Just when you think the Ducks are taking baby steps forward, they can't quite move far enough ahead to win a game.  Instead, the inability to recover when the slightest adversity hits continues to plague Anaheim.  The latest loss, 6-5 to the Chicago Blackhawks, proves that point.

The Ducks, who have been slow to get going, have managed to score first for the past two games.  Not only did they score first, they had the lead going into the second period (and third period as well).  Definitely progress. 

A hard check on Niklas Hjalmarsson from Corey Perry dislodged the puck and led to the first goal of the game at 1:14 from Bobby Ryan.  Ryan is playing with a hip contusion, a fancy word for a bruise, that he got playing against Phoenix on Wednesday. 

When is the last time we heard bodies crunching along the boards at the Honda Center?  Too long, but a return to some physical play certainly gave the Ducks a boost. 

Andrew Cogliano extended the Ducks lead at 2:13.  Corey Crawford could not control the puck and the subsequent rebound was easily handled by Cogliano, who has been a rare bright spot for the Ducks.

Chicago, who had been on a three game losing streak, finally rebounded from their slow start and go the scoring started on their side with Patrick Sharp's first of three goals at 6:09. 

Anaheim looked good and continued to press on.  Teemu Selanne got his 8th goal of the year on the power play at 14:36 and things appeared hopeful. 

Dave Bolland took opportunity of a Blackhawks power play and brought Chicago back within one goal again at 17:38.  In an amusing turn, one of the multitude of Hawks fans proceeded to take his phone and play the Chicago goal song for those around him.   The same fan later in the game suggested the Ducks use the flying V, prompting one to contemplate a phone app to silence smartasses.

The Ducks came really close to scoring in the final seconds of the first period, but ended the first 20 minutes ahead, 3-2.

However, a hockey game is a full 60 minutes, and one good period does not a game make.

In the second period, Jonas Hiller got bonked on the mask with another puck.  He seems to be a puck magnet there.  And then the Ducks started to discover the penalty box.   Chicago, who was pouring it on, a sign of things to come, did not allow much activity in the Hawks end.   Ryan did get goal #2 of the game at 8:41, only the second shot on goal for the Ducks in the middle frame. 

Being outshot 26-17 by the end of the second period should have been a stern warning to Anaheim.   Not to mention the shot that hit the post with barely one minute left. 

It should not have been such a surprise that Chicago rapidly eviscerated the 4-2 lead that the Ducks held going into the third period. 

At 1:04 Jonathan Toews brought Chicago back within one.  At 1:32, Sharp got his second of the evening to tie the game.  At 3:33 the rest of the world caved in for the Ducks as Sharp finished his hat trick and gave the Hawks their first lead of the game.

Hiller was out.  Dan Ellis was in.

The Ducks could never recover, unable to deal with even the slightest adversity.

"They dominated the third period," was Ryan's accurate assessment of Chicago.  "We came out in the third and it was two (goals) within, what, a minute? You could almost feel the tempo change on the bench and guys got down. That's a sign of a team that's been accepting it for a little while. It's heartbreaking. If you could put your finger on it, it would be easier to get out of it."

Another power play goal from Toews at 9:22 gave Chicago the insurance marker they wanted and the looks on the Ducks' faces said it all. 

Never one to surrender, coach Randy Carlyle pulled Ellis for the extra attacker, which usually means another goal for the opposition.  Instead the Ducks were able to send fans home with the chance to drown their sorrows at Hooters with free wings.

Perry made it 6-5 with a mere 7.2 seconds remaining.  Not enough time to tie up the game, but at least a positive note to end on.

"(I'm) speechless," Hiller said after the game. "It seems like we're almost afraid to (win)."

More like afraid that they are never going to win again.  

Toronto comes to town on Sunday, so it does not get any easier for the Ducks.  What they really need is an easy game (is there ever such a thing?) where things go their way and the other team implodes by taking the Ducks for granted.  A single win would do a lot for morale. 

IN OTHER NOTES:   Maxime Macenauer and Kurtis Foster were benched for tonight's game.  Matt Beleskey, who cleared waivers earlier this week, was inserted into the line up.

If a team wins in Phoenix, does anyone know? 

The announced attendance was just over 9,000, and you know they don't all show up.  Then again, even if it weren't Phoenix, there would not be much reason to show up to watch the Anaheim Ducks play hockey.   Unless you are the opposing team.

With a 4-2 defeat to add to the growing list of losses, you can bet that every single team has Anaheim circled on their calendar.    Who wouldn't?

At least in Wednesday's game the Ducks scored first, something they have not been able to accomplish in quite a while.  But it still meant nothing in the overall scheme of things. 

Saku Koivu's goal at 5:44 of the first period almost gave Ducks fans a glimmer of hope and something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. 

No such luck. 

The Coyotes tied up the game thanks to a goal from Keith Yandle at 13:13, his second of the year, both of them coming against the Ducks.  Radim Vrbata gave the Coyotes the lead at 16:50 with a power play goal, thanks to a dumb penalty from Luca Sbisa. 

Vrbata's second goal came late in the second period, a breakaway at 17:31.  3-1 Coyotes.  Well.  You knew where this one was headed after that.

Phoenix made it 4-1 with a goal from Oliver Ekman-Larsson at 4:27 of the third period.  The puck ping ponged just about every single player in front of the net before going in behind Jonas Hiller. 

Corey Perry made good on his second breakaway of the game at 13:03, but that was as close as the Ducks came. 

What more can be said that has not already been said?

Teemu Selanne, after a morning practice back at the Honda Center, was his usual glass is half full self. 

“You know, nobody died,” said Selanne. “We still have to realize how lucky we are. We have to use the passion and fun to (fix) this problem right now. There’s no other way. You can’t just cry and cry and cry. You just have to find a way to do this together.”

Would that it were that easy!

The only teams worse than the Ducks in the NHL are the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets.  If they can piece together a couple of wins, they'll also put Anaheim behind them and having the first overall draft pick in June looks better and better. 

How appropriate that on this Thanksgiving, the Anaheim Ducks are one big turkey.

 

Twenty games down, just 62 more occasions of ineptitude, errors and eventual losses before the season ends.

After yet another loss, this one a 4-2 fiasco against the Detroit Red Wings, the Anaheim Ducks are looker lamer by the minute.   6-10-4 in the first quarter and only two teams with worse records in the entire NHL. 

Number one draft pick, here we come?

The Red Wings played the Kings the night before, defeating Los Angeles.  However, instead of putting in the back up goaltender, the Red Wings continued to use Jimmy Howard for the second consecutive night.  They really did not need him until midway through the second period, which is when the Ducks finally realized they were in a hockey game.

Of course by that time, it was 3-0 Red Wings and the term "technical difficulties" did not just refer to the power outage in period one.

It only took 1:26 for the Ducks fate to be sealed when Henrik Zetterberg basically undressed Brandon McMillan and put the puck in behind Jonas Hiller. 

After trekking through a downpour of rain, Ducks fans were less than enthused.  Wings fans?  Always happy to be at the Honda Center. 

The Red Wings were on their first power play when perhaps the hockey gods felt that something needed to be done.  Out go the lights.  For the second game in a row.   Unlike Thursday, when they could not reset the full lights before the start of the third period, only some of the lights went out.  Those in the middle section, the jumbotron and one half of the press box.  Weird stuff.

While it took 17 minutes to correct the problem on Thursday, both teams headed off to the locker room for a 26 minute break.  That will disrupt any momentum you had going on the power play.  Cause of the outage?  Unknown, but city related, probable due to weather.  Perhaps the Ducks should consider a flashlight promotion.

When things came back on fully, period 1.5 began.  If the hockey gods were trying to give Anaheim a reset, it seemed to work.  Somewhat.   The Red Wings did not score for the remainder of the period. 

Instead, they scored :14 seconds into the next frame, with a goal from Johan Franzen.    Brad Stuart made it 3-0 at 7:10 as things went from bad to worse.

By the middle of the second period, the Ducks had been outshot 20-6 and Howard could have used a newspaper to catch up on current events. 

It was a good thing he didn't have one, but you cannot fault Howard for not being in the zone when Saku Koivu turned on the jets and put one past the goaltender at 11:24.  The goal was the first shot on goal for that period. 

In a sudden turn, the Ducks had nearly gotten on the board again at 13:00.  The puck seemed to go over the line, but the goal was waived off by the referees.  After the play stopped, the play was reviewed and they needed irrefutable evidence that the puck crossed the line for it to count.  The puck was in Howard's glove and his glove went over the line.  The question was where was the puck in the glove?  Did it fully cross the line itself?  Because that information was unknown, the call on the ice could not be overruled and it was still 3-1.

A power play, their second of the night, did yield goal number two for Anaheim.  Teemu Selanne was able to bat in a loose puck at 16:21 and suddenly the hole they had dug seemed conquerable. 

As the Ducks continued to play the way they should have all evening, it appeared once more that a puck went in the net.  But would it count?  Of course not!  A penalty was called on Devante Smith-Pelly right before the puck went in at 19:16.  No goal, which would have tied the game. 

The Ducks headed to the locker room having outshot the Red Wings in the final half of the period 12-1.  If they could keep that up in the third, there just might be a chance that the Ducks could win their first game without having scored first.

And if you believe that they could do that, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.  Contact me for purchase information.

The Ducks were not without their chances, and just like on Thursday night, they got a late power play.  Just like Thursday night, they pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker to make it 6 on 4.  Just like Thursday night the opposing team cleared the puck and landed it right into the empty net for a short handed goal.  This time it was Stuart's second of the game.

Game over.

"We made enough mistakes that cost us the hockey game," said coach Randy Carlyle.  "There is no other way to describe it. We again mounted a comeback in the hockey game, but it just seems that we’re one goal short again."

So where do they go from here?  Besides Phoenix, that is, for a road game on Wednesday night?

"It’s not a matter of what I can say now," said captain Ryan Getzlaf. "We are in a situation where we have to play ourselves out of it and that includes me. I just have to keep playing and we have to lead by example. Our group here, who I have been with for a little while, we have a great core of leaders and we just have to keep pushing."

Only 62 more pushes to go and then yours (and our) misery can be over for the year. 

So as a Duck fan, where are you in the stages of death and dying for your team?  Denial?  Anger?  Bargaining?  Depression?  Acceptance?

As the season continues in the muck and mire and what appears to be a fighting chance at the number one draft pick in June, I am personally getting pretty close to acceptance. 

Nearly a fourth of the way into the season and the Ducks have a lovely 6-9-4 record.  The last time they started this slow was 2009-2010 (6-10-3) and they were not able to scramble enough to make the post season.  Before that?  You have to go all the way back ten years ago to 2000-2001 and 2001-2002.   Back when playing crappy was expected by fans.  Not enjoyed, but expected.  Those seasons and most of the 90's were a painful exercise for Ducks fans.  You earned the term "Diehard" because you had to be with their record.

The 2011-2012 season is beginning to look like a bad flashback for the Anaheim Ducks. 

Another loss to the Los Angeles Kings for the second time in as many nights just continues to leave a sour taste in one's mouth.  Those in attendance have given up hard earned bucks to sit in those seats and the prices are current, not a flashback to the 90's.  Sure, the players don't like losing either, but at least they are getting paid to be there. 

The Ducks are at the bottom of the Pacific Division and the Kings have now leapfrogged to the top. 

Anaheim has yet to win a game where the opponent scores first.  Last night was no exception in the 5-3 loss.

As it was on Wednesday night, the first period ended with no goals scored by either team.  However, the shots on goal were much more even than Wednesday, a positive sign.

Even though Mike Richards (scorer of the lone goal on Wednesday) put the Kings on the board just :54 seconds into the second period, the Ducks still had a little more life.   They were able to tie it up with Andrew Cogliano providing a little spark at 3:19.

Getting a power play seemed to be a great opportunity for Anaheim to take a lead in the game.  Simon Gagne's short handed tally at 7:28 sucked that opportunity right down the drain.  Too much time and space for Gagne to put the puck behind Dan Ellis, who was giving Jonas Hiller a break from being a shooting gallery target. 

Once the third period began (a problem with the arena lights forced a weird 17 minute delay), things were wobbly for the Ducks.  Toni Lydman took two consecutive penalties, the second one being a double minor that included an unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing with the ref.   Probably the signs of early unraveling as Slava Voynov had a power play goal off the first penalty at 2:45 to give the Kings a 3-1 lead.

Anaheim really perked up and threw everything they had at Jonathan Quick.  A power play goal from Corey Perry at 8:27 brought the Ducks back within one goal.   The goal had to be reviewed, never making it easy on the Ducks, and showed that the puck went in off of Perry's knee into the net. 

Building on that, Cogliano got his second of the night at 13:35 to tie up the game.  Next goal would likely win it and either team was getting good chances. 

Anze Kopitar dashed Anaheim's hopes with a goal at 16:59.  It was one the Kings needed, and one the Ducks had hoped to get. 

With three minutes to go and a late power play opportunity, all was not lost for the Ducks.  Ellis was out of the net for an extra attacker and the Ducks were sniffing for a way to tie the game up once again. 

No such luck.

Richards made a precision clear of the puck from the Kings zone that made it in the net at the opposite end.  Not only an empty net goal, but the second short hander of the game.  With under two minutes left, the Ducks could not climb the tall mountain to even get a point out of the game. 

"It's always tough playing from behind and we played from behind most of the night," said coach Randy Carlyle. "We got fired up in the game in the third period. We started to play with that emotion and got skating. It seems we have to get hit over the head to get to that point."

Maybe someone should take a 2 x 4 before games and make sure they are awake.  Maybe they can raffle that duty off amongst the season ticket holders, who are probably beginning to wonder why they continue to throw away perfectly decent money to watch a team lose. 

The Ducks next opportunity to wallow further (or maybe redeem themselves) comes on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings.  The Red Wings will be playing the Kings the night before.  That has not gone so well for the Ducks lately.  And the Red Wings absolutely embarassed the Ducks at the end of their road trip earlier this month. 

Remember, I am at acceptance.  I am not going to even entertain a thought that the Ducks can win on Sunday, or pray extra hard that morning at church.  No sense drinking away my depressed sorrows (my liver could not tolerate that anyway).   I merely accept that I am going to be looking at a team that will most likely have a 6-10-4 record at the end of the evening.   It's just better that way. 

The first meeting of the season between the Kings and the Ducks that ended in a 2-1 shootout victory for the Kings was not nearly as even as the final score would make it appear.

Were it not for superb goaltending by Jonas Hiller, the game would have been over in the first period.  The Kings outshot the Ducks 17-5, yet it was still 0-0 heading into the second period.   Maybe Hiller knew he had to be good, because Dan Ellis was sitting on the bench with a sore groin as the back up.

Seeing as the Ducks were not good at getting shots on goal, they did find something they excelled in, besides goaltending.  They were great at taking penalties.  No matter how good you are at penalty killing, you are playing with fire when you give the team with the hot power play a 5 on 3 advantage for nearly a full two minutes. 

Mike Richards took advantage of a strange bounce off the boards and gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 7:38 of the second period.  Never mind all the good work that LA had been doing.  A bounce of the puck off the boards and right onto Richard's stick was all they needed.  Hiller did not have a chance.

When the Ducks finally woke up in the third period and decided that they would finally get some shots on goal, it finally felt like a good game. 

Ryan Getzlaf nearly tied up the game early on during a power play, but it was waved off.  Getzlaf got his hand on a bouncing puck and it deflected into the net behind Quick.  Getzlaf had tried his best to get his stick on the puck but missed, barely.  The review clearly showed it was not a good goal. 

Finally near the end of the game, the Ducks had another power play opportunity and this time, the goal was legitimate.  Teemu Selanne continued to lead his team with the goal at 16:35.  Even if the puck did not go into the net, Corey Perry was right there to finish it off.

The game remained tied through the rest of regulation and into the overtime period.  The shootout had to go seven rounds before it was decided.  Justin Williams got his puck behind Hiller and Kurtis Foster (not coach Randy Carlyle's usual choice of shooters) could not keep the shootout going.

"We did get the two (points) which is huge, but at the same time, we let them get a point out of it," Quick said after the game.  "A game like that, we outplay them like that, that should be a game where they don't get any points. I'm sure over there … I'm sure they're happy with getting that point. Especially a division rival like them, you know they're going to be right in the hunt with us, and we want to not allow them to get any points."

I don't think the Ducks were exceptionally giddy with a point, but it was more than they've garnered in a while. 

"You've got to celebrate the little victories," Bobby Ryan commented. "I thought we did a good job taking pucks to the net, especially in the third. We turned our game on and got going in the right direction. We were rewarded for it. I don't know if you want to call it a fluky goal, but a goal that probably is going to be saves most of the time."

The Ducks get a second opportunity against the Kings tonight, this time at the Honda Center.  How about making sure the "on" switch is in the right position from the first period forward?  If they can continue playing like they did in the third period, they might have a chance of getting both points from the Kings this time.

Having won only two games in the past 12, the Ducks will need to do something, fast, to turn things around.  Nothing like a good old-fashioned rivalry with the team up the road to get you motivated!

The Ducks will play the Los Angeles Kings in a back to back series on Wednesday at Staples Center and then Thursday night at the Honda Center.  There will be no time to lose momentum or lick wounds, and these next two are critical for Anaheim.

Niklas Hagman will not be joining the Ducks line-up.  Although he was picked up off re-entry waivers, he does not have his work visa yet.   Ben Maxwell, who was claimed last week off waivers, did finally receive his visa and is set to arrive in southern California today.  Will he be in the line-up against the Kings?  Highly unlikely, as he has not even practiced with the team.

Nick Bonino, who was out with a hyper-extended knee, was well enough to practice with the Ducks on Tuesday, and was sent back to Syracuse on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, J.F. Jacques and Nate Guenin were called up from Syracuse on Tuesday.

Jacques could find himself in the line up against the Kings in light of George Parros' absence.  The Ducks need someone with a bit of toughness to keep the Kings in check.  Jacques has finished serving his five game suspension, so he would be eligible to play.  He is likely chomping at the bit hoping to redeem himself from the sins of his pre-season.

Guenin, a defenseman, was called up to provide extra depth on the blue line.  With the injury to Lubomir Visnovsky, Kurtis Foster was inserted in the line-up, but he has not really shone.  Then again, none of his teammates have either.  Guenin will give the Ducks more options at that position.

Regardless of who shows up in the line-up, the important thing is that they show up.

"The games are always spirited with L.A.," was how coach Randy Carlyle described the rivalry.  "We need something good to happen with our group but we’re going to have to earn it. If we’re not prepared to go to battle, with the group that they have up there in L.A. we’ll be embarrassed. We’d better be ready.”

Amen to that.

A day after another check in the loss column, the Ducks claimed Niklas Hagman off re-entry waivers from the Calgary Flames.

The 31 year old left wing has appeared in 707 career NHL games with Florida, Dallas, Toronto and Calgary.  

Hagman was unclaimed when he initially went on waivers last Thursday.   However, splitting his $3 million salary seemed more appealing when he went on re-entry waivers.  Calgary is responsible for the other $1.5 million. 

Apparently the Flames had been attempting to trade him, but found no takers. 

The Ducks are in desperate need for a shot of something that will cure what ails them.   Hagman should inject some life into the team that is struggling mightily of late.  Hagman is certainly familiar with the Ducks, having been with a fellow Pacific Division team for several seasons. 

Meanwhile, the Ducks have also sent Peter Holland back to Syracuse in the AHL.  Holland played four games with the Ducks, and scored his first NHL goal on Friday night against Vancouver.



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Third game in a row where the team that plays the Ducks has played the Kings the night before.  Third game in a row, where the supposedly "tired" opponent does not go down easily.   Especially when being beaten the night before. 

Minnesota was not happy about losing to the Kings and took it out on the lowly and uninspired Ducks, who have now lost seven of their past eight games.  They nearly lost eight of eight to Vancouver, but held on, barely, in the 4-3 victory on Friday. 

Victory?  What is that?  It is beginning to feel a lot like the team that played in the 90's.  You were just happy when they got a win every few games or so.  No expectations, because you knew the team was bad, but you loved them nonetheless and showed up because you were a diehard fan. 

The problem is that Anaheim has won something known as the Stanley Cup.  And when you win the Cup, and visit the playoffs on a regular basis, the expectations are different.  It is no longer ok to be a so-so team.  Fans want to keep the level of superiority up. 

Fans have been sorely disappointed of late. 

The Minnesota game did not help matters, as once again the Ducks dug themselves a hole and could not find their way out of it. 

Anaheim started off the game well, got an early power play and seemed to be sniffing for a goal right at the doorstep.  Nothing went in, but they were getting good chances.  Then the power play was over and it went downhill from there. 

Kyle Brodziak tipped in Darryl Powe's shot at 6:09 and any momentum the Ducks had early on just vanished.  Matt Cullen made it 2-0 at 16:11 and the Wild struck again with Jared Spurgeon making it 3-0 at 19:31. 

Always one to enjoy a good train wreck (I was one of those diehards in the 90's), I continued to watch the game, rather than turn off what seemed inevitable. 

Cam Fowler gave the Ducks a wee little bit of life by getting his first of the year at 2:15 of the second period.  The post was Niklas Backstrom's best friend, though, as the Ducks seemed to be aiming at the pipes and not between the pipes.  

Unable to get anything IN the net, the Ducks pulled Dan Ellis, who got to take over for Jonas Hiller from the second period forward.  Fowler got goal number two of the game with :49 seconds left, but were unable to tie up the game. 

Bobby Ryan, who is always honest and forthright in his assessments, was accurate as always in his assessment of how the Ducks are playing.

"You try to put your finger on it and you do different things to prepare.  We've taken different approaches and nothing has worked.  25 guys in the room got to say enough is enough and that hasn't happened yet.  It's been embarrassing."

It's been embarrassing to the team, but equally embarrassing to fans.  Forget Occupy Honda Center.  How about paper bags over the head?

Wednesday and Thursday the Ducks get to take on the Kings in the beginning rounds of the Freeway Faceoff. 

"We should be going into those two games like a Stanley Cup Game 7,"  was Fowler's opinion. 

How about going into those games like your very livelihood depends on it?  How about going into those games with the attitude that a poor start won't cut it?  How about going into those games with everyone on the same page, with the same goal and the same attitude?  How about going into those games ready from the time the first puck drops and staying ready for an entire 60 minutes?

The season cannot possibly continue like this, but then again, maybe it could.  Those brown paper bags are looking better and better.

I had to wait for a writing visa before I could mention that the Ducks had claimed center Ben Maxwell off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets.  

Maxwell was claimed on Thursday, but has been unable to join to Ducks because he is still waiting for his visa.  Seeing as most government offices in the US had a holiday on Friday and never work weekends, it might be a few days before Maxwell can bring his services to Anaheim.

Maxwell, 23, has appeared in 36 career NHL games with Montreal, Atlanta and Winnipeg.  He reportedly can play 3rd line center or wing, is good in face-off circle, and is very responsible in the defensive zone.

So while the Ducks are waiting for the services of Maxwell, they will also be without the services of Lubomir Visnovsky.  Visnovsky broke his finger late in the third period against Vancouver. 

Visnovsky will not require surgery but he will be out for four weeks while it heals.  Visnovsky had already been battling with another injured (albeit not broken) finger on his other hand. 

Visnovsky will sit in the healing box alongside Jason Blake (cut tendon in forearm), George Parros (detached retina) and Nick Bonino (hyperextended knee).  At least he will have company.

One man's injury is another man's opportunity.  In this case, Kurtis Foster, who has been a healthy scratch for the Ducks, will get his chance in the line up. 

Losing six games in a row sure makes you hunger for win.  Any kind of a win.  As Corey Perry stated after the Ducks 4-3 victory (barely) over the Vancouver Canucks, it was ugly, but they'll take it.

The Canucks had played the Kings the night before.  Theoretically they should have been the tired team.  Yeah.  Like that was the case when the Ducks played a "tired" Nashville team on Wednesday. 

Roberto Luongo got the nod in goal for the second night in a row.  Perhaps it was to appease all the Canadian fans who seem to enjoy any excuse to come to California during hockey season.

On this Veteran's Day, the Ducks saluted the military in a number of ways.  They handed out flags, gave discounted tickets to military personnel, gave free Wild Winger Kid's Club Kits to children of military personnel, had real army guys rappel from the roof of the Honda Center, and gave three houses (yes, brand new homes) to three veterans who had been wounded while serving their country. 

The Ducks mission was merely to play well and not embarrass themselves. 

The first period was definitely better than other periods of late and rather than giving up a goal early, the Ducks and Canucks were tied at 0-0 by the end of the first 20 minutes.  The Ducks had their chances, but could not convert on them.

Anaheim took the positives of the first period into the second period and opened with a bang.  Saku Koivu got the scoring started just :25 seconds in.  Seven minutes later, he nearly had his second goal of the game, but Luongo made another great stop.

The momentum really shifted in the Ducks direction when Aaron Rome took an ill-advised major penalty midway through the period.  Elbowing Devante Smith-Pelly in the head, Rome was handed a game misconduct as well.  Smith-Pelly got an ice pack, but was no worse for the wear. 

The Ducks took advantage of the extended power play time, with Andrew Cogliano scoring at 12:45. Corey Perry added another power play goal at 15:23.  Standing in front of the net (something the Ducks did not do enough of) Perry got the puck up and over Luongo.

A couple minutes later, Peter Holland got his first NHL goal at 17:22, that ended up being the game winner.   Holland has had an interesting time since being called up to Anaheim.  He had his NHL debut in a horrid game against the Red Wings on Saturday and then had his first NHL point taken away due to a scoring change on Wednesday.  Tonight, there was no question he'll remember this moment, and it was worth remembering.

"I don’t think I could feel my legs when it went in the net," Holland said after the game. "It was pretty cool. I kind of decided that I want to do that again. It was pretty special and something I will never forget. To score it on Luongo, one of the best goalies in the league, that adds to it as well."

Ducks fans, a little starved for goals and good games, also got a little greedy.  Chanting "we want wings," they yearned for goal number five so they could go to Hooters. 

Forget wings, the Ducks needed a WIN. 

Going into the third period, ahead 4-0, and tied in shots on goal at 19 apiece, you would have thought it would be smooth sailing in the final 20 minutes.  Right?  Wrong!

Apparently Luongo had enough and Corey Schneider was put in net.  Schneider got about as much work as when he had been sitting on the bench for the first two periods.  Maybe less.

In period three it was all Vancouver.  All in the Ducks zone for the majority of the period. 

First Kevin Bieksa ended Jonas Hiller's hopes for a shutout at 4:32 with a power play goal.  Then Jannik Hansen tapped in Daniel Sedin's shot at 9:12. 

Time out Anaheim to settle down.   It did not help.  Vancouver continued circling the Ducks net like sharks that smelled blood.  Canadian fans were sensing that the tide was turning as well.   They were right. 

Hansen got his second goal of the game at 13:04, taking a puck that was lying loose in the crease and finishing it off behind Hiller. 

Can you say nail biter?

Schneider exited the net with a minute left in the game and then Perry took a late slashing penalty to give the Canucks a 6 on 4 power play.  Really?  Did Ducks fans need a heart attack? 

A huge clear with ten seconds left provided some relief and the Ducks hung on despite being outshot 22 to 2 in the period.   Forget playing with fire.  The Ducks were lighting the matches themselves and nearly got burned.

But a win is a win, and Anaheim will take it. 

"It was pretty tense in some situations there and everything was going against us," said coach Randy Carlyle. "You could see the ice was tilted and they were winning all the battles.  Jonas Hiller stood tall and was a wall in the net. We got the two points and we’ll move forward."

Forward march to Sunday, when the Ducks take on the Minnesota Wild.