Ducks Lose Two, Fans Unjustifiably Outraged; New Hockeytalk

Housekeeping first, Check out my newest contribution to Hockeytalk.biz:  Key cast shadow over Kings’ stretch run.

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March may have gone out like a lamb for the Ducks but April has come in like a lion.  After an 11-3-0 month of March the Ducks have dropped their first two April dates, and in the case of Sunday’s loss to Dallas, a chance to punch their own ticket to the playoffs.  The losses to the Sharks and Stars were the Ducks’ first back to back losses since they dropped five straight in February. 

There was some genuine vitriol from fans and even from Randy Carlyle after Saturday’s 4-2 loss in San Jose, mostly due to the fact that Lubomir Visnovsky left the game with an apparent shoulder injury after a third period hit from Douglas Murray.  To me, the hit was maybe a little bit late, but really the only reason that it was of any note is because Lubo went down awkwardly and a large man fell on top of him.  Obviously this is on a much smaller scale in terms of the result and the exposure, but it is essentially the same thing as the Chara/Pachioretty incident.  I doubt that Air Canada or the San Jose police will have anything to say on the matter.

The other source of unrest regarding the Sharks game was a result of the penalty called against Jason Blake that lead to the eventual game winner.  The problem that I have with that indignation is that it was an obvious penalty and the Ducks had, at that point, all of the power play chances in the game, they were due and had to be walking on eggshells not to catch the eyes of one of the referees.  Now you might think that it was a dumb penalty to take in that situation, but there I disagree as well.  The puck was loose in the crease and had Blake not molested Ryane Clowe it was a goal anyway.  Two minutes well worth it, as they say. 

As for the Dallas game, I admit to being one of the pitchfork carrying masses on this one.  Had I written this blog immediately upon arriving home, it would have gotten a ten out of ten on the Boudreau scale of vulgarity.  Now, after a few hours of reflection and further review of the replays, I think the right calls were made.  The DucksTV insert at the bottom of this Puck Daddy post has a lot of reaction and the two pertinent replays.  Both Teemu Selanne and Bobby Ryan scored goals that were waived off, the former due to goaltender interference by Saku Koivu and the latter on a hand pass from Corey Perry.  No question on the hand pass.  The goalie interference was closer but from the low angle replay you can really see how much Kari Lehtonen was affected by the bump from Koivu. 

I am still disgusted, however with the fact that Mike Ribeiro was allowed to play and ultimately score two critical goals in that game.  On Saturday Ribeiro laid a text book rule 48 lateral hit to the head of Michal Handzus of the Kings.  Not only was there no call on the ice, he was not suspended or fined and the only person that even mentioned the hit, to my knowledge, was Craig Button on NHL On the Fly that night. 

Unrelated sidenote:  I don’t know what the criteria are for the league’s new policy of 15 minutes in a quiet place for anyone who may be suspected to have a concussion, but it seems like Handzus should have been taken off the ice, after that hit, regardless of the fact that he got up relatively quickly. 

Two things I did like from the Ducks/Stars game:  1) they showed the replay of the goaltender interference on the big screen at the game.  It didn’t make much difference, as just about everyone in the building was too pissed to care what it showed, but it was nice to see something from the video staff at the Pond, when usually they try to keep the controversial stuff under wraps.  2) A sellout crowd fully invested in the result of the game.  This was by far the best crowd the Ducks have had all year, a packed house with very few opposition fans and everyone into the game.  The prolonged booing over perceived injustice that bled into a standing ovation of encouragement for the team to overcome said perceived injustice was a great thing to participate in/see/hear from a crowd that can be less than engaged, at times.  It was a playoff crowd hoping to see a playoff bound team by the end of the night, and we were not amused that we’d have to wait at least another few days to be assured of a postseason, if at all.

The Ducks’ magic number is still four.  If they win two of their remaining three games, or win one and lose the others in OT/Shootout they’ll clinch a spot regardless of what any team below them does, and they can still make it if that doesn’t happen, but it would be a dangerous way to go into the playoffs.