After being voted Captain by his teammates, Ryan Getzlaf, put one puck in the net and added an assist on the game winner in overtime to help lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the final preseason game of 2010-11.

A power play goal on a two-man advantage, by Corey Perry, at 3:16 of the first period with assists to Bobby Ryan and Lubomir Visnovksy gave the Ducks a one goal lead. Despite being outshot by LA, 25-13, some stellar goaltending by Jonas Hiller kept Anaheim up throughout two periods.

At 2:24 of the third, on assists from Brendan Mikkelson and Matt Beleskey, new Captain, Getzlaf tipped one in behind Kings’ goaltender, Jonathan Bernier to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead. They would hold on to this lead until the latter part of the period, when a big error by Hiller allowed LA’s Justin Williams to steal the puck and put it in the net. Just a minute and half later, the Kings would get the game tying goal on a point shot by Jack Johnson (this looked like it may have been deflected in front of the net) forcing the game into overtime.

40 seconds into the beginning of overtime, Los Angeles received a bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice. This was all the opening needed for Anaheim, Teemu Selanne one-timed a feed from Getzlaf into the net behind Bernier giving the Ducks the 3-2 overtime win.

The Anaheim Ducks announced their 2010-11 team captains yesterday. Ryan Getzlaf was voted by his teammates to wear the ‘C’ with Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu each receiving an ‘A’. Todd Marchant and Corey Perry will also serve as alternate captains if it becomes necessary.

Coach Randy Carlyle had this to say about Getzlaf being named as captain, “This is another step in the maturity process of Ryan Getzlaf. We felt that with it being his sixth season in the league now is the time for the transition and the veteran players agreed with us.”

Selanne had this, “I honestly think it’s Getzy’s time.”

Getzlaf’s response? –

“It’s an honor and a responsibility that I accept with it. I’ve thought of myself as a leader and I will try to be the same way throughout this year. I’m up for the challenge and am looking forward to it.  You don’t become the captain and then change what you’re doing. It’s like becoming the president and changing everything that you campaigned about. It’s a thing that you grow into and I was lucky enough to be honored with it today.

Video: Ryan Getzlaf speaks with reporters about being named Ducks’ captain

Selly (Karen) Heddaeus-Robinson
NHLHS Anaheim Ducks Correspondent
SelanneGirl@NHLHotStove.com
Twitter: @SelanneGirl

Despite not making the post-season for the first time since the 2003-04 season, the Anaheim Ducks gave their fans a night to remember with a rout of the Edmonton Oilers. Ryan Carter opened the scoring for the Ducks at 2:04 of the first period when he sent a wrist shot into the net behind Oilers’ goaltender, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers. Carter’s goal was followed a mere 32 seconds later by a slap shot score from the stick of Steve Eminger.  This was just the beginning for Anaheim as the Ducks would go on to put up a total of 7 goals in the game.

With a little help from right wing, Corey Perry, Matt Beleskey notched the final goal of the 1^st at 13:24 sending the puck into the back of the net.

The only goal of the 2^nd period belonged to none other than Teemu Selanne. With only 16 seconds off the clock, Selanne netted his 14^th power play goal of the season during a hooking penalty assessed to Shawn Horcoff at 20:00 of the 1^st. Assist on Teemu’s 606^th career goal went to Saku Koivu and James Wisniewski.

The Ducks were to get another 3 in the 3^rd period with Carter adding his second of the game and George Parros notching an unassisted effort at 11:42. The final goal for the Ducks and of the game belonged to Kyle Chipcura who got one behind Deslauriers while Aaron Ward sat in the penalty box.

Edmonton did manage to get two of their own behind the Ducks’ goaltenders. One at close to the mid-point of the 1^st period when Mike Comrie’s wrister went  past starting goaltender Jonas Hiller and the 2^nd at the beginning of the third period from former Duck, Ryan Whitney when he sent one behind Anaheim’s Curtis McElhinney, who had taken over for an injured Hiller in the 2^nd period.

After the final whistle, Selanne and Niedermayer led the team on a skate around the ice to salute the fans after with the night ended as Teemu was serenaded with chants of,”One More Year.”

Video Highlights of the Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks on 04/11/2010

My Ducks’ 3 Stars:

3 – Kyle Chipchura: A short-handed goal and an assist, he played a very good game all around

2 – Teemu Selanne: His 606^th career goal on a power play at 00:16 of the 2^nd, the only goal in the 2^nd period

1 – Ryan Carter: 2 goals including the first of the game

Notes:

Teemu Selanne has been nominated for the Masterton Trophy.

Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne say that they will let the team know by the June entry draft as to whether or not they will return for 2010-11.

Quotes:

From Teemu Selanne on his possible retirement:

• “Obviously, I’m going to have a lot of time to rest this summer. It’s disappointing, because we had way too good a team to miss the playoffs. But in some ways, the tank doesn’t feel even close to empty.”
• “If you had asked me two months ago, it would have been easy to think, ‘This is it.’ But the way we have played since then (23-14-4 in the second half), after I got healthy, it’s been so much fun.”
  • “I feel I can still play. I still have my speed and my strength – those are the skills that make me successful. If they weren’t good enough to play at this level, it would be easy to do something else.”

“I always say, when I come to the rink every day to play hockey, I’m happy. It’s still that way. But there’s so much work, so much sacrificing, so much dedication (required in the offseason) to play at this level. You have to live for hockey – that’s the hardest part. If the season started (again) in two weeks, it would be easy (to come back).”

• “The reason why I’ve only signed one-year deals is that I can motivate myself and try to do whatever it takes and then re-evaluate again. Am I ready to push this hard again? Am I ready to dedicate all that extra time and energy for hockey? There are no compromises. You have to do it the right way or not at all.”

From Scott Niedermayer on his possible retirement:

• “I guess I’d be lying if (I said) I didn’t think about it.”
• “As you get older, you can’t do the things you used to do, but if you’re still committed to being as good as you can be, I don’t see why you shouldn’t play. It’s not a major issue.”
• “When it comes time to make a decision, it’s definitely personal.”

Following a touching, pre-game ceremony given to honor the Finnish Flash becoming only the 18^th player to score 600 goals in his career, recently signed, Bonino notched his first goal in an Anaheim Ducks’ uniform and his first goal as a National Hockey League player. The goal came at 8:11 of the second period with a little help from line-mates Selanne and Corey Perry. It was the opening goal of the night for the Ducks and helped to carry the team to a 3 -1 win over the Dallas Stars.

Pre-game Ceremony Honoring Teemu Selanne’s 600th Career Goal – Video – 03/29/2010

Retrieving the puck from the net for the rookie was Selanne himself, who had this to say about the moment, “The first NHL goal is always so memorable. I’m very happy he got it. You can already see what kind of skills he has. He is so calm. What amazes me these days about rookies, they are so ready right away.”

After a scoreless first period, in which the Ducks led the shots by a margin of 13 to 5, Dallas’ Steve Ott was sent off on a high-sticking infraction at 6:48 of the second. This opened the door for the Ducks’ special teams and led to the netting of Bonino’s first career goal. Matt Beleskey and Steve Eminger assisted on Anaheim’s second goal of the game put in by Perry at 12:41. Just 49 seconds later Kyle Chipchura on a Lubomir Visnovsky rebound, put one past Stars’ goalkeeper,  Kari Lehtonen, to make it 3 -0. A little over a minute and a half later, Dallas’ only goal was collected by Loui Eriksson with assists to Brad Richards and James Neal. This goal would prove to be the end of the scoring for the game.

One of the better outings for the Ducks in quite some time, the team played an entire 60 minutes and chocked up a very respectable 46 shots on goal, which should be an everyday occurrence for a team with this much talent.  Curtis McElhinney and Bonino are giving us hope for the future and the defense seems to have finally found a replacement for Chris Pronger in the form of Visnovksy.

Nick Bonino Talks About His First NHL Goal – Video – 03/29/2010

My Ducks Three Stars:

3 – Curtis McElhinney – Another excellent performance between the pipes for him, 30 saves on 31 shots

2 – Teemu Selanne – 8 shots on goal and one assist definitely rates a star

1 – Nick Bonino – 4 shots on goal and his first ever NHL goal – Congratulations Nick!

Honorable Mention:

Corey Perry – Scored his 3^rd goal in 2 games (the game winner) and assisted on Bonino’s first

Kyle Chipchura – Scored his 5^th goal of the season and set a new personal record

Lubomir Visnovksy – Continues to prove he was very well worth the trade

Notes:

Jonas Hiller, who was scheduled to start in goal against the Stars, sat out with back spasms.

Ryan Getzlaf is still out nursing his injured ankle.

Teemu Selanne had 8 shots in last night’s game vs. Dallas and has 4 assists in the last 3 games.

James Wisniewski has 4 games remaining on his 8 game suspension.

The Ducks have won 6 of their last 8 home games.

With his goal and assist against Dallas, Corey Perry has equaled his highest, single-season point mark.

Next Game:

Wednesday, March 31^st vs. the Colorado Avalanche in Anaheim.

Central

• Only a week removed from blowing a four goal lead to the Wild, the Blackhawks almost repeated against the Blue Jackets.  Thanks to two powerplay goals from Jonathan Toews the team held on, defeating the Jackets 6-5.  Goalie Cristobal Huet took his anger out on his stick, smashing it before closing the door on Columbus.
• Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch points out that although the Blue Jackets broke free on the scoresheet, their tight defense also disappeared.
• It took 65 minutes and six shooters to decide the game in Dallas, but Steve Ott sealed the game on a controversial shootout goal.  Coach Mike Babcock, fuming over the incident, wonders why instant replay even exists as he did not see the puck cross the goal line. The team feels they were robbed.
• With the Predators receiving two nights off, John Glennon of the Tennessean takes a look at the turning points in their currently successful season.  Lots of “future factors” await the team going down the stretch.
• The Blues extend their winning streak to four in a row with three third period goals.  ”Certainly liked the result,” Blues coach Davis Payne said.  The coach holds a 4-1-2 record in his seven games behind the bench.

Northwest

• Steve McFarlane of The Calgary Sun beleives the Flames meager 54 percent winning percentage at home costs both the team points and the support of their loyal fanbase.  The team leaders starting with Jarome Iginla need to step up and lead this team into the playoffs.
• The Avalanche defeated their former rival Devils taking sole possession of first place.  In front of a sellout crowd goalie Craig Anderson made his best Patrick Roy impersonation, calming his young team down and carrying them to victory.  ”There’s no question that he’s a calming influence back there,” said coach Joe Sacco.  ”He has been all year. He’s been outstanding for us all season. There is that factor that, knowing if you do make a mistake, knowing you have Andy back there, it makes it more comforting for the players and for the coaches.”
• A predictable victory by the Sharks over the Oilers.  ”We weren’t exactly on fire when we had everybody healthy, so it really hasn’t changed much,” said Oilers captain Ethan Moreau.
• The Wild attempted to emulate their four goal comeback against the Hawks before falling short 6-4 to the Coyotes. Despite a hat trick from Guillaume Latendresse, the team took very little from their loss.  ”What happened against Chicago won’t happen every night,” Latendresse said.
• Jason Botchford of The Province goes over the Canucks 6-2 pounding of John Curry and the Penguins.

Pacific

• Coach Randy Carlyle officially lost his entire second line from opening night with the latest injuries to Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu.  ”It’s important for the will to be as important as just skill,” Carlyle said.  Better hope Matt Beleskey and Petteri Nokelainen can will the team to victory playing on a scoring line.
• The Stars broke a three game losing streak with their controversial victory over the Wings.  ”It’s a huge momentum boost for us,” coach Marc Crawford said. “It would have been a huge momentum boost if we had beat the St. Mary’s School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb, but we beat the Detroit Red Wings.”
• The Kings rallied to tie last night’s game and eventually won it in shootout.  “We were OK tonight,” said Drew Doughty. “We weren’t good, and obviously we need to be a lot better than that if we want to be winning all our games. We deserved the two points, we came back and won, but they outplayed us, I thought, for most of the game.”  The Kings almost at full strength barely defeated a bruised and beaten Bruins team.
• The Coyotes let out a sigh of relief, holding on to their lead and defeating the Wild.  ”We’re trying to entertain the fans,” coach Dave Tippett said. “That’s why we’re taking all these penalties late, to keep people in the building – good for the fans, bad for the coach.”  Pretty chipper mood for almost blowing a four goal lead.
• Rookie Benn Ferriero received another chance with the big club Saturday night.  The youngster shocked Sharks officials, earning a spot out of camp and playing in 22 of the team’s first 27 games.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove