Wings, ‘Yotes, Lupul Returns

Two very different games over the weekend for the Ducks produced very similar results. 

They deserved a better fate Friday night against Detroit, the subject of my newest hockeytalk article which should post today.  The Ducks carried the play for most of the first two periods but had two fatal flaws: 1) lack of finish and 2) turnovers.  The Wings were opportunistic as usual and got out to a very early lead on a strange turnover and never looked back.  Once they scored their second it was as good as over, and the third and fourth just made things miserable.  Overall it was a good effort put in by the Ducks and nothing to be too concerned about.  The better team won, but the chances and effort were there, If they play like that more often they’ll win more games.

Sunday was a different story.  The Coyotes played Dave Tippett Hockey.  They locked it up, as they used to say in Dallas, got the first goal and like the Red Wings, put it in the refrigerator with the second goal.  Phoenix dictated the pace on Sunday and the Ducks couldn’t break down the system.  The Coyotes’ defense made it pretty easy on our old friend Ilya Bryzgalov. 

Randy Carlyle’s decision to pull Hiller with an offensive zone faceoff and three minutes left was gutsy, but not exactly the smartest move, in my opinon.  Easy to say as Phoenix scored right away, but it was just too dangerous.  The Ducks weren’t going to be able to keep

The good news about losing to Phoenix is tha as long as Jason LaBarbara isn’t in net, you can always be cheered up afterwords by this.

“It’s only a game. Why you haft be mad?”  Gotta love that guy.

So now the Ducks have been shut out for 120 minutes.  Their last goal was an empty netter, and two of the four before that were scored by George Parros.  Not good.

Joffrey Lupul did make the game last night for the Ducks, wearing number 19 for some reason.  However, Teemu was still out nursing his sore groin so Loops just replaced him/Dan Sexton on the second line.  So the questions of my last blog still remain.  When Teemu gets back, where will Lupul go?

Since Friday Kyle Chipchura has shown some good work, and could be an interesting option to center a Bobby Ryan-Lupul line with some of the characteristics of a Ryan-Carter-Lupul combo.  Plus, Matt Beleskey is back up so he could easily play on the first line in Bobby’s place. 

Loops had a decent first game back, with one dangerous chance in the slot that obviously didn’t go for him, and a few strong defensive plays.  If he can improve game by game and find a consistent line combination once Teemu gets back, it will help the Ducks immensely.  They are 1-2 in the month of December and the hard part is just about to begin.

Nine of their next 11 games are on the road, including an Eastern Conference road swing that has them playing five games in seven nights before Christmas.  Those five games in seven days also include games against the juggernaut Washington Capitals and a brick wall known as Tim Thomas in Boston.  When they come back on New Year’s eve they’ll find a ridiculously deep Philadelphia Flyers team waiting. 

This month and that trip in particular, which begins next Wednesday, may in fact make or break this season for the Ducks.  They’ve been hanging on for most of the year so far, but great moments are born from great opportunities.