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GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:02 pm
by gaijin
Again from Yahoo Sports:
Anaheim’s play at home is at least giving the Ducks hope that they can still be a playoff contender.

The Ducks look for a fifth consecutive home victory when they face the struggling St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.

Saku Koivu scored his 200th goal as Anaheim (17-19-7) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over visiting Detroit on Tuesday.

While the victory was the Ducks’ second in seven games overall, they improved to 12-8-2 at home where they’ve won 11 of 16 since losing four in a row in October.

That solid play has helped keep the Ducks within striking distance of the top eight spots in the Western Conference despite a dismal 5-11-5 road mark. Tied with St. Louis (17-18-7), the Ducks are 12 points out of the last playoff spot in the West.

“Desperation has to take place in our group,” coach Randy Carlyle told the Ducks’ official Web site. “We haven’t won enough. We have to continue to build on the things. We just have to continue to work hard for our breaks.”

Anaheim fell 5-0 at home to St. Louis on Oct. 17 - the only time it’s been shut out at the Honda Center this season. That snapped the Ducks’ four-game home winning streak over the Blues, who have lost six in a row and are 0-1-1 since Davis Payne replaced the fired Andy Murray as coach.

Anaheim has won seven of its last nine at home over St. Louis and another strong offensive effort could help it continue that success. The Ducks broke out against Detroit after totaling six goals during their three-game losing streak.

“You’ve got to fight through those kinds of things,” said Koivu, who has three goals and two assists in his last five games. “That’s the way we have to look at the game right now. We have to win shift after shift, period after period. We realize the situation we’re in.”

Corey Perry ended a 10-game goal drought with his 17th of the season and Ryan Getzlaf added an assist in his return after missing four games with a knee injury.

Getzlaf has three goals and five assists in his last six games against the Blues.

Anaheim still didn’t have an answer for St. Louis’ Ty Conklin, who stopped 26 shots in October. Though Chris Mason made 42 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss at San Jose on Wednesday, Conklin could start this contest.

Conklin, 6-6-1 with a 2.75 goals-against average this season, is 4-0-0 with a 1.25 GAA versus Anaheim.

Jonas Hiller made 38 saves for the Ducks on Tuesday to improve to 13-12-2 with a 2.84 GAA this season. He’s 2-1-0 with a 3.03 GAA against the Blues.

Former Duck Andy McDonald scored in his career-high fourth straight game Wednesday for the Blues, who have lost four of their last six by one goal.

“I think we made some progress,” Payne said of Wednesday’s effort.

McDonald has three goals and one assist in five games against the Ducks since they traded him to St. Louis in February 2007.

While St. Louis will be without veteran Keith Tkachuk (oral surgery) for a second straight game, it could get Paul Kariya back after he missed the last four due to the effects of a concussion.

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:26 pm
by DaDitka
If we see the same Blues from last night against a lesser opponent.......

Blues 3 (Bergie, Oshie, McD)

Ducks 1 (Jackman gets an assist)

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:26 pm
by Sweetred95ta
Let's Go Blues!! I'm excited to watch this game to see if we can keep our play consistant from last night. Does Bishop get the start tonight or has Conklin made it to the west coast?

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:28 pm
by DaDitka
Sweetred95ta wrote:Let's Go Blues!! I'm excited to watch this game to see if we can keep our play consistant from last night. Does Bishop get the start tonight or has Conklin made it to the west coast?

Conklin arived in Anaheim during our game last night (they mentioned it on the broadcast during the third period)

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:51 pm
by drwoland
LETS GO BLUUUUUUEEEESSSS

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 4:16 pm
by WaukeeBlues
I'll be watching but I'm not very excited unfortunately. :?

Blues 2
Ducks 4

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 4:20 pm
by Sweetred95ta
DaDitka wrote:Conklin arived in Anaheim during our game last night (they mentioned it on the broadcast during the third period)
Thank you. I must have missed that. JR said that he doesn't believe Conklin will start tonight (in his 1 pm chat).

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 4:42 pm
by thedoc
I will be honest I kinda want to see Bishop in goal tonight. We talk alot about him being up here next year because we don't want to give Mason a big contract. This could really help tell us what next year could look like.

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:04 pm
by philco_3
Blues 4
Mighty Ducks 1

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:06 pm
by Krigloch the Furious
4-1 Blues
They will play even better and finally look good offensively. less chaos.

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:12 pm
by section319
bLUES-3
dUCKS-2

Mason gets the start, Conklin will be on the bench and Bishop is back to Peoria.

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:33 pm
by fargoblues
Blues 3
Duck 2

Conklin gets the start--he pwns the ducks.

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:17 pm
by glen a richter
Blues 3
Ducks 4 (OT)

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:04 pm
by sseagle
Blues ?
Ducks ?
Flashchat x+1

And from the looks of it, the Alabama Crimson Tide will be joining us in watching the game shortly

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:09 pm
by WaukeeBlues
Wow there is nobody at the Ducks game.

Is there some other kind of athletic event going on right now in California or something?

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:39 pm
by philco_3
The arena is full, you just cant seem em cause of the camouflage.

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:39 pm
by #1ELPBluzFan
Apparently Bishop and Steen got their bags mixed up as Bishop was heading back to Peoria...only a 7 inch differential in the two guys....and they make plenty of money at the NHL level, I'm sure Alex can purchase a few "threads" to tide him over! (Quite inconvenient!)

:doh: :doh:

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:25 pm
by stlmark
WTF refs???? Clearly a knee on knee! :evil:

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:26 pm
by stinkdified
theres not many things more frustrating than an internet connection that is too slow to load flash chat.
well, maybe blues hockey...

Re: GDT: Blues @ Ducks, 7 Jan 2010, 9 PM CST

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:28 pm
by Sweetred95ta
This hurts. A completely different team showed up tonight (compared to last nights game).