Well, it's official.  Today rumors of an outdoor game between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in 2014 was confirmed. 

The game will take place at Dodger Stadium on January 25, 2014, as part of the NHL's Stadium Series.   The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing on March 1, 2014 in Soldier Field.   More games are expected to be confirmed, which are in addition to the annual January 1st Winter Classic.

Normally the outdoor games take place in more traditional wintry venues, so weather will play an interesting factor in this one.  One of the ways to counter the possibility of warmer than usual weather is to have the game played at nighttime.

"With their meeting in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, the Ducks and the Kings will write the next chapter in the exciting story of NHL hockey in Southern California," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "At a venue that represents so much glorious sports history, this match-up of Stanley Cup champions will raise our outdoor initiatives to bold new heights. We know the game will be a treat for our fans, and we thank the Ducks, the Kings, Coors Light, Dodger Stadium and the Los Angeles Dodgers for bringing it to life."

Another chapter between the two teams could be written as soon as the second round of the playoffs.  It appears that the Sharks, who are up 3-0 in their series, will like beat Vancouver, leaving the 6th seed to head to round.    If Chicago (#1 seed) moves on, as well as the Ducks (#2 seed),  that would mean that Chicago would play San Jose in the second round.  The Ducks would then get the victor in the series between the Kings (#5 seed) and St. Louis Blues (#4 seed).

These two teams already hate each other and games between them are already lively and spirited both on the ice and between the fans.

Luc Robitaille, the Kings president of business operations, is excited that his organization was given the chance to participate in such a marquee event.

"This is a credit to our fans and the amazing support they have shown to us and the NHL these past few years," said Luc Robitaille, president of the Kings business operations.  "This will be a sporting event like no other that has ever been seen in Southern California and we are proud to be a part of it."

Dodger Stadium has hosted many events, but this is the first time that the stadium will host a hockey game.  With a remarkable view of Chavez Ravine overlooking downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel mountains, Dodger Stadium has been called one of the treasured cathedrals of baseball with one of the most unique and picturesque settings in sports.

Mark this one on your calender, folks!  Now if they can make this a yearly event and rotate it between Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium.

After the Ducks and Red Wings split the first two games in Anaheim, the series headed to Detroit.   Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was asked by the media if the goal  was to win one of the two games in Detroit to regain home ice advantage.

"We're going there to win two," was the captain's response. 

It was not a cocky or arrogant reply, but one of confidence and determination and a clear desire to win.  It has been the captain's attitude all season, as well as his teammates, which is why the Ducks are in the playoffs right now.

So far, Getzlaf and company are halfway there to winning two games in Detroit.  A 4-0 shut out of the Red Wings, in their building, something they have not done since March 1997, gives the Ducks a 2-1 edge in the best of four series.

Everything was pretty even between both teams on Saturday evening until the second period.  Justin Abdelkader earned a five minute major and a game misconduct for charging Toni Lydman.  Lydman was left a little loopy and had some assistance to get off the ice.  He did not return to the game.   

"I think at this stage it is hard to tell," said coach Bruce Boudreau about Lydman's prognosis on Sunday.  "Toni has headaches, and he's got a stiff neck, and bright lights are bugging him. I don't know when that's not going to be there. If we're going minute-by-minute and day-by-day, (Monday) is very questionable for him."

There is no question for Abdelkader.  He earned a two game suspension for the hit to Lydman's head after a disciplinary hearing with Brendan Shanahan on Sunday afternoon.

On the ensuing power play, the Ducks wasted no time getting the first goal of the game just :18 seconds in.  Nick Bonino got his second goal of the playoffs with a nifty deflection.

"It was big," said Bonino.  "That game was back and forth, and we wanted the first goal to get some momentum.  Getzlaf kind of told us before the power play started to settle down and don't rush because we've got five minutes here. To get that goal before the intermission and go in with the lead was good. It was what we wanted."

Anaheim certainly had the chance to stick a knife in the heart of Detroit, but failed to score any further on the major penalty.  In fact, the Ducks were fortunate that Detroit did not have a short handed goal.  Jonas Hiller stayed strong, making all 21 saves for the shut out.

The real turning point was in the third period when the Ducks were shorthanded.  Getzlaf stole the puck from Damien Brunner then put it past a sprawling Jimmy Howard at 6:33.  2-0 Ducks and suddenly Joe Louis Arena was a lot quieter.

Emerson Etem's first goal of the playoffs at 8:04 added to the Ducks lead and to the Red Wings frustrations. 

Anaheim stayed calm and unruffled, while Detroit started to unravel a bit on the ice.  The worst of it coming when Howard punched Corey Perry in the head while Perry was perched in front of the goal crease.  That gave the Ducks on 5 on 3 opportunity.  After the first penalty expired, Matt Beleskey made it 4-0 at 13:34 and the game was essentially over and done with. 

How done were the Red Wings?  With the exception of Ducks fans who had flown to Detroit and the media, there was only a handful of Red Wings fans remaining in the building.  So much so, that when the time came to announce less than one minute remaining, the announcement echoed in the virtually empty building. 

"When you've got a 1-0 game and you get that second goal in a tight-checking game, it means the world," said Boudreau. "Getzlaf's done that so many times for us this year. Especially on the heels of me giving him crap about the penalty kill last night and he goes out and scores a goal -- that's just the way he is. He's a leader in every sense of the word."

The leader said the Ducks were going to Detroit to win two.  If they continue on this path, they might just do that on Monday evening.

If game one is a feeling out period, game two is definitely one of adjustments.  After losing game one, the Detroit Red Wings made the necessary adjustments to get the win over the Anaheim Ducks in game two.   

It appeared that the Red Wings would have an easy time of it against the Ducks until the third period happened.  As Anaheim did in the regular season, they made an incredible come from behind effort, scoring three goals in the final twenty minutes to take the game to overtime.  The Red Wings on the power play to start the overtime period saw an end to the Ducks hopes to take a two games to nothing lead to Detroit.  Instead, both teams head to Detroit with the even split.

Game three on Saturday at the Joe Louis Arena will be another game of adjustments and corrections.  For the Ducks, it would be to start each period strong. 

In a clear sign that the Ducks would not dominate in game one, Detroit scored just :48 seconds into the game with a goal from Justin Abdelkader.    When Damien Brunner score his first playoff goal at 4:20, coach Bruce Boudreau said "time out!"

The Ducks settled down for the rest of the period, but a penalty at the end of the first period saw the Red Wings on the power play to start the second.  As they did in the first, they scored early, taking advantage of the extra man.  Johan Franzen got his first of two goals on the evening at 1:04. 

Even though Saku Koivu got the Ducks on the board at 10:53 of the middle frame, with a power play of their own, Detroit restored their three goal lead at the beginning of the third.  It felt like deja vu when Franzen got his second power play just :20 seconds in.  So much for that comeback, right?

Wrong. 

The Ducks refused to quit.  Ryan Getzlaf got the party started and the crowd back into the game at 7:50.  Kyle Palmieri scored at 12:31, just after a penalty to Detroit expired, bringing the Ducks within one goal.

No one was going to leave the building early at this point.   Bobby Ryan had a great chance with a little more than five minutes left, his shot ringing off the right post behind Jimmy Howard.    He could not believe it did not go in.  Three minutes later at 17:38, Ryan was redeemed when this shot did go in the net. 

Can you say deafening crowd?  Can you say this is what playoff hockey is all about?

Jonas Hiller made a spectacular save on Pavel Datsyuk in the final minute, which prevented the Red Wings from ending things in regulation. 

An ill timed penalty, called on the Ducks when it seemed like nothing was being called on either team, meant Detroit had a power play to start overtime.  As they had in the first three periods, the Red Wings converted early and at 1:21, Gustav Nyquist spoiled any chance the Ducks had of stealing game two.

"We lost an opportunity to put a stranglehold on them in the series, and we let it get away," said Ryan. "The team has been resilient all year in coming back in those opportunities and we believed. We almost pulled it off."

Almost only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes.  Not in playoff hockey where things are black and white.  

“I think you’re mostly disappointed every time you lose," said Boudreau.  "And when you do come back to tie it, and lose it, it's a little more disappointing."

So onward to Detroit with the aim to take at least one game, preferably two, before coming back to Anaheim for game five.  

Ahhh spring!  The NHL playoffs are underway and it must be time for another Anaheim and Detroit match up.   Octopus sales have gone up and security at any arena the Red Wings play at has gone down.

The Ducks took the first game against the Red Wings, 3-1, octopi be damned.  They turned in a solid performance all the way around.  And of course a goal from timeless, ageless Teemu Selanne to win the game.

If you had the initials JH, you were in net.  Jimmy Howard for the Wings and Jonas Hiller for the Ducks.  Hiller made 21 saves for the win. 

The Ducks started the scoring on the power play midway through the first period.  Jordin Tootoo was in the box in what could only be termed a make up call by the referees.  Anaheim capitalized on it quickly, with Nick Bonino winning the face off then redirecting Cam Fowler's shot on net at 10:24.  It only took four seconds, and the lead felt pretty good to the standing room only crowd.

"It was fun, especially to get the lead early in front of a packed house like that," reflected Bonino. 
"It’s something I’ll always remember.”

Two penalties by the Ducks left them down by two players and even though the first had expired, it did not prevent Detroit from tying up the game at 16:05.   Dan Cleary had Jakub Kindl's shot glance off of his head and past Hiller.  It was the only shot Hiller allowed.

The game remained tied, but Kindl made a panic move at the end of the second period, drawing a delay of game penalty.   

That allowed the Ducks to have the majority of the power play on fresh ice to start the third period.  In true Finnish Flash fashion, Selanne scored at 1:29 to put Anaheim ahead once and for all.  It was only his 42nd playoff power play goal and the 10th playoff game winning goal of his long illustrious career.

"I know him well enough, you can tell when he’s got his legs early," said coach Bruce Boudreau. "The puck was following him a little bit tonight. I didn’t know if he was going to score, but I knew when he was on the ice, there was going to be a chance. I was happy for him.”

Detroit was properly motivated to try to tie up the game but also enlisted some not so sneaky stalling techniques with net empty at their end of the ice.  Cleary casually went for a new stick at the bench.  One of those ubiquitous octopi landed on the ice. 

No matter.  When the puck finally dropped, Getzlaf beat Pavel Datsyuk to the puck, giving it to Francois Beauchemin, who said thank you very much as he sent it the length of the ice straight into the empty net at 19:37.

Game over, but the series has only just begun.

"This is a good start, but nothing more," said Selanne.

There is a reason the series are seven games.  This is one down, but there is a long way still to go.  Next up is game two on Thursday.  

In other notes:   Andrew Cogliano finally got to play in a post season game after more than five seasons as a player.   “It was unbelievable,” said Cogliano afterward.  “It was a great time and I’m glad we got the win. Just the atmosphere and the intensity of the game are just on another level. I never experienced that before."

Cogliano primarily experienced that on the third line with Daniel Winnik and Saku Koivu.  The three of them were successful in shutting down Henrik Zetterberg and Datsyuk. 

This the the ninth time the Ducks have gone to the post season.  It will be the sixth time they have to face the Detroit Red Wings.  

No wonder these two teams and their fans hate each other.  They are sick of seeing each other.  

The first time they met in 1997, the Ducks put up a huge fight, taking the Red Wings to multiple overtimes.  They still were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup winners, but it was a worthy battle nonetheless. 

The next time they met in 1999 it was a quick four games and out in the first round.    That was redeemed in 2003 when karma turned the tables and defending Stanley Cup champs were ousted in a four game sweep that felt very satisfying to frustrated Anaheim fans.   Anaheim took that momentum all the way to game seven of the Cup finals that year, with Jean-Sebastien Giguere earning the Conn Smythe trophy for his efforts that began making history against Detroit in the first round.

In 2006 Anaheim did not have to face Detroit in the playoffs.  Someone else got to finish them off before Anaheim lost in the Western Conference Finals to Edmonton.  

In 2007, harmony was restored to the universe and the Ducks and Red Wings met once again.   Detroit did not make it easy on them.   Meeting up in the Western Conference Finals, Teemu Selanne's overtime goal in Detroit in game five was the turning point in the series.   Ducks won the series and won their first Stanley Cup.

Suffering from Cup hangover, the Ducks made it to the postseason in 2008, but lost to Dallas in the first round.    By 2009 they had regrouped and made it past the first round (San Jose).  In the second round it was the Red Wings once again.  This time Detroit was victorious in game seven and moved on, only to lose in the Cup Finals.

The Ducks did not make the playoffs in 2010, despite a push at the end, and in 2011 they were quickly sent home by Nashville in the post season.  Another mediocre season and inability to make the post season in 2012 gave the Ducks the motivation they needed to get there again in the lockout shortened season.

So once again, Detroit it is. 

Not one single media source is predicting the Ducks to win.  But there are a lot of "going to game seven" predictions, which shows that most of the media think it will be a close one.  I cannot disagree on that point. 

“We understand what people think and say," said the always forthright Bobby Ryan.  "Really, nobody gave us the credit to be where we are here. Why would they go ahead and give it to us now? We understand that. We’ll just continue to surprise hopefully."

It's the playoffs.  Anything can happen.   Let the games begin and at the end, the predictions will either be right or they will be wrong.  It will be fun to watch how it unfolds and the fun starts tonight.

The Ducks put on a good show for their fans in at the Honda Center in the final game of the regular season.  However it was not good enough for a win, as they lost to the Coyotes, 5-3. 

Anaheim outshot Phoenix 46 - 30, but Jason LaBarbera made sure that most of the pucks stayed out the net, making several amazing saves.

Viktor Fasth did not get nearly as much work, and looked a lot more pedestrian in net.  Not a good sign going into the playoffs, but then again, Jonas Hiller is more than happy to start the first series against the Detroit Red Wings.

“I wanted to win," said coach Bruce Boudreau. "I wanted to get a good structured effort, and I think we had breakdowns in a lot of areas. The one thing we did get was effort. The opportunities to score were as many as we’ve had all year. We just didn’t put them in.”

The Ducks had plenty of chances to score early on, but after a barrage of pucks sent LaBarbera's direction proved futile, Phoenix was the first the land on the scoreboard.   The first of Radim Vrbata's three goals came at 8:14 of the opening period and seemed to surprise Fasth.

Teemu Selanne tied up the game at 10:21, proving that LaBarbera was human after all.   Selanne and his linemates, Patrick Maroon and Nick Bonino, were dangerous all night long, but Selanne's 675th goal was all they had to show for it on the scoreboard.

The Coyotes regained the lead when Kyle Chipchura's shot trickled through Fasth's legs at 17:36.  Not a good goal to give up.

The game evened itself back up at the start of the second period.  Still on a power play that started at the end of the first, Francois Beauchemin wasted no time making it 2-2 just :14 seconds into the middle frame. 

The Coyotes held their own the remainder of the game.  Vrbata put Phoenix ahead for the final time at  6:46, knocking in a big fat juicy rebound that Fasth left lying around.    His shorthanded goal at 7:43 of the third pretty much sealed the deal for the desert dogs.  An absence of Phoenix fans meant that only two hats fell to the ice to honor the hat trick.

Bobby Ryan, who had sat out the previous two games with the flu, brought Anaheim back within one goal at 9:33.  That was as close as they came. 

The empty netter by Antoine Vermette with 1.2 seconds remaining sent most of the building out the doors and to the parking lot.

"It was a fun night," said Selanne. "We lost, but I think we were still battling all the way through until the end. Overall, I think everybody's happy. Nobody got hurt and we move on to the real games."

Those "real games" are the playoffs.  Ducks are moving on against Detroit next week.  The Coyotes are just going home and packing up. 

Let the real games begin!

In other notes:  The "black aces" were called up from the AHL on Saturday.  Called up were defensemen Mat Clark, Nate Guenin, Hampus Lindholm and Jordan Hendry.  Forwards Max Friberg, Peter Holland and Harry Zolnierczyk were also recalled.  Goaltender John Gibson rounds out the bunch.  They will practice with the rest of the team during the duration of the playoffs and will add depth if necessary.

Despite sitting out some of their top players to give them some much needed rest before the playoffs, the Ducks still kept rolling along and dominated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1.  Anaheim got contribution from their depth players, a good sign heading into the post season.

Teemu Selanne?  Out.  Saku Koivu?  Out.  Bobby Ryan?  Still stick from that icky stomach virus.  Captain Ryan Getzlaf?  Out.    Luca Sbisa still is nursing a lower body injury.   The old guys merely need rest after a compressed season of games.    Even the not so young have extra aches and pains. 

So in their place were some depth players and Patrick Maroon and Devante Smith-Pelly, who were called up from Norfolk to help out. 

"I expect the other guys to be just as good as the guys sitting out," said coach Bruce Boudreau.  "I tell them that, and whether they believe or not, that's my expectation.  Whoever puts that sweater on, this is an opportunity for them."

It would be easy to discount the Ducks, playing in Vancouver's home arena on their fan appreciation day.    The Ducks did not discount themselves and met up to their coach's expectations and ended up dominating the Canucks in their final road victory of the regular season. 

Were it not for Roberto "my contract is too big for anyone to want to make a trade for me" Luongo, the score would have been much more than 3-1.   Luongo was kept exceptionally busy as Anaheim outshot the Canucks 25-9 after the first two periods. 

The Ducks finally solved Luongo with a power play goal at 6:44 of the second period from Matt Beleskey.  It was an easy redirect of Cam Fowler's shot.  Then at 8:21 Brad Staubitz, who has spent more than half the season as a healthy scratch, got his first goal of the year that ended up being the game winner.

"It was just nice to get one," said Staubitz, who only has 10 career goals in 230 games.  "Good to get in a few games and being able to contribute is huge."

Luongo was pretty surprised that Staubitz' shot made it in the net.  He was not happy about it, to say the least, but accepted the blame for it.

"I didn't read the release and it kind of handcuffed me a little bit but that's not an excuse," said Luongo. "I have to make that save 100 times out of 100."

Selanne, not known to enjoy sitting still, actually watched on from the equipment area in the third period.  You could tell he was itching to be on the ice, but for now, he had to be content being the oldest stick boy ever.

Jonas Hiller finally saw some action in the third period, after having caught up reading the paper in the first two periods.  The Canucks finally woke up and outshot the Ducks 20-5, as Anaheim sat back a little.  It almost cost them. 

The Canucks scored on a 5 on 3 at 16:42.  Jason Garrison put the Canucks on the board and made the Ducks a little nervous for the remainder of the game. 

They pulled Luongo to make it 6 on 4 in the final minute plus and came very close to tying the game.  The penalty killers were exhausted and had nothing left in them, but Andrew Cogliano managed to lift the puck and finally send it soaring down the middle of the ice.  It went in with less than :28 seconds remaining and was the insurance marker Anaheim needed.

The Ducks ended up with a road record of 14-5-5 (.688 win percentage), their best ever and their best since their Stanley Cup championship year.  Even though the Ducks have home ice for at least the next two rounds, the ability to win on the road will come in handy during the post season.

Anaheim now has one final home game on Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes.  They will not know who their first round opponent will be until Saturday evening, as the final spots are still up for grabs.  

Also up for grabs is who gets to be in goal during the post season?  Both Hiller and Viktor Fasth have virtually split the season with games, although Fasth holds the slight edge in his stats.

"We have two good goalies," said Boudreau.  "I don't think (I) can screw it up by putting either one of them in net for the playoffs."

Not a bad situation to have.

It took them a little longer than expected, but the Ducks finally clinched the Pacific Division title on Monday.  They also assured themselves of the number two spot in the Western Conference, which means home ice at least in the first two rounds of the playoffs (assuming they make it past round one). 

Breathe a little sigh of relief that the team is back on track.  Finally.

After four losses in a row, the Ducks took a mini time-out before back to back games in Edmonton and whatever they did, it worked. 

With a 3-0 shutout, the Ducks played two very good games in Edmonton and have seemingly righted the ship that was going askew.

"I think it was certainly important to win the division," said Francois Beauchemin, " but it was more important to get back to playing the way we know we can.  It was a good two games for us, and that's what's most important."

Nothing much changed between Sunday and Monday except the goaltenders.  Viktor Fasth took over in net for Anaheim and Nikolai Khabibulin got the nod for Edmonton.

Fasth earned his fourth shut out of the year with a stellar effort against the Oilers, stopping 24 shots.  Fasth's teammates blocked another 25 shots, in a a strong defensive effort.

Ryan Getzlaf had a power play goal at 6:13 of the first period and Radek Dvorak extended the lead at 11:48.   It was Dvorak's fourth of the year in just eight games played, all of his goals coming against his former teams.

Sami Vatanen got his second of the year at 3:55 of the third period, giving a little more breathing room for the Ducks. 

The Ducks now finish up the season in Vancouver on Thursday and a final game at home on Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Their first round opponent is yet to be determined, but they will likely start at home next Tuesday night. 

"I didn't really know what to expect when I first came in," said Fasth.  "Everything happened so fast.  But it's been a fun season so far.  I think we're going to have even more fun in the playoffs."

Teemu Selanne, a veteran of many playoffs, had the right perspective.

"Good so far, but a lot of hard work ahead for sure.  We have to be ready.  The toughest part is coming up."

At least the Ducks look like they are ready.

In other notes:  Bobby Ryan was out with the flu, which is why Dvorak was reinserted into the line up.

Anaheim finally figured out how to end a four game losing skid by defeating Edmonton 3-1 on Sunday.  It was part one of a two part series with the Oilers that will conclude on Monday.   

The Ducks still had to come back from behind, as the Oilers scored first.  Taylor Hall had the only goal for Edmonton just one minute into the game.  Not a great way to start, but Anaheim was able to bounce back. 

Cam Fowler, who has struggled with injuries in and out of the line up all season, finally got his first goal of the year.  It came with less than two seconds remaining in the first period while the Ducks were on the power play.    It was the boost they needed.

"You don't want it to happen this late in the season, but I'm glad that it happened," said Fowler.  "It was a big goal for the team.  Now it's behind me and I can move forward."

Kyle Palmieri scored the go ahead goal and eventual game winner at 19:03 of the second period.  Nick Bonino, who was back in the line up since March 8 with a lower body injury, assisted on both Palmieri's and Fowler's goals.   The Ducks could use more of that energy and enthusiasm, not to mention scoring.

Corey Perry made it look easy at 8:53 of the third period.  His 15th of the year gave the Ducks a two goal cushion. 

Despite pulling Devan Dubnyk, Edmonton could not tie up the game and Anaheim, while quite capable of hitting the post, could not get an empty net goal to add to their tally.

The loss meant that Edmonton was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  Again.   They have not made it to the playoffs since losing in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006. 

Meanwhile, the Ducks are still trying to clinch the Pacific Division, having secured a playoff berth a while ago.  If the Ducks can defeat Edmonton again on Monday, they will get their second Division title.

"It was a step closer to where we want to be," said Ryan Getzlaf, who assisted on Perry's goal. "There are still mistakes that we need to eliminate going into the playoffs, but this was a much-needed win tonight and one that I felt we deserved. It's all about playing the right way going into the playoffs. This was a step in the right direction."

Jonas Hiller had his second start in a row and made 27 saves.  Viktor Fasth is expected to handle part two on Monday.

Keep stepping in that right direction boys.

The season started off so well for Anaheim.  With only four more games left before the playoffs begin, the Ducks seem to be headed in the wrong direction. 

A 3-1 loss to Calgary was their fourth in a row.  They needed five points to secure the Pacific Division title and all they could muster in the past week was a single point against Columbus on Wednesday.  The 3-2 overtime loss, which saw Sami Vatanen get his first NHL goal, was their "best" result.

Four more points in four games?  Seems like it should be pretty easy.   Back to back games in Edmonton on Sunday and Monday, followed up by a swing into Vancouver on Thursday before coming home for the final game of the regular season on Saturday against Phoenix.  Surely they can manage to figure out how to score and win?

Because if they cannot do that, they are going to have a difficult time when the playoffs begin on April 30.   Regardless of who their opponent is.

"We have to get in the mindset that our playoffs have started," said Sheldon Souray. "Get our games sharpened up and dialed in.   The way we're playing right now, we're not going to be playing long."

The Ducks should have defeated Calgary, but they never even led the game.   Goals from Roman Horak and Brian McGrattan left the Ducks in a two goal deficit.  Earlier in the season, they could have easily overcome that hurdle.  

"They don't have a lot of confidence right now," said Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau.  "You're not going to win a lot of games scoring one goal."

The Ducks were finally able to score a goal with Corey Perry putting one past Miikka Kiprusoff at 16:19 of the third period.

There was not enough time to rally further and Roman Cervenka's empty net goal with :50.8 seconds left in the game sealed the deal for the Flames.

"I couldn't have cared less if we were playing a midget team or the Russian National Team," Boudreau said. "We needed the win.  That should have been motivation enough."

Kiprusoff made 32 saves, and gave the Calgary fans something to cheer about in the final home game.  Kiprusoff is expected tor retire at the end of the season, so it could very well have been the last time Calgary got to see "Kipper" at home after 10 seasons with the team. 

Meanwhile the Ducks keep talking about turning things around and cleaning things up.  Talk is cheap.  Action speaks louder than words.  Time to put up or shut up on Sunday.

In other notes:  Jonas Hiller was in net for the Ducks while Viktor Fasth was out with a lower body injury.  Igor Bobkov was brought up from Norfolk to back up Hiller.   Teemu Selanne was out for the first time this season with aches and pains and a lower body injury.  At his age, Boudreau lets him choose to play or not play.  Cam Fowler was back in the line up after missing two games with an upper body injury.