The Ducks are back to business after their Scandinavian road trip.  No more saunas and reindeer filets.  Time to get over the jet lag and prepare for the home opener against the San Jose Sharks on Friday evening. 

Anaheim wasted no time in Sweden after spending six days in Finland.  They left for home after defeating the New York Rangers, the second of two NHL Premiere games in Europe. 

The Ducks were allowed to take three goaltenders with them to Europe, a special exemption from the NHL for all teams traveling there.  It was no surprise that Jeff Deslauriers was the odd man out.  He was put on waivers and sent to the AHL in Syracuse.

Anaheim also put Brian McGrattan on waivers, but he was picked up by the Nashville Predators.

In other moves, Jake Newton was traded to Chicago in exchange for Kyle Cumiskey.  Cumiskey joined Deslauriers in heading to Syracuse.

The Ducks will continue to practice and prepare for the home opener on Friday, a day that is filled with a little more pomp and circumstance than normal.  Instead of having the players arrive on a red carpet, this year it will be the Miller Lite blue carpet event.    The event starts at 3:00pm in the afternoon with pre-game interviews on the carpet by Kent French.  Music will be provided by the local Orange County band, "d." 

On Friday, there will be three new concessions at the Honda Center - Outlaws Smokehouse, Burger Bistro and Sliced Gourmet Deli.  Every year they add new places with varying menus to make sure there is something for everyone.

There will be a magnet schedule giveaway and fans can also purchase the first of four Surprise Pucks.  Pucks will cost $30 and 23 lucky pucks will come with NHL premiere jerseys worn in Finland and Sweden.   Pucks will also be sold on November 11, February 1, and April 1. 

The home opener will also mark the first of 17 games in which the Ducks will wear a "24" patch on their jerseys to honor former Duck, Ruslan Salei.  Salei passed away, along with the rest of his Lokomotiv teammates, in a fiery plane crash in Russia on September 7. 

The Ducks certainly wants to play like they did against the Rangers and not like they did against the Buffalo Sabres.  A win, at home, against the Sharks would be a very nice way to start things off in Anaheim. 


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It was a day late, but the Anaheim Ducks finally got the win they wanted.  In a dream world, Teemu Selanne would have had the game winning goal against the Buffalo Sabres in Helsinki.  They got a 4-1 defeat by a well prepared Sabres team instead.

After coming 5600 miles to support your team, a loss was not the way to end the evening and our time in Finland.  

Getting to Sweden was more than a change of pace.  The Ducks regrouped, refocused and played the way they should have in Helsinki.  A 2-1 shootout victory felt good for the Ducks and just as good for the fans.

The game was chippy in the beginning, but eventually settled down.  Unlike the previous evening, the Ducks were able to score first.  Andrew Cogliano got his first as a Duck at 9:26 of the first period, tipping in Andrew Gordon's shot.  Both Gordon and Devante Smith-Pelly looked like kids who had been handed the keys to the candy store at getting their first NHL points. 

That third line is going to be crucial to the Ducks success this season.  Without a third line, there is too much reliance on the top 6 forwards.  The third (and fourth) lines will have to chip in.  With Cogliano, Gordon and Smith-Pelly having developed some nice chemistry throughout training camp, it seems that there is the potential for a legitimate third line this season. 

Henrik Lundqvist, clearly the local darling in Sweden as Teemu is in Finland, was spectacular in net for the Rangers.  He made amazing save after amazing save, including using his forehead like a soccer player to bump the puck away.  His gymnastics in net kept his team in the game throughout. 

Finally Brad Richards was able to put a puck past Jonas Hiller, who appeared headed for a shut out.  Richards roofed the puck over Hiller's shoulder with a beautiful shot to tie the game up in the third period with just 2:15 left to go. 

Hiller, who was less than stellar against Buffalo, was much more solid this time around, stopping 14 of 15 shots by the Rangers.  From the start, he looked steady in net, which also helped his teammates stick to their game as well.  

Nothing else being decided in the overtime period, the game had to go to a shootout.  A lousy way to end a game, but certainly a fan favorite.

You could tell the media would love to have a great story of either a game winner from a Swede or finally Selanne.  That did not happen.  More important was the win than the story.  Bobby Ryan got the puck past Lundqvist in the fourth round of the shootout.  Hiller's final save on Anisamov sealed the game for the Ducks.  Even funnier was the fact that Bobby nearly fanned on his shot.  He barely got the heel of his stick on the puck, which surprised both Lundqvist and Ryan as the puck snuck its way in.

It does not matter how it goes in, but that it does.  The biggest grin on Ryan's face said it all.  

The Ducks now head home from Sweden, while the Road Crew enjoys one more day of sight seeing and Swedish culture.  Anaheim has to recover from jet lag and prepare for the home opener against San Jose on Friday.  

It has been a wonderful Scandinavian adventure, although not perfect, but pretty darn close.  Continuing positive momentum in Anaheim will go a long way to having a good start and a good season.

 

With so much excitement and hullabaloo about Teemu Selanne playing in Finland to open the NHL season, you knew there was going to be a letdown.  Certainly the hope was that it would come after a win (or two). 

Instead, it was quick. 

Playing the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Premiere games in Helsinki, the Ducks seemed to be the hometown favorites, despite 5600 miles between Helsinki and Anaheim.

The Sabres came ready to play.  The Ducks?  Did not do so well.

Anaheim came out with probably way too much energy and excitement and did not have their act together for quite a while.  Early penalties to both teams left the teams playing 4 on 4, but when the Sabres got their advantage, they wasted no time making it 1-0 with a goal from Tomas Vanek. 

The only Finn on the Buffalo team, Ville Leino, made it 2-0 at 8:30.  Jonas Hiller did not look solid in net as he had on Tuesday.  Too much moving around and scrambling.

The Ducks appeared to get back into the game when Nate Guenin got his first NHL goal, tipping in Maxime Macenauer’s shot from the blue line through traffic at 4:38.

It was short lived.  The Sabres came back on the next shift and restored their two goal lead with a goal from Jason Pominville.  Right through Hiller’s five hole.

Anaheim should have learned not to give Buffalo the power play, as Vanek made it 4-1 at 11:59.  Stay out of the box.  Simple.  Especially with the way the team was playing and the way the Ryan Miller was making sure nothing else would go in the Buffalo net.

The third period started much better and the Ducks were able to hold the Sabres off from any more shots on net.  It did not matter.  By then it was too little, too late and Miller refused to yield any more pucks in the net.

There is hope that the Ducks have figured things out in time for the game against the New York Rangers in Stockholm on Saturday evening.  Perhaps having less pressure and expectations on them will make it easier.  Then again, having to face the Rangers, who have local Swede, Henrik Lundqvist in net, will make it just as difficult. 

The points matter and the Ducks are already in the hole by two.  They cannot afford to make it four. no comments

The Anaheim Ducks have been focused on playing hockey while they are in Finland.  Sure, they have had a little fun and sightseeing, but they have a job to do.  A job that really begins in earnest on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres when there will be real points on the line. 

For the 140 fans who have traveled to Finland (and will make the trek to Sweden as well), things are little less structured and a lot more fun.

Fans have gotten a real feel for Helsinki and Finland with sightseeing around town as well as a visit to the medieval town of Porvoo, about 35 miles outside of Helsinki.  Porvoo is a lot like Solvang, except it is real.  And not commercial in the way Solvang is.  There are lovely cobblestone streets and red wood houses along the picturesque river.  But this is not some history site preserved for tourists - people live and work there.  The history is respected and maintained and you get the feeling everyone has a vested interest in keeping it preserved yet functional. 

There have been trips around Helsinki to see all the local attractions and get a feel for the Finnish history and culture.  The hotel, centrally located, has afforded easy walking access to shopping and museums and restaurants.  The local Kamppi mall is like a Finnish South Coast Plaza and Stockmans department store is like a Macy's and Super Walmart times ten.  They have nearly everything that you could possibly imagine, except universal rechargers for your computer (thank you Clas Ohlson!).

In addition to the hockey games, for which the seats have been a dream (centered, lower bowl, Club level type experience), there have other hockey themed events. 

On Wednesday, after the win over Jokerit, the fans of the Road Crew were treated to a private practice at Hartwall Areena.  There were also several hundred Finnish fans at the practice, with about the same number of people who came to the Ducks training camp when it opened on September 17. 

After the practice, which was really a light workout intended to entertain those in attendance, the Road Crew was treated to lunch at a private restaurant inside the Areena.  Think reindeer cabin chic for the decor.  After lunch, GM Bob Murray, the coaches, and the players joined the fans for a meet and greet and signed autographs, chatted and posed for pictures.   The players were in a very good mood, perhaps grateful to have a fun session on the ice and not have to listen to Randy Carlyle barking at them.  Barking could wait another day. 

Later that evening was a reception back at the hotel and a surprise visit by Jari Kurri, and a local Finnish journalist, who has been covering ice hockey for the past 15 years.  Radio play by play commentator, Steve Carroll, led the unexpected question and answer session.  

When on their own during free time, the Road Crew has been out and about around Helsinki.  Some are taking the boat for a two hour ride to Estonia.  Others are staying a little closer to home and back.  Others are venturing a little closer by taking the 15 minute ferry to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a fort used to defend the Finns in the past.   

Reindeer and bear are some of the more exotic items on the menu at local restaurants.  Ordering Reindeer Wellington is just...strange.  But reindeer in Finland is as common as cows in Texas.  It's what's for dinner here. 

The excitement about tomorrow night’s game just continues to grow.  While part of the Road Crew’s job is to be tourists, their main function is to support their team and help them on to a win for their first game of the regular season.  It’s here.

As the cobwebs of jetlag continue to brush off everyone's brain, Ducks fans got to enjoy the final pre-season game of the year in person in Helsinki, Finland.  Playing against Jokerit, Teemu Selanne's former team, gave everyone a glimpse of just how huge Selannemania is in Finland. 

Jokerit is no slouch of a team and provided a very good test for the Ducks preparedness for opening night against the Buffalo Sabres in the same Hartwall Areena.  

A pre-game ceremony (in Finnish only) honored both Jari Kurri, whose jersey is hanging in the rafters of the arena, and Teemu Selanne.  Fans on the Road Crew trip had prime seats to witness everything just a few rows up from the glass smack in the middle of the arena.  Can you say pampered and treated well?

The Ducks were well received by Finnish fans, although when it came down to it, Jokerit was where their loyalties lay.  The two men in front of me even joked in Finnish that they were spotting the team a goal when Corey Perry got on the board first at 6:12 of the opening period.  There had been NHL highlights before the game, and Perry's goal was just as pretty as those on the highlight reel.

Anaheim extended their lead with a power play goal from Perry (assisted by Selanne) at 12:10.  That did not sit well with Jokerit fans, who wanted their team to defeat Anaheim, even if Selanne was wearing a Ducks jersey.  He once wore the Joker logo of Jokerit a mere 20+ years ago when he was about Cam Fowler's age, but that did not matter to the Finns.

It could have been 3-0 at the end of the first period, but the bell sounded right before the puck crossed the goal line on another power play opportunity.

In the second period, Jokerit worked their butts off and therefore forced Jonas Hiller to work his off as well.  Save after save, he performed in net as well as he did last season before vertigo sidelined him.  Jokerit fans were looking at all the Ducks fans accusingly, as if we had anything to do with stopping pucks.  Some of us actually apologized for Hiller's excellent performance, because we were just so happy to see Hiller being his old self.

Hiller could not stop everything, though.  Tomas Kivisto finally got a puck through at 18:56 of the middle frame, giving fans something to cheer about.

It was shortlived.

Jokerit continued to work hard in the third period and came back to within one goal at 1:33 thanks to Riku Hahl. Former NHLer, Ben Eaves, tied up the game at 16:03, to the delight of the crowd, who went wild.  Unable to resolve the tied score before regulation, the game went into overtime.  No matter who won the game, it was an excellent tilt regardless.

The Ducks did finish their Finnish foes in OT with a goal from Ryan Getzlaf at 1:13 and everyone ended with handshakes and salutes to the crowd of nearly 14,000 people. 

The amazing thing was the fans.  Even though we were the visiting team, we were greeted cordially and respectfully and the passion of the Jokerit fans was amazing, from the top of the building down to the glass.  Everyone was there because they love and support their team. 

It was a great way for the Ducks to finish the pre-season and move on to opening night Friday.  That game can be seen by all Ducks fan, not just those who spent money on a trek to Finland.

IN OTHER NOTES:

Kurtis Foster played in his first Ducks game after having gotten the ok from doctors.  Foster had surgery two weeks ago to remove a wire in his thigh that had been bothering his knee.

Congratulations to George and Tiffany Parros on the birth of their twins, a boy and a girl.  Parros missed the birth by being in Finland.  I'm sure the kids will never hear the end of that as they grow up.

Food at the Hartwall Areena is not significantly better quality than the Honda Center but even with the Euro exchange rate, it is much less expensive. 

The Anaheim Ducks took a charter flight to Helsinki, Finland on Saturday.  The majority of th 135 Ducks fan on the Road Crew trip left Sunday on regular planes with no leg room or reclining space.  It is safe to say that the players are a little bit better acclimated than the fans right now.  That is probably a good thing, considering that they have a game on Tuesday evening against Jokerit.

The Ducks players were greeted with blue skies and a direct trip to Hartwall Areena for a light practice skate.  The Road Crew was greeted with gray skies and drizzle and a direct trip to the hotel. 

The players were treated to time on Teemu Selanne's yacht to see some of Helsinki's sights.  The Road Crew?  At least a few of us took a much needed nap.

Hopefully Selanne will pass along some of the same restaurant tips to the fans after practice on Wednesday as he did to his teammates.  It is a little jarring to come 6,200 miles and see a McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Subway restaurant within a block of the hotel.  That is clearly not Finnish cuisine. 

Helsinki is beautiful with lots and lots of trees and the leaves are just beginning to turn color.  It feels like autumn and definitely feels like hockey weather.

Traveling with the road crew was like traveling with family, as one man described it.  At LAX, you knew who your traveling companions would be, as there was plenty of Ducks gear to be seen.  About half of the Road Crew took the same flight, and the Ducks own Kent French was one of the group as well.   

Interestingly, Brian Hayward and John Ahlers have stayed home in Anaheim, although they will be broadcasting the game.  Secrets of television?  They will be in front of a bank of TV monitors, just like the Buffalo Sabres announcers. Ahhh the joys of technology. 

You can be sure there is excitement in the air here in anticipation of Selanne and the Ducks playing.  This will truly be a once in a lifetime experience for not just the players, but the fans as well. 

Up next?  A litle sightseeing in the morning after a good night's rest.  Much much needed rest. 

Three bad games.  Three good games.  One so-so game that looked like the Ducks were back to square one.  Thus has been the Anaheim Ducks pre-season.

Looking to build on the good from the prior three games, the Ducks instead took some steps backwards.

"There were a lot of mistakes," said Teemu Selanne. "It looked like the team was not ready. I don’t know if we were just trying to survive and stay healthy before we go to Europe, but that is not our hockey. I’m a little disappointed about our effort."

A little disappointed?  How about a lot. 

It is never a good sign when you think the "C" on the captain's jersey stands for "crap," as in how poorly he is playing.

Although the Ducks outshot the Kings early on, Los Angeles was the one on the board first, with a goal from newly acquired Mike Richards at 1:08 of the second period. 

The Ducks were able to tie up the game on the power play with a goal from Selanne.  Considering how they began on the power play, it was a miracle that they managed to even get the puck in the Kings zone, much less put it in the net.   Anaheim's top power play unit looked more like the Keystone Cops play hockey as they managed to do a good deal of the penalty kill themselves, all with the puck in their possession.  Once the puck got into the Kings zone, they made it look textbook with a quick finish from Selanne at 10:53. 

The game appeared pretty even until the third period.  The Kings outshot the Ducks 11-2 in the first half of the period and were rewarded for their efforts at 14:17 with the game winning goal by Willie Mitchell. 

Waking up after that, the Ducks finally got serious and had some decent chances in the final minutes of the game.  After pulling Dan Ellis, who split time in net with Jonas Hiller, the Kings had a great deal of difficulty getting the puck into the empty net and sealing their fate. 

Getzlaf was instrumental as a puck caromed off his foot and directly onto Anze Kopitar's stick.  Kopitar, unlike his teammates before him, did not miss the gaping net.  3-1 Kings.  Game over. 

"We’re not very happy with the way we played," said coach Randy Carlyle after the game. "We’ll address it and move forward. It was the last preseason game. In my mind, we didn’t play an NHL type of game. We played more of a shinny type of game. It looked like summer hockey at time. We have to be better than that."

The Ducks can ponder the errors of their ways on the way to Helsinki, Finland.  They leave tomorrow morning to start the season in Europe. 

Anaheim sure started the pre-season off slow.  Ok, they were pathetic and dismal at best in their first three games.  Apparently it was good to touch bottom, because since then, the effort and results have been much, much better.

Playing the Vancouver Canucks for the second time this pre-season, the Ducks got their third win in a row with a 3-2 victory. 

Jonas Hiller was in net again and stopped 31 shots. 

"I felt pretty good," said Hiller, who has had both pre-season starts against the Canucks.  "It’s great just to feel right, to be out there and get some shots. Everybody was playing good today and we definitely wanted this win at home."

It's great just to feel right. 

Understatement of the year and a great sign for the Ducks. 

Cam Fowler deflected a shot off Mark Mancari's stick at 16:35 of the first period to give the Ducks the lead.  Roberto Luongo, making his pre-season debut for Vancouver, had no chance on the shot.

1:06 later, Bobby Ryan made it 2-0, using Andrew Alberts as a screen.  Perhaps Luongo should have made his pre-season debut earlier. 

In the second period, Henrik Sedin put the Canucks on the board at 4:12.  Sami Salo tied up the game on the power play late in the middle frame.

The game remained close.  Then Lubomir Visnovsky got the eventual game winner at 5:08 of the third on the power play.  His shot barely squeaked through Luongo's pads and into the net. 

It was not smooth sailing for the Ducks.  Pulling a major no-no, Andrew Gordon and Nate Guenin both wound up in the penalty box late in the game, giving the Canucks a 6 on 3 advantage when they pulled Luongo for the extra attacker.  Hiller and the Ducks held fast in the barrage and managed to get the win.

Gordon later tweeted this:  "Note to self: when trying to make the team as a penalty killer...stop taking penalties."

Had their errors ended up giving the Canucks the tieing goal, Gordon may not have been as light hearted.

The Ducks now have one final pre-season game at home against the Kings on Friday night.  Then they leave for Finland.  I am not too far behind, as I leave on Sunday (and will continue to give you a Finnish perspective of the Ducks.)

Two people not going on the road trip?  Iiro Tarkki, who was sent to Syracuse, as well as J.F. Jacques, who cleared waivers and was sent down. 

Ever since Sheriff Shanahan came to town there is no question that there is no tolerance for NHL violators.   Shanahan has already had several tests of his authority and has laid down the law in all of them, handing out bans right and left.  As a result, he has been dubbed "Brendan Shanaban." 

The nice thing that Shanahan has added is video about why he has determined the punishment to be meted out, with back up documentation of the rules violated and eyewitness proof of the crime.  

One thing is certain, he is being consistent in doling out harsh sentences to the guilty parties involved.  You just know in the regular season that Alexander Ovechkin is going to be subject to the same consequences as a Jean-Francois Jacques. 

Jacques, acquired by Anaheim in off-season, made a brainless blunder on Saturday night in Vancouver.   With less than five minutes to go in the game, Jacques came onto the ice for a line change, but made a beeline to Mike Duco to instigate a fight.  In the no-no code of fights, he continued to punch Duco when he was down on the ice.

Jacques automatically served a one game suspension and had his hearing on Tuesday.  Shanahan threw Jacques in the slammer for the remainder of the pre-season and five regular season games.  Adios Finland!

“We certainly understand and support what the league is doing with regards to discipline, and we accept this suspension,” was GM Bob Murray's response to the suspension. ”We do want our players defending each other, and I think that was J.F.’s intent. However, he went about it the wrong way. So we accept this and move on.”

The suspension will cost Jacques $17,567.55 of his $650,000 NHL salary, which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle did not offer support for his player’s actions.

“It’s hard to defend that,” Carlyle told the Orange County Register. ”You can’t defend what he did. He ran across the ice and went after a guy. It’s kind of like you’re at a loss for words when it’s happening. You’re shaking your head. What do you do?  There’s no masking what happened. I’m sure he’s not proud of it and we’re not proud of it as an organization and a coaching staff.”

For those borderline players who are trying to make the team, there will be an extra spot available for at least the first five games.  Depending upon performance, that could very well mean that Jacques is out of a job.  Or at the very least will spend a great deal of time on game day wearing his nice suit and sitting in the press box.

At least he won't be alone. 

Former Duck James Wisniewski got eight games for his on ice sins.  Jody Shelley got five games.  Brad Staubitz got four games.  Brad Boyes got two games. 

Shanahan has been a busy little rule enforcer, protecting player safety right and left.  Players better get the message early - do the crime and you will do the time!

EDITED SEPTEMBER 28 - It appears that Jacques will ponder his misdeeds in the AHL.  The Ducks put Jacques on waivers on Wednesday morning.  Jacques can play in the AHL, but will still have to serve the NHL suspension.  Another roster spot just opened up long term.

After an embarassing and pitiful start to the pre-season, the Ducks have finally figured it out.  At least for two games.  Having lost the first three games, the Ducks have now won two in a row, including a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

The victory over the Kings is more notable than the win over the Canucks for several reasons.  The Ducks had a mostly veteran line up in Vancouver against a team that primarily consisted of prospects.  Against the Kings, it was the opposite.  Most of the veterans sat out while the Kings played their A team.  Add to it that the Ducks were playing their third game in three nights in as many cities, and the level of difficulty just rose. 

Anaheim, however, seemed up to the task, with a hard working, heartfelt effort. 

"The effort and the tenacity that we showed was a huge upgrade from where we've been the first three games of the year," coach Randy Carlyle stated after the victory. "We were pretty good in Vancouver, but we couldn't really judge because we didn't play against the same quality of lineup we played tonight.  You've got to give our guys credit. They went out and worked hard. It wasn't pretty but they did a lot of the little things it takes to win in the NHL."

Kyle Palmieri, Andrew Gordon and Patrick Maroon all scored for Anaheim.  Andrei Loktionov had the sole goal for the Kings, who did not get on the board until the third period. 

The game against Los Angeles was another view under the microscope for players trying to make the squad.  

Some of those players did not make the cut and were sent to Syracuse today. 

Among those sent to Syracuse were defensemen Mat Clark and Sean Zimmerman.  Joining them were forwards Nick Bonino, Nicolas Deschamps, Peter Holland, Dan Sexton and Palmieri.   Sexton and Zimmerman have to go through waivers.  Not like Sexton hasn't seen those before. 

Holland had performed well in camp, so the cut was somewhat of a surprise.  Both Bonino and Palmieri spent some time with the Ducks last season and will likely be call ups from the AHL when needed. 

The Ducks are left with 16 forwards, 10 defenseman and 4 goaltenders. 

Two of those defensemen are on the injured list - Kurtis Foster, who is out 2 - 4 weeks after surgery to remove a wire in his thigh, and Toni Lydman, who still has not been cleared for contact after shoulder surgery in the off season. 

Those d-men still on the "fighting for a spot" list include Nate Guenin, Bryan Rodney and Matt Smaby.   At least one of them will make the opening roster because Foster and Lydman will not be ready in time.

The final fight for spots at forward include Gordon, who has been impressive thus far, as well as Maroon, Maxime Macenauer, Brian McGrattan, Devante Smith-Pelly. 

Smith-Pelly, who is not old enough to be assigned to Syracuse, might end up earning a 10 game look.  He has been solid in camp and has lasted longer than others expected to last longer.  In the end, he will likely be back with his junior team, but he could be a surprise addition.  Last year, in his first training camp, he made a respectable and noticeable debut.  Clearly, he is developing nicely as a player.

The Ducks now have a couple more days before their next game at the Honda Center.  Further cuts will likely be made before Wednesday, as the Ducks have to prepare for their European road trip, which departs on Saturday.