WCF will be a battle though just like the 2nd round but I think the Ducks can pull it out in 6 or 7 if they play Vancouver. It's too bad the Wild aren't in the Eastern Conference though and didn't finish off New Jersey in route to the ECF's. I think it would be very interesting to have an all lower-seed SCF sorta like the Wild Card world series the Angels won.

[crazy4canes]

I corrected the title for you, guyute. Wow, two underdogs. I think I'll be rooting for the Ducks. :D

[Jeff O Rocks]

I think Anaheim will take it in 5..... :roll:

[Alicia]

I think I'm going to go with Ducks in 7, to be safe.

[Shell]

44 seconds in and ducks are on a power play.. hope they make the best of it! (and remember how to score on a PP)

[Shell]

Manny is in (and just made a great save)

[Shell]

and another obstruction holding call, I guess we know what the ref's focus of the day is..... (this time Wild are on the pp)

[crazy4canes]

Another Wild pp. :eek2:

[hyena]

hmm.. i was really expecting roloson to get the start for the wild, but fernandez has looked sharp. but giggy has too, thank goodness. :D

ducks in 6.

quack quack quack

[tommy]

That was the worst period I've seen Anaheim play so far this playoff season. They were talking on ABC about how Zholtok got more chances in the first 10 minutes than Modano got in the entire Conference Semi-Final. They are lucky that the Wild missed some open shots, hit a post, and that Giggy was on top of his game. They can't keep up that kind of play.

[Shell]

especially if Ozo keeps turning it over!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

JS Giguere is god. He's god. That's all there is to it. He is the god of goalies. :eek:

[hyena]

HOLY S*** what a save by giggy! :eek2: :eek2:

[drwFischerFan2]

That save was unbelievable! :eek:

[Alicia]

I hate these games that go scoreless into the 3rd period...

[talkingcanes]

if JSG wasn't as sharp as he has been, it sure wouldn't be scoreless. the rest of the Ducks look out of sync.

[mikus]

how was that save??????????
can't wait to see it tommorow in nhl.com :)
and yes, indeed, giggy rules all..

[tommy]

Great defensive game, but Minnesota is outplaying Anaheim, considering that they are probably much more tired than the Ducks. Giguere is indeed a super-goalie. Looks like Fernandez was a little complacent there at the end, almost got scored on as time ran out. How weird would that have been. All I think is that the further this game goes, the harder it will be for Minnesota to win; sometime they have to be getting tired. And the Ducks are playing smarter defensively than they did in the first, with the exception of Ozo getting caught up ice every other shift.

[Alicia]

Man, that was close!! :crazy:

[mikus]

Man, that was close!! :crazy:
???

[SouthernHockeyChick]

For those of us watching on ABC....if they break into OT with a weather report one more time I'm gonna go ballistic!!! :mad:

[Alicia]

Man, that was close!! :crazy:
???

Giggy, he's starting to scare me.

[mikus]

what....the game has started already?
nhl.com says "End of Period 4"

http://nhl.com/onthefly/scoreboard/htmlreports/GS030321.HTM

[Turbulence]

Don'tya just love OT playoff hockey?
Just got back from Greenville a few minutes ago....from what I gather Minnesota has dominated, suprisingly... I'm extremely exprised to see Fernandez in goal, but he's looked sharp over the 2 or so minutes I've seen of this game.

Giggy has the 3rd longest shutout streak in the playoffs in history...he's on fire!

Go Ducks! (Solely based on the fact that they have a better chance of beating NJ/OTT)

[Kat]

what....the game has started already?
nhl.com says "End of Period 4"

http://nhl.com/onthefly/scoreboard/htmlreports/GS030321.HTM

I noticed that actually... nhl.com is flat out wrong. They were showing "End of Period 4" when there was 15 min left in the 1st overtime (also known as Period 4).

And yes, Jiggy is the goalie god.

-Kat

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Guys...I know it looks like Minnesota has been dominating this game but did you ever feel like the Ducks were dominating any game in these playoffs so far? I mean, weren't they out-shot in nearly every game so far? They look like the same team to me....I feel like they will pull it out like usual....hope they do anyway. :crazy:

[mikus]

what....the game has started already?
nhl.com says "End of Period 4"

http://nhl.com/onthefly/scoreboard/htmlreports/GS030321.HTM

I noticed that actually... nhl.com is flat out wrong. They were showing "End of Period 4" when there was 15 min left in the 1st overtime (also known as Period 4).

And yes, Jiggy is the goalie god.

-Kat
hm the saves are updated....35 saves so far :smoke: :eek:
edit: 36 :eek:
fernandez 23

[mikus]

my question:
how is giguere doing that? http://www.fifastadt.de/images/smilies/confused.gif http://www.fifastadt.de/images/smilies/confused.gif http://www.fifastadt.de/images/smilies/confused.gif :D


edit: soooo what shootout now???????????

[Alicia]

That is such crap!! Obviously the refs have been trying not to call anything, but come on!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

edit: soooo what shootout now???????????

No, thankfully, the NHL doesn't do shootouts. They'll just keep playing OT periods until someone scores....even if it takes all night. :spin:

[hyena]

ooo, another overtime. anaheim is just not getting many shots off -- i hope they pick it up some and end it in this period.

quack quack quack

[mikus]

edit: soooo what shootout now???????????

No, thankfully, the NHL doesn't do shootouts. They'll just keep playing OT periods until someone scores....even if it takes all night. :spin:
that's funny....imagine....10th overtime period...the players are creeping over the ice :crazy: :D

[drwFischerFan2]

Guys...I know it looks like Minnesota has been dominating this game but did you ever feel like the Ducks were dominating any game in these playoffs so far? I mean, weren't they out-shot in nearly every game so far? They look like the same team to me....I feel like they will pull it out like usual....hope they do anyway. :crazy:

Yep, Anaheim was outplayed in majority of the other games. But it's just that ESPN has now jumped off the Anaheim bandwagon, and onto the Minnesota one.

[talkingcanes]

did yall hear them say that player for Minnesota was due at the hospital at 6:00 their time because his wife was having labor induced?? Now that's pressure. I can just hear him begging them to get it done so she won't kill him :eek2:

[hyena]

Yep, Anaheim was outplayed in majority of the other games. But it's just that ESPN has now jumped off the Anaheim bandwagon, and onto the Minnesota one.
yeah, i noticed that too. now that the two underdogs are playing each other, minnesota's getting all the love. :roll:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Wooooo Sykora!!!! Told you the Ducks would pull it out.

GO DUCKS!!!!

[hyena]

YESSSSSS!!!!! :D

[Alicia]

GO DUCKS!!!

[tommy]

Sykora scores his second OT game winner of the playoffs! (Number 1 was in 5OT vs. Dallas.)

Great defensive game... If Kuba hadn't been pinching though, Sykora and Leclerc wouldn't have gotten the 2-on-1, but oh well, it was nice to see someone finally score... even the Wild fans were cheering afterwards.

I still think Minnesota will win the series, but Gigere might prove me wrong... he is incredible!

[drwFischerFan2]

Go Ducks! I could see this series stretched into 7 games, hopefully with the Ducks coming out on top. I think that Giguere is starting to creep into the heads of the Wild.

[Canesluver]

Way to go Ducks! And finally!!!!
For a second I thought I was going to have to change into my p.j.'s -- this one could have lasted forever!!!! :)

[Stormbringer]

A little late (I just came back from eating out...), but...

YES!! One down, three more to go!

http://www.missfantastic.com/miscellaneous/toiletduck.jpg

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! :D

Go Ducks! :spin:

[crazy4canes]

Giguere is starting to impress me a little. ;):beatup: Another incredible game by Giggy. Go Ducks!

[RIO]

PHOOOOOOOEY!!! ......*sigh* Go Wild. :beatup:

[Turbulence]

If Giggy's that good, I'd have to say the Ducks are the favorites to win the cup right now...he was superhuman yesterday.

Quack!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Uh....HELLO!!!! One of the ESPN announcers just said that Oates was the only player in the NHL that was older than his coach. Did Ronnie retire when I wasn't looking? :roll: :mad:

The Ducks are looking good....up 1-0 right now. I swear Giguere is getting better with every game lately. Can we trade that draft pick, Irbe and Tanabe for him? ;)

GO DUCKS!!!

[tommy]

If Minnesota loses this game, they're screwed.

NOT.

Minnesota has been playing much better on the road during these playoffs. If they can manage to just catch Jiggy out of position once, or sneak one by him, they are back in the game, and the series. But it would REALLY help to win this game.

They could set a record for fewest goals scored by both teams in one series, though. This series is the antithesis of the 1980's.

[drwFischerFan2]

Uh....HELLO!!!! One of the ESPN announcers just said that Oates was the only player in the NHL that was older than his coach. Did Ronnie retire when I wasn't looking? :roll: :mad:

All of the hockey analysists and announcers for ESPN are idiots. Except maybe for Buccigross, who I think is the only decent one they have.

Giguere looks awesome as usual. I hope the Ducks can have a strong 3rd period and win this game without going into OT.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Two of the three penalties called on Anaheim this game have been utter crap. :roll: Come on Ducks! Hold 'em off here!

WWWWOOOOOO!!!! Short handed!!! 2-0 Ducks!!

[Alicia]

Saweeeet short-handed breakaway goal!

[Turbulence]

Wooo....Go Ducks.
Just remembered that this game was on tonight...missed 50 minutes of the game. :mad:

Did I just hear right that the two goals scored thusfar have been shorties? :eek:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Did I just hear right that the two goals scored thusfar have been shorties? :eek:
Yep, yep!

I'm starting to feel bad for Ronning. :sad: His stick broke to allow the 2nd shortie and he is just SO frustrated right now. But still.....GO DUCKS!!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

153+ minutes shut-out streak. I'm starting to think that no one is going to score on Giguere again....ever! Amazing!

Ducks up 2 games to 0. :spin: Maybe I should have picked them in 4... ;)

And now we are of course immediately on to Baseball Tonight....cause we all give a crap about baseball in May. :roll:

[tommy]

Damn.

Giguere is a freak. Seriously. How does he do it? Now at 153 minutes of consecutive shutout time; which is his FOURTH 100+ minute streak of this playoff season. He is the first goalie since Sawchuk in 1952 to shutout the opponent in games one AND two of a 2nd or third round series. Amazing.

But Minnesota is only 2-6 at home; much better on the road, and have figured out how to get back after going down in the series, so I don't think this series is over. May not be the Wild's time, but it's not over yet.

[hyena]

:D another frickin' shutout. giggy didn't have to make any crazy saves tonight but he's still starting to scare me a little. the wild can say all they want, but there is no way that he isn't in their head.

quack quack quack

[Stormbringer]

(imitates Ben Stein) WOW...

http://www.missfantastic.com/miscellaneous/toiletduck.jpg

Two down, and there are still two more to go...but my gut is telling me that the Ducks might just pull off another flush/sweep here. :spin:

Go ahead ESPN, keep pulling against the Ducks and for the Wild...seems to be bringing one team good luck and the other bad. :D :beatup:

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK QUACK!

[Alicia]

Awesome game! Sorry I didn't contribute to the play-by-play tonight, but my eyes & ears were on it. Giggy's starting to scare me too, but man! He has an uncanny ability to come up square on sooo many shots, I'm beginning to think he is a machine!

[Shell]

well, we forgot to set the tv to record so we missed the first period. However, nothing warms my heart more than seeing a short handed goal scored on a penalty kill that was caused by blatant diving. How sweet it is!

Giggy was only out of position once all game and things went for him. I love watching his calm reactions and saves. Much more my style than Hasek or Cechmanek. The whole team plays calm though. Minnesota shoots, Ducks sweep in (no pun intended), get the rebound, and go down the ice. If they get a breakaway, they don't get that huge energy jolt that makes the puck bounce off the stick. That goal by Niedermayer was nothing short of gorgeous. He was totally free though thanks to more stick breakage. I have to hope and imagine that wood will be back in style next season. Breaking a stick 1 out of 3 shots is just not a good thing for the game.

Glad to see the ducks get it.. and congrats to Giggy on his streak.. long may it run!

[Kat]

I have to hope and imagine that wood will be back in style next season. Breaking a stick 1 out of 3 shots is just not a good thing for the game.

Glad to see the ducks get it.. and congrats to Giggy on his streak.. long may it run!

Congrats to the Ducks as well.

On the wood vs composite stick issue... I bought a composite a week or so ago, and I have to say that it is *really* nice. Granted, I still suck... but it is sooo much lighter than the wood one I had and seems much easier to use. Also, they say that the composites break cleaner and are therefore less dangerous to someone who might get in the path of splintering wood, for what that's worth. :beatup:

-Kat

[brindy17]

ugh...I just keep waiting for these damn ducks to show up looking like the ugly ducklings they are..I've picked against them in every round..and it looks like I'm going to be wrong again..Let's go East, Let's go East! (even if it is NJ..gulp.. :crazy: )

[folgersnyourcup]

Unbelievable. The Wild played a good, solid game one with Giguere playing unbelievable to get the shutout win and then they put together an absolutely dismal game 2.... I'm for the Ducks so it was a joy to watch this game but I just felt a little bad for the Wild.... so many mistakes were made, missed passes, etc. etc. etc. Some of the Anaheim players attributed their play in game one to "dead legs" from the 4 day layoff but they certainly regained their step in time for game two where Giguere had to be good but not nearly as good as in game one to get the shutout.

And with that, Anaheim becomes the first team in NHL history to win the first two games of each of the first three rounds on the road. This team is certainly special. The series isn't over yet obviously, not by a long shot, and if the Wild get themselves in a position down 3 games to one perhaps the Ducks should just go ahead and concede the series, but I'm hoping the Ducks make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

I didn't agree with the Wild's change of goalies however. Fernandez played great in game one. Letting in one goal in a double OT game does not constitute a poor performance. I think they should switch back to Fernandez for game three. Of course whoever they have in goal can't score for them, they're going to need to put a puck past Giguere themselves.

Giguere's definitely my choice for the Conn Smythe trophy should the Ducks make it to the finals.

[crazy4canes]

I bet the Wild can't wait to get out of their building and play in Anaheim. Godawful record at home. :sick: Youthful jitters maybe?

Anyway, that was a great game! Two shorties, wow. If the first goal didn't take the life out of Minnesota that second one sure did. It was suhweeeeeeeeet. :cool: And I am now convinced that Giggy is inhuman. He's in the Wild's heads so much they can't even shoot at a wide open net anymore. Poor *******s.

Go Ducks! http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/tiere146.gif

[mikus]

giguere is god isn't he?

[folgersnyourcup]

Yes, that he is Mikus.

[Canesluver]

I wish you could see Giguere play, Mikus. He's very confident -- very seldom out of postion/square to the shooter -- hardly ever gives up a rebound. Very smooth performance. And on top of everything, he seems to be a pretty humble guy and always credits his teammates for his success. I really enjoy watching him.

I thought that as a whole, the Ducks looked much better as a team last night, than they did in the first game. They continue to impress me in their ability to cash in on their opponents mistakes -- a sign of a very patient team.

One other thing -- as much as I'm pulling for Anaheim, I still don't care for Ozo. . . . . :roll:

[nccanes]

One other thing -- as much as I'm pulling for Anaheim, I still don't care for Ozo. . . . . :roll:

Wasn't it after Game 1 where ESPN kind of isolated on his mistakes that could have cost the Ducks the game? It was a short series of highlights (lowlights?).

[Canesluver]

Yes -- he's giving Turnover Tanabe a run for his money!!

:evil:

[crazy4canes]

Yes -- he's giving Turnover Tanabe a run for his money!!

:evil:

Yeah, but at least he can come up with a game winner occasionally to make up for his turnovers. Unlike David "What's this round black thing?" Tanabe. And he is a +6 in the playoffs.

Not defending him mind you, cause I still think he's a bonehead. :beatup: Just pointing out that he does have some redeeming qualities. :angel:

[mikus]

could you please stop dissing ozolins only because he didn't fit in your defensive hockey? thanks. i know he makes mistakes but a little bit respect please...
i don't like that

[crazy4canes]

He's not being dissed because he didn't fit into Mo's defensive style. I think we all know that's the case. He is, however, being dissed for turning over the puck a lot...which he does. So does Tanabe.

[mikus]

i've seen this here many times, don't you all think it's enough now?

[folgersnyourcup]

I found an interesting article on ocregister.com that explains Anaheim's performance in game one which I personally thought was their worst of the postseason behind the first OT of game one against Detroit.

Schedule change fouls up Ducks


By DAN WOOD
The Orange County Register


ST. PAUL, MINN. – When the Mighty Ducks left Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim after Thursday's practice, their plan was to gather the next day for a flight to either the Twin Cities or Vancouver and open the NHL Western Conference finals Saturday night.

Everything changed when the Minnesota Wild scored an apparently unexpected 4-2 victory Thursday night at Vancouver to cap a second consecutive comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

A flurry of late-night telephone calls between the league, ABC and ESPN personnel, and team officials resulted in the Ducks-Wild game being switched to Saturday afternoon, with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils being flopped to Saturday night.

"I can't tell you how big an issue that is," Ducks coach Mike Babcock said.

The problem was that the Ducks had not arranged a Friday practice, banking on the idea that they would have a Saturday morning skate. As it turned out, they did not, and Babcock pointed to the extended period off the ice as the probable cause for the club's sluggish start in Saturday's 1-0, double-overtime victory in Game 1 against Minnesota.

"You think you're practicing, and then you're not practicing, and now you can't change your schedule because you have a flight," Babcock said. "It's hard to believe that stuff happens."

The Ducks survived, thanks to 39 saves from Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Petr Sykora's goal 8:06 into the second overtime. The Wild, meanwhile, showed no signs of having played three games in four nights against the Canucks.

"We come in here, we can't skate in the morning and now we're in quicksand and we didn't move our feet," Babcock said. "They're flying 100 miles an hour on adrenaline. It's supposed to be track meet, but there's only one representative.

"Let's give them a lot of credit because they were going and we weren't. We have to be a lot better."

The Ducks figure to be improved tonight in Game 2, after a Sunday practice at the University of Minnesota.

"It was good to get a skate and get our feet moving again," captain Paul Kariya said. "I don't think we had our legs most of the (first) game."

[nccanes]

i've seen this here many times, don't you all think it's enough now?

Mikus, there is no question that David Tanabe has gotten more negative ink (pixels?) than Ozo in this message board, but that doesn't cause the Minnesotan Asthmatics to come out asking us to get off him. In fact, I've tried to offer the countering view about Tanabe (young, inexpensive, etc...) a number of times (before I gave up on him too), but I didn't just say "it's old get off him".

In fact, there was great bit of posts in the Anaheim/Dallas thread where a number of folks were very happy for him, numerous posts with photos of the series winning goal, etc.

For the most part, players get props when they shine, :p when they don't. That's what we've done concerning Ozo lately. :)

[Guyute]

mikus, this isn't an 'our players are great, your players suck' thing. people here tell it like it is. Ozo can be a huge liability. period. you can not dispute that.

he's one of the most offensive minded D men in the league. which is why he gets burnt. he gets burnt because he makes bad decisions more often that 'stay at home' Defensmen. the trade off is he can put the puck in the net.

I'm sorry if you can't watch criticism of Latvian players. but, it's going to happen and I suggest you deal with it, just as the rest of us do.

[Jeff O Rocks]

The Ducks continue to do their thing....If they don't hoist that Cup..I will be in shock!! :crazy: Go Ducks Go!!

[talkingcanes]

Welcome back, Mona. Hope you had fun.

and just to stay on topic......Go Ducks :spin:

[hyena]

according to ESPN, the Wild are bringing up Giggy's pads again :roll: :

Some suggest Giguere is 'getting help' (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1552898)

this pisses me off to no end. everybody knows it's BS. at least babcock has a sense of humor about it, though:
"Doesn't anyone want to ask me about Giguere's pads?" Babcock sarcastically asked reporters Monday.
"They are huge. The better he plays, the bigger they get. It's an amazing thing."
:D
quack.

[talkingcanes]

wonder if the NHL will follow through and regulate goalie pad size next season? there's been a lot of talk and not just about JSG. I can't remember which team it was at the end of the season (the memory's not what it was!), but their goalie was wearing HUGE pads, I mean noticeably larger than average.

I haven't noticed it with JSG, but if they are regulated at least people can't use it as an excuse when they lose.

[Stormbringer]

wonder if the NHL will follow through and regulate goalie pad size next season? there's been a lot of talk and not just about JSG. I can't remember which team it was at the end of the season (the memory's not what it was!), but their goalie was wearing HUGE pads, I mean noticeably larger than average.

I won't swear to it, but I could have sworn that I heard quite a few rumors/complaints about the Florida Panther goaltenders and their pads...are the puddytats the team you're thinking of TC?

[nccanes]

I thought they were going to make a change. I know the "extra" pads that some goalies wear (Weekes, for one) were going to be eliminated. While the goalies "claim" they protect their legs, I know I listened to some TV people talk about them being a "door" that closes when the buttefly goalies go down into the butterfly - effectively closing the 5 hole. Didn't seem to help Weekes with his 5 hole this season ;).

[tommy]

Didn't seem to help Weekes with his 5 hole this season ;).

lol.

Actually, Bill Clement was talking about how goalies needed more protection for when players crash the net, which is more common now, and easier to do with the smaller pegs for the posts. We all know how unfortunate it can be when a goalie slams into the goalpost. :crazy:

[mikus]

wonder if the NHL will follow through and regulate goalie pad size next season? there's been a lot of talk and not just about JSG. I can't remember which team it was at the end of the season (the memory's not what it was!), but their goalie was wearing HUGE pads, I mean noticeably larger than average.

I haven't noticed it with JSG, but if they are regulated at least people can't use it as an excuse when they lose.
LOL, this is the one and only correct answer :D :D :D

[folgersnyourcup]

There was some fuss made over the size of Garth Snow of the Islanders' pads at the end of the season. I believe the Rangers GM made the accusation as he was clinging to some hope that the Rangers could possibly make the playoffs.

It's just getting stupid now though with the repeated accusations against Giguere. They've been measured, they're fine, blah blah blah. Should the Ducks make it to the finals will we have to listen to more complaining from whatever team they play there?

Should it be the Devils' I'd imagine Pat Burns would call an emergency press conference and ramble on for 45 minutes about how big Giguere's pads are and how it hurts his stomach and gave his wife indigestion and bruised his kids' leg or the like because of it. He just seems to be so damn smug.

[tommy]

Welcome to the NHL, where if your team wins the Cup, each one of your fans is required by law to come up with an excuse as to why their team didn't.

Common examples are luck, injuries, biased referees, attendance, and other non-existent or non-consequential people, animals, or ideas.

:p

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Welcome to the NHL, where if your team wins the Cup, each one of your fans is required by law to come up with an excuse as to why their team didn't.

Common examples are luck, injuries, biased referees, attendance, and other non-existent or non-consequential people, animals, or ideas.

:p

Don't forget the excuses us fans of the teams that finish #30 have to come up with too. :roll: ;)

[talkingcanes]

There was some fuss made over the size of Garth Snow of the Islanders' pads at the end of the season.

could have been Snow. I just remember saying to the person beside me that his shoulder pads were so much bigger than his shoulders it was incredible.

could have been Florida SB, but I'm thinking it was Garth. It was noticable though and I sat behind that goal all year. I don't remember thinking that about other goalies.

[Jeff O Rocks]

Actually, Bill Clement was talking about how goalies needed more protection for when players crash the net, which is more common now, and easier to do with the smaller pegs for the posts. We all know how unfortunate it can be when a goalie slams into the goalpost. :crazy:

With the puck being shot at them sometimes 100 mph...I am all for their protection...I hope the Wild don't start whining like the Stars did...and the Wings before them!! :mad:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Steve Rucchin scores!!!! I love this guy!!!!

GO DUCKS!!

[Stormbringer]

Oh wow...what an awe-inspiring save on that breakaway by Gaborik! Jiggy's the man, as if we didn't already know that... :spin:

GO DUCKS!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

2-0 Ducks. Ohhhh....that just ain't right. I feel really bad for Roloson after that goal. :sad: But, still, happy for the Ducks.


3-0!?!? No...wait.....off-sides. Well, good for Roloson. I feel so bad for him.

[Shell]

3-0 now! Chistov scores!

and they pull Roloson with 7:44 left in the second!

Quack!

[Shell]

4-0 that didn't take long!!!!!

(under review for high sticking but should count)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

4-0 now!!! If it wasn't a high stick.....and it really doesn't look like it is.

Damn! The Ducks have cracked the Wild wide open. Poor Roloson....at least that 4th one wasn't on him though. :sad:

[hyena]

it counts! 4-0!!!!! :eek: :D :D :D

quack

[Shell]

Kariya going for a hat trick in the second period alone?

[nccanes]

Welcome to the NHL, where if your team wins the Cup, each one of your fans is required by law to come up with an excuse as to why their team didn't.

Common examples are luck, injuries, biased referees, attendance, and other non-existent or non-consequential people, animals, or ideas.

:p

As I've mentioned before I read the Tampa boards occasionally. It's interesting to note that the Caps fans who think they were screwed by the refs in the Caps/Bolts series are STILL posting crap about it on the Tampa Boards and the Bolts are still pissed about the bad refs from the NJ series. Both teams/fans think that the NHL is out to get them, the Caps fans claim the NHL wants new blood, the Bolts fans claim the NHL wants a "big name team" to go further to draw ratings, blah, blah, blah...

I know there are deluded fans everywhere, but when I read someone say "now that the Sens beat the Flyers shows me how close we were to the cup", suggesting that they would have easily beaten the Sens. Huh? How about winning 3 more games vs. NJ first, and then beating the Sens and THEN facing whomever from the WC. :eek2:

If I ever start babbling like that - please pull out the mallet and conk me on the head!

(Sorry to post this in the middle of the in-game commentary, but I'd been meaning to comment on this..:))

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Barry Melrose on Giguere: "The team in front of him isn't getting enough credit"

Really Barry? You've been saying the whole first two rounds that Giguere WAS the team. You keep talking out both sides of your face like this and you're gonna end up lookin' even freakier than you do now. Make up your mind, jerk. :roll:

[Stormbringer]

Barry Melrose on Giguere: "The team in front of him isn't getting enough credit"

Really Barry? You've been saying the whole first two rounds that Giguere WAS the team. You keep talking out both sides of your face like this and you're gonna end up lookin' even freakier than you do now. Make up your mind, jerk. :roll:

As I said before in the NJ/Ottawa thread, when Lucy says Charlie Brown is wishy-washy, she is somehow confusing him with Barry Melrose... :roll:

[Alicia]

WOO HOO!!! I am loving to see the Wild getting trampled like this!! Giguere, as usual, is freakin' AWESOME!! :spin:

[Alicia]

WOW!! Way to go Ducks and congrats to Giguere for posting three consecutive shutouts!! And I think I missed something...why was Rucchin getting booed every time he touched the puck?

[Shell]

wow, and ANOTHER shutout for Jiggy!!!!!!!

Could the announcers have said the word 'shutout' any more than they possibly did??? :crazy:

Congrats Ducks! Quack!

[hyena]

i never expected 3 shutouts. i just....don't know what to say. :eek2:

quack

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Like I said...I don't think anyone will ever score on Giguere again. He's unbelieveable!! :eek: GO DUCKS!!!

[Stormbringer]

Kariya may have not gotten the hat trick, but Jiggy certainly got a hat trick of his own, and is the first goalie to do so since 1945!!

http://www.missfantastic.com/miscellaneous/toiletduck.jpg

Three down and only one more to go for the second flush/sweep to happen. :spin:

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

[Stormbringer]

Could the announcers have said the word 'shutout' any more than they possibly did??? :crazy:

Oh man...my brother and I were cringing every time Gary Thorne acknowledged Jiggy's (then) possibly getting a third shutout. It got to the point where we were screaming at the television to shut up.

It's quite obvious ESPN *really* seems to hate showing some sort of support for the team that swept their beloved Wings, though they're at least smart enough to know that the Wild's goose is cooked...possibly well done if tonight is any indication.

[Jeff O Rocks]

We are ditching the original plan for "taking" Marty B. as our own...on to Giguere!! ;) He is unstoppable at this point!! Go Ducks..you deserve it all!! :spin:

[Alicia]

Again, I think I missed something...why was Rucchin getting booed every time he touched the puck?

[Stormbringer]

Again, I think I missed something...why was Rucchin getting booed every time he touched the puck?

Rucchin was getting booed?! I don't recall hearing booing...but if there was any, I have no idea why...unless Rucchin's done or said something to tick off the Ducks faithful... http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/confused/shrug03.gif

[Alicia]

Maybe I was mistaken and the crowd was yelling some variation of his name??? Or maybe I've had a worse night than I thought... :crazy: :roll:

[Jeff O Rocks]

Maybe I was mistaken and the crowd was yelling some variation of his name??? Or maybe I've had a worse night than I thought... :crazy: :roll:

Maybe you are right about the name thing batesb.....for a few games, when everyone yelled at Weeksey, I thought they were booing him!! :roll:

[Stormbringer]

Maybe I was mistaken and the crowd was yelling some variation of his name??? Or maybe I've had a worse night than I thought... :crazy: :roll:

Maybe you are right about the name thing batesb.....for a few games, when everyone yelled at Weeksey, I thought they were booing him!! :roll:

The name chant would indeed make the most sense...I could easily see how "Ruuuuuuchin!" would sound like "Booooooooo!".

[folgersnyourcup]

Hehe, my dad made the same comment while we were watching tonight's game. He asked me why the fans were booing Rucchin. I believe they were yelling "ROOOOOOOCHIN!" which is why it sounded like they were booing. The first time I heard the Weekes chant at a Canes game I thought it was a boo as well and was perplexed...

Rucchin definitely deserved the accolades from the crowd though. He played unbelievably as did the entire team. I'm glad as well that the rest of the team is finally getting the credit that Giguere has been trying to make sure they get all along. Everytime he's been asked about his success he has been quick to point out that his d-men have been doing a ton of work as well. It's astounding how many shots they blocked tonight and throughout the playoffs they have been great at clearing his rebounds.

This team is obviously something special and Giguere is one hell of a goalie. I really hope they are able to win it all.

[Alicia]

Thanks folg, for the confirmation that I'm not the only one who thought it was booing. Now I can go to bed not thinking I'm crazy! :crazy: ;)

[nccanes]

Didn't seem to help Weekes with his 5 hole this season ;).

lol.

Actually, Bill Clement was talking about how goalies needed more protection for when players crash the net, which is more common now, and easier to do with the smaller pegs for the posts. We all know how unfortunate it can be when a goalie slams into the goalpost. :crazy:

Here's a photo where you kinda see where the add'l pad help in the butterfly position. They "act" independently of the regular pads and do kind of close the 5 hole. I wonder if those do get banned how it might affect the goalies that wear them....

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20030514/mdf277372.jpg

[Turbulence]

I'm sure goalies like Giguere and Garth Snow use those pads to their full advantage...Jiggy wouldn't have his shutout streak with smaller pads.

But he has been invincible this series. I don't know if the Ducks can be defeated by anyone with Jiggy in net. :eek:

Quack Quack Quack.

[mikus]

i can't believe this??
what is giguere doing there?

[talkingcanes]

The Ducks and JSG are obviously playing inspired hockey, but I also think the effort it took the Wild to get through rounds 1 and 2 is starting to take it's toll on them.

[Jeff O Rocks]

The Ducks and JSG are obviously playing inspired hockey, but I also think the effort it took the Wild to get through rounds 1 and 2 is starting to take it's toll on them.

True...I think the Ducks are "destined" to win the Cup..with all their heart and playing some great hockey..I do have to agree that with all the "catch up" and OT's that The Wild had to play did take a toll on them...

[crazy4canes]

Well, what started out as wanting to see the Ducks win has turned into morbid curiosity. I now want to know if the Wild will actually score in this series. Has anyone ever been shutout for an entire series before? :eek2:

[Shell]

i can't believe this??
what is giguere doing there?

Stopping pucks. All of them. It is apparently better form than poor Roloson had last night

http://www.ocregister.com/newsimages/sports/2003/05/mighty3.jpg

[Shell]

Had to laugh at the beginning of this article (http://www.startribune.com/stories/1330/3883550.html) out of the Minneapolis Tribune:

Game 3: Ducks shut out Wild again 4-0
Chip Scoggins, Star Tribune
Published May 15, 2003 WILD0515

ANAHEIM, CALIF. Well, that's it. Get out the rulebook and ruler. It's time to check Jean-Sebastien Giguere's pads. Perhaps there is something to those whispers about the size of his gear.

But don't stop there. This situation calls for more drastic measures. Maybe the Wild should petition the league to crack open Giguere's cranium and make sure the guy is not electronically programmed to be a robo-goalie.

How else do you explain what this bearded masked man is doing to the Wild? His dominance has gone way beyond normal.

[crazy4canes]

"This is huge. This is not where we want to be at all," Wild captain Andrew Brunette said.

Now there's an understatement. You don't want to be down 3-0 in the series? Go figure. :beatup: :p

[Jeff O Rocks]

"This is huge. This is not where we want to be at all," Wild captain Andrew Brunette said.

Now there's an understatement. You don't want to be down 3-0 in the series? Go figure. :beatup: :p

But the weird thing for them is that they have flourished in this situation twice...so we'll see!! :roll: But I have to add I don't think the Ducks will let that happen!! ;)

[tommy]

Giguere.... wow.... machine.... unstoppable.... unbeatable.... unflappable.... impenetrable.... like wall...

sorry, let me get out of my trance.

Giguere, huge pads or not, is simply incredible. Ok, so maybe the pads have kept the streak alive, but do you really think that a small difference in pad size would have made any difference in the playoff run? Seriously, bulkier pads are a LOT heavier, even with new pad technology, and Giguere is STILL constantly square to the shooter.

I, for one, even though I was rooting for Minnesota, think that even with abnormally small pads, Giguere would have some shutout time going... I can't remember the last time I saw him out of position.

He's playing great hockey, and that's all there is to it.

[Canesluver]

Besides loving to watch Giguere play, I really admire how much he credits his teammates. In his interviews he always tries to divert attention away from himself. I like this quote today:

"It is a little surreal," said Giguere, who made 35 saves. "Obviously the team has been playing unbelievably in front of me, the defencemen playing so well, the forwards are coming back to help them. They're blocking so many shots in front of me."

For the whole article: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=41282

And when it comes to J.S. Giguere, I've decided J.S. stands for "just shutouts." ;)

[Jeff O Rocks]

Besides loving to watch Giguere play, I really admire how much he credits his teammates. In his interviews he always tries to divert attention away from himself. I like this quote today:

"It is a little surreal," said Giguere, who made 35 saves. "Obviously the team has been playing unbelievably in front of me, the defencemen playing so well, the forwards are coming back to help them. They're blocking so many shots in front of me."

For the whole article: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=41282

And when it comes to J.S. Giguere, I've decided J.S. stands for "just shutouts." ;)

That is a sign of a team with harmony and glue to hold them together...can you see how it is supposed to be Toronto?? :roll:

...good idea for his new nickname Shawn! ;)

[Stormbringer]

And when it comes to J.S. Giguere, I've decided J.S. stands for "just shutouts." ;)

...good idea for his new nickname Shawn! ;)

Yes it is...I just hope it doesn't give ESPN any more ideas for different ways to get "shutout" in every sentence one way or another during the Ducks' games...

[crazy4canes]

And when it comes to J.S. Giguere, I've decided J.S. stands for "just shutouts." ;)

...good idea for his new nickname Shawn! ;)

Yes it is...I just hope it doesn't give ESPN any more ideas for different ways to get "shutout" every sentence one way or another during the Ducks' games...

Hey, mentioning shutout seemed to work last night. Maybe it's a reverse jinx...sort of like reverse psychology? :beatup:

Or maybe he really is a robot, unphased by superstition. :eek2:

[Stormbringer]

Yes it is...I just hope it doesn't give ESPN any more ideas for different ways to get "shutout" every sentence one way or another during the Ducks' games...

Hey, mentioning shutout seemed to work last night. Maybe it's a reverse jinx...sort of like reverse psychology? :beatup:

Or maybe he really is a robot, unphased by superstition. :eek2:

True...for Jiggy to not at all be fazed by the constant utterings of "shutout", he's truly got the good mojo on his side. If it's not mojo, then (imitates Tommy on a certain episode of Rugrats) maybe he *is* a robot! (insert dramatic organ music here) :crazy:

[folgersnyourcup]

This is all amazing. My father has said the word shutout approximately 227 times over the last three games despite my pleading for him not to and GIGUERE STILL DID IT! Wow.

I don't think the pads are everything either. I agree with Tommy in that Giguere almost ALWAYS seems to be in position, square to the shooter, just staring him down waiting for the shot to hit him right in the chest and then cover the rebound. That, and his defenseman have been unbelievable at clearing pucks, not to mention blocking them!

But, the Wild can complain about pad-size all they want, I'd say that the defining moment in this series came on a save that had nothing to do with Jiggy's pads. In game one, the chance that Gaborik had on the absolutely perfect pass, followed by the unbelievable stick save. Had Giguere not gotten across to stop that shot, this series would be only be 2-1 now and not 3-0.

I would say that and his huge glove save late in game 3 shows that he is more than just the pads. Of course he made an enormous pad save on Gaborik's breakaway early in game 3 but you've got to be good to do that.

I know the Wild were frustrated at the end of game three but I was getting a bit pissed off at their lack of disicpline. Particularly Gaborik's. I think it was the second period when he got away with an absolutely vicious cross-check. He did the same late in the third period and was called for it. That coupled with the Willie Mitchell slashing...... Come on guys, you lost, be good sports about it! Still, if they wanted to send some sort of message, they could've spent the last four minutes trying to get a puck by Jiggy. That would have gone much further than trying to start a brawl.....

Nothing can take away from what the Wild have accomplished though. They are a great team that I think will be right back in the mix of things next year. Unfortunately, their miracle returns from 3-1 series deficits came against the Avs with their lackluster penalty killing and absoultely pathetic and uninspired effort in game 5 of that series and the Canucks and Dan Cloutier. In both of those series, the Wild had scored, and several times! They had gotten less pucks by Patrick Roy who nearly shutout the Wild twice in a row at home but they had still beat him more than once and had already won a game by the time they had to make their miracle comeback. Against Vancouver they were able to victimize Cloutier repeatedly in the final three games and had scored many times on him before having to make the miracle comeback.

But against Giggy, facing a THREE TO NOTHING HOLE???? They have yet to score a goal against Giguere and at this point look like they will not score one. Anaheim moves on to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Wild fans are happy for what Minnesota has done this season and look ahead to next year but remember this season fondly.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I think he just has that something special right now....regardless of how big his pads are....he stops everything...."chip" shots over his shoulders...anything that remotely resembles a shot on goal is a definite NO GO in his direction! It is just awesome to watch him...unless of course you are a Wild fan.. :spin:

[Kat]

And who can forget that skate save against Modano... yeah, that was his over-large pads. :roll:

-Kat

[VandyCane]

I agree with the comments from tommy, folgers and JOR...it doesn't matter how big the pads, if you are out of position you won't stop the puck. This guy knows just where to be. Think back to our season (painful, I know) but how many shots were let in that seemed to go in by a mile. Bigger pads wouldn't have helped and those that bring that up with JS are just in denial about what phenomenal goaltending we have been treated to.

[mikus]

i can't believe this??
what is giguere doing there?

Stopping pucks. All of them.
oh really? :D :D :D

[Turbulence]

Wild captain Andrew Brunette

I noticed that Brad Bombardir was back in the lineup last night after back problems...he was captain before he got injured...is that no longer the case? Or do they switch'em up every once in a while?


The pads case is a non-issue. Many of the saves that he has made (Like the Modano save Kat mentioned) had nothing to do with the pads. While I think Jiggy wouldn't have his SO streak with smaller pads...the guy is still one of the top backstops in the league. Put him in small pads and he'd still do better than the majority of goalies in this league. (At the way he's playing this year anyway...reminds me of some of Weekesie's play in the playoffs)

[folgersnyourcup]

Here's a nice little slideshow thingy an Anaheim fan put together and posted a link to on the messageboard over at mightyducks.com:

http://www.shockwave.com/bin/content/photojam.jsp?doc=240130/1052988731262_10&p=1

[Shell]

That's pretty cool.. thanks for passing along!

[crazy4canes]

Very cool. Some great photos there. Thanks.

[Shell]

Thought this was pretty interesting...

Fri, May 16, 2003
A position of strength
Unflappable Ducks goaltender has all the angles covered
By AL STRACHAN, Toronto Sun

ANAHEIM -- "I'm tired of talking about him," Pascal Dupuis of the Minnesota Wild said.

He also is tired of seeing him. Just like the rest of his teammates.

Every time they get within range of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks net, there's Jean-Sebastien Giguere, larger than life -- about twice the size of life actually -- blocking any view of the net whatsoever.

Giguere's strength is that he's invariably in the right position, so just like the moon blocking the sun's rays in a solar eclipse, he blocks any view of the net to the Minnesota shooters.

He's putting up phenomenal numbers in these playoffs, so much so that there's every reason to believe that, tonight, he will set a National Hockey League post-season record for the longest shutout streak.

At the moment, it's 248 minutes 32 seconds, set by Normie Smith of the Detroit Red Wings in 1936. If Minnesota hasn't scored by the 15:15 mark of the second period tonight, Smith's record will fall.

Before the playoffs, most fans weren't familiar with Giguere. He had spent most of his career in the Calgary Flames organization where he earned a reputation as a goalie who had promise but who tended to give up a bad goal at the worst possible time.

But when the Ducks acquired him three years ago, they turned him over to the tutelage of Francois Allaire, who inexplicably had been fired in Montreal by Mario Tremblay, now an assistant coach with the Wild.

Slowly but surely, Allaire transformed Giguere into an elite goalie. This is not a flash-in-the-pan performance along the lines of Steve Penney, who had one tremendous post-season with the Montreal Canadiens.

Penney's performance in 1984 was out of character. Giguere's isn't. He was one of the best goalies in the NHL all season long, and especially during the second half.

Does he cheat?

That depends on how you look at it. His pads have been measured and are within the legal limits. But as Claude Lemieux of the Dallas Stars put it in the previous series, "I don't know what the regulations are or whatever, but his pads are way too big."

One problem is that the league puts no restrictions on the length of pads. To butterfly goalies -- and that's most of the NHLers, including Giguere -- that's a free pass to block the bottom of the net.

Another problem is that that league lets goalies wear all the upper-body padding they want. Our policemen wear Kevlar bullet-proof vests that are about two inches thick. But goalies who are facing nothing more dangerous than pucks apparently need 12 inches of padding.

There's no doubt that Allaire counsels his charges not only in their style, but on their pads. Garth Snow, another of his pupils, is on the cutting edge when it comes to pushing the limits of equipment size.

There is a suspicion out there that Snow's shoulder pads are attached to the back of his pants by an inflexible rod. When he drops into his butterfly position, that rod pushes up the shoulder pads.

Does Giguere do the same? If he does, he wouldn't admit to it. But there are pictures that show Giguere in his butterfly stance and his shoulder pads up around his ears.

Still, and this point must be made very clear, he is not cheating. He is within the limits of the NHL's rules, such as they are.

Every year, the league's general managers meet and assure everyone that the goaltending equipment does not cause a problem. Pads have been limited in width. So have gloves. What more could a fan ask?

It also must be made clear that the pads are not the main reason Giguere is having such a magnificent post-season. They contribute, but the real key is his positioning.

Allaire has taught him to focus on the puck. That may sound obvious, but there are goalies who worry about a pass that might be available or a deke that might be made.

Giguere moves his feet to correspond to the position of the puck. Nothing else. As a result, he always is square to the shooter.

When he drops into the butterfly, he makes sure that his pads stretch from post to post. The pads are a foot high and the net is four feet high, so there goes a quarter of the available shooting space.

His upper-body padding is of sumo-wrestler proportions so there goes most of the remaining space.

But again, there's a lot more to Giguere's skill than mere padding. If the shot comes into his upper body -- which it usually does because that's the largest body mass facing the shot -- he smothers it.

If it hits his pads and rebounds, Giguere reverts to his original square stance. He doesn't lunge for loose pucks, thereby opening up a large section of the net and putting himself out of position. It's always that basic principle. Respond to the puck.

During the playoffs, he has made two spectacular saves, one on Mike Modano of Dallas, one on Marian Gaborik of the Wild.

Brilliant though they may have been, they were not cause for celebration.

"Any time Giggy is diving, you know something is wrong," Ducks coach Mike Babcock said. "Those were two unbelievable saves.

"But two of them is enough for the playoffs."

That's the basis of the Giguere success right there. If he's in the right position, he'll make the saves without being spectacular.

And the fact he has made only two spectacular saves in 13 playoff games tells you just how good his positioning has been.

GIGGY BY THE NUMBERS

- If Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere shuts out Minnesota for the first two periods of Game 4 tonight, he will surpass the playoff record of 248 minutes, 32 seconds set by Detroit's Normie Smith in 1936.

- Giguere has four shutouts in these playoffs, two shy of Detroit's Dominik Hasek's mark, set last year

[crazy4canes]

They're going to be talking about his pads from now until doomsday. :roll: Get over it already. The guy has had the same pads for years and suddenly it's a problem? Pfft. Go Ducks! :D

[Jeff O Rocks]

The guy has had the same pads for years and suddenly it's a problem? Pfft. Go Ducks! :D

That is so true crazy...it is just because he is not letting anyone score on him...shut outs make people pout and whine!! ;) :D

[Kat]

Hmm... I have seen the bruises on my goalie friend from rec league players... and she wears goalie upper body padding... and these guys are facing 90 mile an hour slapshots? 12 inches of padding sounds about right to me.

I think that we should put that reporter up against a wall, take the winner of the fastest slapshot, a bag of pucks, and a lot of time, and *then* see what he thinks about upper body padding. :evil:

-Kat

[guinevere]

Police officers may wear less padding but they aren't being hit with 40 shots in an hour either. They have to be much more mobile and the kevlar has to be inconspicous to a degree.The purpose is totally different. Bad, bad analogy.

It is funny that this is now the topic of discussion. Its not like the man just dropped out of the sky fulling armed with bionic goaliepads and a smile though I do understand he needs to be plugged in a good four hours to recharge. :smoke:

Guin http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/em74.gif

[Shell]

Here's hoping that Jiggy gets one helluva great birthday present tonight!

[Stormbringer]

Whoa...Jiggy's birthday is today, eh? Cool. :cool: Here's another one hoping he gets a mighty birthday present! :spin:

[crazy4canes]

Woohoo! Happy Birthday Jiggy! http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/party30.gif

[Alicia]

http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/i/ura.gif

Go Ducks!

[Shell]

Wild captain Andrew Brunette

I noticed that Brad Bombardir was back in the lineup last night after back problems...he was captain before he got injured...is that no longer the case? Or do they switch'em up every once in a while?

"Hence the recurring leadership role with the Wild, who rotate the captaincy on a monthly basis."

[tommy]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/instigator/gfx/2002-2003/disneyonice.jpg

lol.

[Turbulence]

Right-o, Shell. :spin:
The defenseman, a regular among the Wild's rotation of captains...Hence the recurring leadership role with the Wild, who rotate the captaincy on a monthly basis.

"It's a great honor anytime you get to wear the 'C' in the NHL," Bombardir said.

[Jeff O Rocks]

That cartoon is funny..but a little sad too...maybe Walt is looking out for 'em!! Best of luck to the Ducks tonight!!

[talkingcanes]

Wonder if Disney will still try to sell them if they win the Cup? I think the mouse has been trying to sell all the sports teams for a while now.

[Shell]

Wonder if Disney will still try to sell them if they win the Cup? I think the mouse has been trying to sell all the sports teams for a while now.

Bettman: Ducks sale unlikely
The commissioner says his feelings are based on 'dealings with the people responsible.'
By DAN WOOD
The Orange County Register

DALLAS – Don't expect the Walt Disney Co. to sell the Mighty Ducks any time soon, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Saturday.

Bettman, in attendance at Game 5 of the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series between the Ducks and Dallas Stars, addressed the perception that Disney is trying to follow up its recent sale of the Angels by divesting itself of the Ducks.

"I'm not sure there is as aggressive an attempt to sell the Mighty Ducks as there was to sell the baseball team," Bettman said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see a change of ownership for a while, if at all."

Bettman's feelings are based on "dealings with the people responsible," he said.

"Under the right circumstances, at the right price, the Ducks could be for sale, but there doesn't seem to be as much of an imperative to sell the Ducks as there was to sell the baseball team," Bettman said.

Tom Hicks, meanwhile, announced that he will maintain ownership of the Stars, after having disclosed plans to sell in September.

"A lot has changed," Hicks said, citing positive work done by Stars president Jim Lites, General Manager Doug Armstrong and Coach Dave Tippett. "It is a lot easier to be an owner right now."

The possibility of a work stoppage when the league's collective bargaining expires next year is undoubtedly working against the interest of any prospective NHL owners.

"It's now May of 2003," Bettman said. "The agreement doesn't expire until September of 2004. We have plenty of time. While there are very fundamental, important issues to be resolved, I'm optimistic. I think we can do it."

[nccanes]

Wonder if Disney will still try to sell them if they win the Cup? I think the mouse has been trying to sell all the sports teams for a while now.

Well they just sold the Angels. World Series Champs and all....

[talkingcanes]

Wonder if Disney will still try to sell them if they win the Cup? I think the mouse has been trying to sell all the sports teams for a while now.

Well they just sold the Angels. World Series Champs and all....

it's probably easier to sell a winner............

Ottawa and Buffalo found new owners under less than ideal circumstances so guess Disney could find a buyer for a Cup finalist or winner.

[Shell]

dammit

[SouthernHockeyChick]

double dammit. :cry: Way to start your b-day game. And stupid, freakin' basketball made me miss the first five minutes!!! :mad:

[Shell]

at least the announcers were sure to say that the entire country missed a great 5 minutes of playoff hockey :mad: Do people even still watch the NBA??

[Shell]

Whooohooo!! Oates scores!

both goals on the PP!

What flukey bounces LOL.. assist for Bombadir ;)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

at least the announcers were sure to say that the entire country missed a great 5 minutes of playoff hockey :mad: Do people even still watch the NBA??

Only when I'm freakin' forced to!!!


1-1....yipeeeee!!

GO DUCKS!!!

[Jeff O Rocks]

I too was pissed cause the "yawn fest" otherwise known as the NBA, delayed my hockey viewing!! :mad: I am hoping that early goal pissed J.S. off and will make him even more of a force than he already was....good game though!! Go Ducks Go!! :spin:

[Stormbringer]

A little late...but it's now 2-1 Anaheim, thanks to Adam Oates! :spin:

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

[tommy]

come one wild...

theyre playin pretty evenly through 2 periods...

both teams finally scored on the freakin PP... about time!

[Alicia]

Sweeeeeeeeeep!!!!!! GO DUCKS!! QUACK! QUACK!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Sweeeeeeeeeep!!!!!! GO DUCKS!! QUACK! QUACK!

What she said!!!! :D


OK...the Wild players are about to make me cry. :cry:

[Alicia]

OK...the Wild players are about to make me cry. :cry:

Me too! ;) :cry:

[Stormbringer]

Buh-bye Wild...

http://www.missfantastic.com/miscellaneous/toiletduck.jpg (http://www.miserablemelodies.com/ram/yoko-toiletpiece.ram)

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

Oh, and happy birthday Jiggy! He may have not gotten that fantastic fourth shutout, but he got an even better present in a win AND being a Western Conference Champ! Congrats to him and the Ducks!! :spin:

[Shell]

wow, Jiggy stopped 122 out of 123 shots in that series. Amazing!!!!!!!!

Way to go Ducks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hyena]

YESSSSSSSSSS!!! :D :D

SWEEEEEEP!

quack

[drwFischerFan2]

I kind of fee bad for the Wild. But they accomplished a lot more than anyone thought they would, so this is just a growing process for them.

But yay Ducks! Giguere is awesome. Patrick Roy was his idol growing up, and he sure can contend with Roy, but at least he doesn't have Roy's attitude or ego.

[1Irbegirlforever]

While I am thrilled to see the Ducks advance to the finals, i do find myself feeling sorry for the Wild. :sad: They fought a hard battle against the Avs and nucks and won both those series and to be shut out 3 games in a row and then swept must be a hard pill to swallow for them. I think they could have taken some of the games, i guess it just wasn't meant to be. But i am still very proud of the wild and the hard work and dedication they had throughout these playoffs.
So...a big pat on the back for the wild and a big congrats to the ducks for such a great accomplishment.
i can't wait to see what the ducks can do against the Eastern Conf champs. :)

[StormShaman]

I've been wanting to post this ever since the second round...

http://www.totalcaneage.net/fanhome/amusing/assimilatethis.jpg

:smoke:

[Stormbringer]

Heh heh heh... :evil: http://www.freeadpower.org/~mrsmiles/otn/wink/thumb.gif

[Jeff O Rocks]

OK...the Wild players are about to make me cry. :cry:

Me too! ;) :cry:

Me three!! :sad: As much as I wanted the Ducks to win..and I am thrilled that they did...it is hard to see the faces of the ones who lose...unless you absolute hate that team.... and the Wild is not one of those teams for me...they have a strong team...they will be back...as for the Ducks ...onward to the Big Jug....Go Ducks Go!! :spin:

[Turbulence]

Fear the Duck!
Who woulda thunk it? The Ducks in the finals...I think they have an awesome chance of taking it all, too. I can't wait!

Go Ducks!

[Romney]

They are definitely playing good hockey. Although I was rooting for the Wild (the underdog factor, I guess), I'd love to see the Ducks win The Cup. Even if the Ducks don't win, I'm just happy watching good hockey.

Some people just don't get it though "Hockey, in May? It's baseball season now." They must be from somewhere else, because most of us realizes that hockey season never really ends. There are just different phases. ;)

[Canesluver]

What a great game last night! :) And I scared my sleeping dogs (again)!! Way to go, 'ole man Oates!! (I love it when senior players get game winners -- he'll turn 41 this summer!)

And what about Jiggy's amazing .992 save percentage in this series -- mind boggling. In this morning's paper, it said that Anaheim holding Minnesota to only one goal in the entire series is a record, for a four-game series. (Previous record was 2 goals -- Boston in 1935 and Montreal in 1952)

Way to go Ducks!

I was also thinking this morning how great it must be for the Anaheim fans to see all 3 series won at home. . . . all of ours happened in away games last year. . . .

[talkingcanes]

I do feel bad for the Wild and their fans. At this stage I remember that the words "you had a great run" weren't very comforting :sad: The Wild fans were great and I know they appreciate the effort it took just to get through rounds 1 and 2.

Congrats to the Ducks and what an amazing job by JSG :spin:

Now they can wait for their opponents from the East to finish beating each other up :beatup:

[nccanes]

From the Boston Globe:

Maurice: Anaheim won't be sitting Ducks
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 5/18/2003

A year ago, the National Hockey League's Cinderella story was the Carolina Hurricanes and their march to the Stanley Cup finals. This year, all eyes are on the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The Hurricanes came up a little bit short in the glass slipper department last year, but their coach, Paul Maurice, believes the Ducks could have what it takes to go the distance. Maurice coached Giguere -- who was the Whalers' first-round choice (No. 13 overall) in the 1995 draft -- when the goalie played eight games for Hartford in 1996-97.

''He's been fabulous this year,'' said Maurice. ''We liked him a lot then. That was six years ago. A lot has changed for him. We had a chance to get Gary Roberts and Trevor Kidd at a time where we needed to get some veteran guys. They wanted a young goaltender, Calgary did, but that seems like a long time ago now.''

During the Hurricanes' hard-fought run a season ago, Maurice didn't have to convince his players that they deserved to be where they were. Insecurity just wasn't an option.

''Not in the Eastern Conference,'' said Maurice. ''When we ran up against Detroit [in the finals], I was a little bit more aware that there was a bigger gap perceptionwise. New Jersey [in the first round] was the best team we played besides Detroit. When we faced Montreal, they had already been through a six-game series against Boston, and when we faced Toronto, they had just been through a seven-game series against Ottawa. So there wasn't that much of a gap.

''When we got up against Detroit, then there's a little bit more convincing. Game 1 was critical, and when we won that [in overtime], I really felt we were in a good position because there was no more convincing.''

Carolina went with a goaltending tandem -- Kevin Weekes and Arturs Irbe -- but Anaheim has been riding the very hot hand of Giguere, who turned 26 Friday.

''I think now there's that confidence you have when you have a great goaltender,'' said Maurice. ''They don't let too much get to him that Giguere can't set on before the puck gets to him. On so many shots, he looks like he's waiting for the puck. He's square to the puck and he's right in front of it. Every once in a while, he pulls out a phenomenal save, but that team has done a pretty good job defensively, not allowing that to happen too much.''

There are some differences between the two clubs, which came out of relative obscurity to contend for the sport's holy grail, but there are, in Maurice's opinion, more similarities.

''As we got going, I think there was a lot more talk on the outside about what a Cinderella story this is, and maybe that's true but we never really felt like that,'' he said. ''You kind of get into your own little cocoon. You get an inner belief in your own team that maybe other people don't have. It's a great feeling, and I really believe that Anaheim's got that. It's almost like you know a secret.

''We really felt that when we got to Detroit last year that we would win, which made losing a lot more devastating. We didn't get to that final series thinking, `We're just happy to be here.' I think everybody really felt we were going to win, and I think Anaheim has that belief.''

The road for Anaheim -- on paper anyway -- looks a lot easier than Carolina's was.

''They haven't tasted a lot of defeat, they haven't lost many games,'' said Maurice. ''We got up, 2-0, on New Jersey and then got pounded the next two games. There were some critical times there, where we weren't sure which way the series was going to go. But really, Anaheim hasn't faced that. You're now about to see a team that's now going to play in the Stanley Cup finals who everybody calls a Cinderella story and they've lost -- what? -- two games? That's pretty amazing.''

[1Irbegirlforever]

Good article....makes me miss our guys even more...ah, the memories of our great year...

I wish October would hurry up and get here! :)

[tommy]

I liked this article about Babcock.

Ducks' rookie coach making right moves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Babcock learned his basic coaching skills at the family dinner table in Saskatoon, then at places like Red Deer, Lethbridge and Moose Jaw.

Along the way, the Mighty Ducks' rookie coach obviously developed a talent for getting the best from players.

"You don't want the other guy to be better technically than you, but that part isn't the measure at all. You don't coach hockey, you coach people,'' said Babcock, who guided Anaheim to its best regular-season record and has taken the upstart Ducks deeper into the NHL postseason than ever before.

"It's all about dealing with people and having a relationship with them, making them realize they're important. At game time, you can be as demanding as you want, but by the next day, it's about making them better. They have to trust you. I think the basic of being a good hockey coach is being straightforward and letting people know where they stand. That's the measure.''

By any measure, whatever Babcock is doing is working.

"Mike's great. He's a great communicator and a very honest person who tells it like it is,'' said Paul Kariya, who has played for six different coaches since arriving in Anaheim in 1994. "If you're playing poorly, he'll tell you, and if you're playing well, he'll give you credit.''

Steve Thomas, who has been in the league since 1984, said Babcock knows "when to give a player a pat on the back, and when to give him a kick in the pants.''

As a youngster growing up in Saskatchewan, Babcock got his first lessons on dealing with people by observing his mother.

"I was learning to understand relationships. Those aren't things you learn from a book, "he said. "Those are things you learn in life because of the people you are around.''

His mother, Gail, died of cancer 13 years ago at 50. Her influence on Babcock is evident.

Asked if she had been a hockey fan, he said she "was a fan of her kids. She was an intelligent person who communicated well with people, and she was a great listener.

"Often my buddies would come to my house and I wouldn't even know they were there. They sat down at the table and talked to my mother. That's just the kind of person she was.''

He seems to have a similar skill.

"Mike knows how to treat people,'' center Steve Rucchin said. "He has us believing in ourselves and believing in the system. He's a people person, and he obviously loves what he's doing.''

Kariya said the players have a great relationship with Babcock.

"He is demanding, but I don't know of any coach who's had success that isn't,'' he said.

Babcock, who turned 40 on April 29, played a couple of seasons in the Western Hockey League in the early 1980s, then was a defenseman and team captain at McGill University, where he also took graduate courses in sports psychology.

His first head coaching job was at Red Deer College, where he spent three years and took the team to the Alberta College Championship in 1989 and was the conference coach of the year. He went on to coach at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, where the team won a national championship in 1994 and he picked up another coach of the year award.

From there, he went to Moose Jaw of the WHL for two seasons, then to Spokane, Wash., where he coached the WHL team for six years and added two more coach-of-the-year awards to his resume. Before being named the Ducks' coach, he was at their AHL affiliate in Cincinnati, where he guided the team into the playoffs both his years there, and to a franchise-high 41 wins and 95 points in 2000-01.

Although he's had quick success in the NHL, Babcock knows that one season doesn't exactly make a career.

"Everything about coaching is the test of time,'' he said.

[nccanes]

From the OC Register with quotes from Paul Maurice:

Staying sharp

By DAN WOOD
The Orange County Register

ANAHEIM If the NHL sticks with its anticipated Stanley Cup Finals starting date of Tuesday, the Mighty Ducks will become the first club in league history to endure a layoff as long as 10 days before playing for hockey's most prized trophy.

Not since 1910, eight seasons before formation of the NHL, has any team gone more than nine days between one series and another for the Stanley Cup.

Nearly a century ago, the Ottawa Senators of the Canadian Hockey Association defended their 1909 Stanley Cup championship with a 15-4, two-game, total-goals victory over Galt of the Ontario Professional Hockey League. Eleven days later, having abandoned the CHA for the National Hockey Association, Ottawa took time out from its regular-season schedule to put the Cup on the line against the Edmonton Eskimos of the Alberta Hockey League. The Senators prevailed, 21-11, in another two-game, total-goals series.

The longest an NHL team has gone between semifinal and final rounds of the playoffs was in 1966, toward the end of the Original Six era, when the league's postseason format included only two rounds. The Montreal Canadiens swept the Toronto Maple Leafs to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, and then waited nine days before meeting the Detroit Red Wings in a series Montreal eventually won in six games.

Three teams in league history, most recently the 1984 Edmonton Oilers, have paused eight days between the semifinal and final rounds, while the 1993 Canadiens and 1999 Buffalo Sabres sat around for a week apiece before playing in the Stanley Cup Finals.

"It's a little more difficult when you're away from the action for 10 days," Ducks general manager Bryan Murray said. "We're on a good roll and you want to keep it going, but knowing the way we've operated, the way players have prepared, I think as soon as they drop the puck, we'll be ready to play. It may take a shift for each guy to sort of get his legs going at that level, but I feel very comfortable that we'll be ready."

The Ducks, who claimed the Western Conference championship Friday with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, are at the mercy of not only the length of the Eastern Conference finals between Ottawa and the New Jersey Devils, but also television considerations and potential building conflicts, among other variables.

Whether the Devils finish off the Senators in Game 6 tonight or the series extends to a seventh game Friday, the NHL's working plan calls for the Finals to open Tuesday in the Eastern Conference city. The league toyed with starting the series earlier if New Jersey were to win tonight. But officials said a Saturday start is unlikely.

"Anaheim has been sharp for going on five months now," Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said. "This isn't something they have to be particularly concerned with."

The Hurricanes had a six-day wait last year before opening the Finals against the Red Wings, who had only three days off after winning a seven-game series with the Colorado Avalanche. Carolina won the opener, 3-2 in overtime, but Detroit captured the next four games and the Stanley Cup.

The Ducks, like the Hurricanes, are first-time Stanley Cup Finals participants, so the extra down time is beneficial for dealing not only with potential emotional hangover from winning a conference title, but also ticket and other demands from family and friends.

"Even if there is some rust, they can compensate for it," Maurice said. "There is a challenge there, but you would rather have that than wonder if your team has any gas left in the tank. Most important is the rhythm. Because they have dispatched their opponents in such order, I think they're in that rhythm." The lengthy layoff certainly won't be much different for the Ducks, who became the first team in NHL history to open three consecutive series with back-to-back road victories.

The Ducks had five days off before a first-round series against the Red Wings, won the opening game, 2-1 in triple-overtime, and went on to a series sweep. With a seven-day break prior to their second-round matchup against the Dallas Stars, the Ducks produced a 4-3, five-overtime victory in Game 1 and won the series in six games. Finally, the Ducks responded to a four-day respite before the conference finals by winning the opener against Minnesota, 1-0 in double-overtime, and sweeping the series.

"You can never have enough rest," Ducks center Steve Rucchin said. "You have bumps and bruises, and you get a breather. There's also the mental aspect, which a lot of people don't realize. You finish off one team, and then you have another great team waiting for you in the next round. It's nice to get a break, refresh yourself physically and mentally."

While the outstanding play of goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere has been a huge factor for the Ducks, their work ethic and overall team concept should also help overcome any effects of the lengthy layoff.

"Giguere has played great, but there is more to their success than great goaltending," Maurice said. "They're not relying on one simple aspect to win, something they hope doesn't go away in a week. They have so many parts of their game going.

"I like their chances a lot, and as long as the Ottawa-Jersey series goes, it's going to get more and more physically intense. If that series goes seven games, I really like their chances."



And her's scoop on their Finals tickets. They START at $95.

KEY FACTS
Finals tickets on sale today
Stanley Cup Finals single-game tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m.

Online: www.ticketmaster.com
Phone: (714) 703-2545 or (213) 480-3232

In person: Southern California Ticketmaster outlets; ESPN Zone in Anaheim; Arrowhead Pond Box Office, where random numbered wristbands will be handed out at 8 a.m.

Note: The Ducks are encouraging fans to use the Internet to purchase tickets today. Fans are not guaranteed tickets by being at The Pond. After the Internet, calling Ticketmaster is likely the best option.

Prices: Single-game tickets start at $95. Each person can purchase up to four tickets per Ducks home playoff game, with the possibility of up to three home dates.

Information: (877) 945-9464.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I hope Jiggy and the Ducks don't get "rusty" while they are sitting around and waiting!!! :roll: Sometimes time off, can be a not so good thing!

[Turbulence]

The glass is half full, JOR! :p
This time off will give them time to recoop any injuries and rest up while the EC teams are beating themselves to a pulp. This extended rest could be what wins them the series!

:smoke: Quack.

[Jeff O Rocks]

The glass is half full, JOR! :p
This time off will give them time to recoop any injuries and rest up while the EC teams are beating themselves to a pulp. This extended rest could be what wins them the series!

:smoke: Quack.

I agree Turby.... :spin:

[crazy4canes]

Something to watch after the Sens/Devs game...

Giguere goes one-on-one...with Leno

TSN.ca Staff

5/21/2003

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere will be featured as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday.

Giguere, whose postseason heroics have powered the Mighty Ducks to the franchise's first-ever berth in the Stanley Cup Final, will join Tonight Show guests Colin Quinn, Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

Giguere has been writing one of the most exciting playoff stories in sports history. At 12-2, the 26-year-old netminder leads all 2003 NHL playoff goalies with a 1.22 goals-against average and a .960 save percentage.

During the Western Conference Final against the
Minnesota Wild, Giguere gave up only one goal in the series, posting a shutout streak of 217 minutes and 54 seconds, the fifth-longest shutout streak in NHL history. The Mighty Ducks swept the Wild, 4-0.


Giguere becomes only the second player in the NHL to be welcomed as a guest on The Tonight Show. In 1997, Detroit Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan was a guest of Leno's after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.

[Jeff O Rocks]

Thanks crazy for the heads up!! :spin:

[crazy4canes]

If you're really bored today at 4pm, there's a chat at NHL.com with Ducks rookie Kurt Sauer.

http://www.nhl.com/fancentral/livechat/index.html

[CaniacPanther]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere on this thread...did anyone notice how Paul Kariya didn't pick up or touch the Campbell Trophy after the Ducks won? It's supposed to be a jinx, since if you raise that trophy above your head, you won't be able to hoist the Cup...the same is true of the Prince of Wales Trophy. I remeber last year, both Francis and Yzerman raised the trophies for a photo op...if only Ronnie wouldn't have touched it...better yet, if only I was there...

"HEY FRANCHISE! DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Eh, maybe both Ronnie and Yzerman are both too old and sage for petty traditions and superstition.

[Stormbringer]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere on this thread...did anyone notice how Paul Kariya didn't pick up or touch the Campbell Trophy after the Ducks won? It's supposed to be a jinx, since if you raise that trophy above your head, you won't be able to hoist the Cup...the same is true of the Prince of Wales Trophy. I remeber last year, both Francis and Yzerman raised the trophies for a photo op...if only Ronnie wouldn't have touched it...better yet, if only I was there...

"HEY FRANCHISE! DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Eh, maybe both Ronnie and Yzerman are both too old and sage for petty traditions and superstition.

Yeah, I've heard about that. As a matter of fact, I brought that up sometime ago...

http://www.letsgocanes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5035#5035

As for you yelling "HEY FRANCHISE...", I bet I know what Ronnie's response would be... (http://www.danperry.com/linksls/wavs/prepost/appruff/appruf10.wav) :D ;)

[CaniacPanther]

Good one, Caroline. :D

[Jeff O Rocks]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere on this thread...did anyone notice how Paul Kariya didn't pick up or touch the Campbell Trophy after the Ducks won? It's supposed to be a jinx, since if you raise that trophy above your head, you won't be able to hoist the Cup...the same is true of the Prince of Wales Trophy. I remeber last year, both Francis and Yzerman raised the trophies for a photo op...if only Ronnie wouldn't have touched it...better yet, if only I was there...

"HEY FRANCHISE! DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Eh, maybe both Ronnie and Yzerman are both too old and sage for petty traditions and superstition.

That is so weird that you mentioned that...because I was just looking at your avatar and thinking the same thing!!!! :cry:

[nccanes]

Okay, so I stayed awake thru the monologue, but fell asleep before J-S appeared on the Tonight Show. Anyone see it?

Interesting photo of J-S (and fiance') in the green room after watching Game 7 of the Sens/Devs series. You can see Lalime on the monitor behind them.

http://mirror.faceoff.com/media/pics/200305244591929-F.jpg

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I was up when he would have been on Leno....but I totally forgot about it. Even after saying to Mr SHC after the game "we have to remember JS on Leno". We suck. :roll:


Fiance.....sorta skanky ain't she?

[talkingcanes]

Fiance.....sorta skanky ain't she?[/size]

and just to be incredibly shallow, what is with the drawn on eyebrows? but if he loves her, then that's what matters.

It never crossed my mind he was on......... :roll:

[folgersnyourcup]

I recorded it and can work on getting it ripped to the internet soon if anyone is interested! I can also put the *shudder* Mighty Ducks "music video" up as well. The interview was good, Giggy looked a bit nervous at first but eased into it as it went on. He loves throwing his head back and laughing, he must have done that 100 times during it.

Let me know if anyone's interested!

[Shell]

I'd definitely be interested in the talk show bit folgers! i missed it and would enjoy it I am sure.. We got ESPN in the Caymans so we taped the games and watched them late night while we were there so I don't need that ducks video, sounds like StormBringer wants it though. Thanks folgers!

[Canesluver]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere on this thread...did anyone notice how Paul Kariya didn't pick up or touch the Campbell Trophy after the Ducks won? It's supposed to be a jinx, since if you raise that trophy above your head, you won't be able to hoist the Cup...the same is true of the Prince of Wales Trophy. I remeber last year, both Francis and Yzerman raised the trophies for a photo op...if only Ronnie wouldn't have touched it...better yet, if only I was there...

"HEY FRANCHISE! DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Eh, maybe both Ronnie and Yzerman are both too old and sage for petty traditions and superstition.

Actually, from reading a couple quotes from Scott Stevens, it seems to me that the guys aren't supersitious about touching the conference cups, if they've won the Stanley Cup once before. Stevens' hoisted the Cup before, so he doesn't mind touching the Prince of Wales trophey; however, Kariya's not yet gotten to touch the Cup, so he won't touch the Campbell trophy.

So, it figures to me, that Ronnie touched the POW trophey last year, 'cause he'd already gotten to raise the cup while a Penguin. Makes sense to me. . . .

[tommy]

I dunno... I kind of agreed with the sentiment of the N and O last year... Ron was touching it (and lifting it up, even), because he saw that it might be his last chance to get this far... Last year the paper said that Francis was telling Cole to remember this, because it might be a long time before he got to experience it again.