Final Cuts and Fun with Line Combos

Maxime Macenauer and Josh Green were reassigned to Syracuse of the AHL yesterday morning, bringing the Ducks’ roster to its final 23 healthy players.  Joffrey Lupul, (blood infection) Toni Lydman (double vision) and Jason Jaffray (ACL tear/MCL strain) remain with the team on long-term injured reserve, although Jaffray is likely staying in Southern California for the medical treatment before being shipped to Syracuse. 

As I wrote yesterday it seems that the first line is set, however, Matt Beleskey sat out yesterday’s practice to rest a sore groin. 
While he sat out Bobby Ryan replaced him reuniting the Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry line as well as the Masterton line of Jason Blake, Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne.  Beleskey is expected to be in the lineup Friday. 

U-G-L-Y

Yesterday’s word of the day was chemistry, but preseason or not losing 8-3 is a sign of trouble in the lab.  The preseason mantra of process over results doesn’t even cut it, particularly with so many regulars in the lineup. 

The only fringe players suited up last night were Maxime Macenauer, Josh Green, Danny Syvret and Cam Fowler.  Dan Sexton and Matt Beleskey may be in flux too, but everyone else who played is at least penciled in to the 23 man roster, if not a lock.

One could say things got slightly better as the game went on after giving up four goals and being outshot 23-7 in the first period, but that would be overly optimistic for a team that only mustered three shots on goal in the third period, despite the fact that two of those shots went in. 

One thing that can almost be blamed on the preseason is the fact that Curtis McElhinney was left in net for all 60 minutes.  Had Hiller come in after the first period or so he likely would have faced the same fate.   Eight goals against is never entirely the goalie’s fault, and last night was no exception.

In talking with Eric Stephens of the OC Register Saku Koivu chalked it up to relying on talent alone and not competing, while Randy Carlyle’s quotes read like a child that has no excuse for misbehaving.  I see where he is coming from though, there is very little to say about this game other than the fact that the Ducks were awful all over the ice.

It is good to see the bottom six pitch in, Sexton and Marchant (twice) were the goal scorers, but when George Parros is an offensive standout something is very wrong.

Obviously a lot changes from game to game in the preseason, but it’s starting to look like this is going to be one of those frustrating years when you’re never sure what Ducks team is going to show up:  the one that can go toe to toe with San Jose and come out on top or the one that gets demolished by the Kings in the first period and can never find their way back.