Turning around

And the tide turns...

Ever since this past Friday (about a week ago) something in the Ducks have changed. A spark has set a flame and that flame is starting to turn into a wild fire. That night, the Ducks destroyed the Vancouver Canucks in a 7 - 2 win. The following night, which was Halloween on the road in AZ, the Ducks fought hard against a hot Coyotes team and lost in a shoot out, thanks to former Ducks netminder, Ilya Bryzgalov putting on a strong S/O performance. 3 days later, the Ducks would have the most recent Stanley Cup Champions, Pittsburgh Penguins, back in Anaheim since the epic 2006-2007 season. It would prove to be one of the most exciting games so far in this early season. It went back and forth with the Ducks scoring first on a Perry Stumble Shot. The Pens would notch one goal more on the Ducks towards the end of the 3rd where the Pens scored, then seconds later, Koivu would tie it up and almost a minute after that, the go ahead goal from Pittsburgh would find the back of the net. Until the final horn, the Pens withstood a barrage of offensive pressure from the Ducks. Fleury would come out strong, and Sid the Kid would make an amazing save(that's right: save) to block a sure goal from Scotty by stacking the invisible pads right on the corner of the LW side of the net with Fleury too far out of his crease and down on the ice. The Ducks went down and in 3 games were 1-1-1.

And although the Ducks weren't 3 - 0 it was safe to say that they looked different and were playing harder. Something that couldn't be said for the opening month of this years season. In the game against the Pens, they had completely improved on the Power Play and fans could taste a win coming!
And with that, it brings us up to last night. The Nashville Predators were in Anaheim and riding a 3 game winning streak. That streak would come to an end with the Ducks playing hard and continuing on doing well with the PP. Hiller was back in net, Jiggy still out nursing a pulled groin. The whole team came out strong and save for a couple of sloppy plays and fumbling of the puck a few time, the Ducks would blank the Preds in a 4 - 0 win giving Hiller his first shut out of the season. A much deserved and needed win.

Tomorrow, they will face the Phoenix Coyotes but this time in Anaheim. On October 31st, it was announced that the NHL were granted their bid and now own the Yotes. As well as this news, D-man James Wisniewski was suspended for 2 games a few days after that match for an apparent 'dirty' hit on Cap'n Shane Doan. A hit that was not called for a penalty during the game on the 31st. A hit that was clean. But yet being that Wiz is apart of the Anaheim Ducks, the league felt the need to suspend him. Since then, a handful of bad calls have gone against the Ducks. Very suspect. In the 2nd period of the Halloween match with the Yotes, Shane Doan dropped the gloves with Wiz, when he tumbled on top of him, the fight was over. He felt the need to throw one more punch to Wiz. That in itself is dirty as players have the code of not hitting anyone on the ice. The Yotes then played against the Colorado Avalanche a few days after that match. During that game, Doan hit Kyle Quicny with a blatant elbow shot to the head. Quincy was hurt but was able to skate off the ice and head to the locker room on his own will. Doan was not penalized. No suspension was given. Looks like the Coyotes are now in full coverage of the NHL. Which is a shame. Tomorrow Wiz will be returning and without a doubt to a roaring Pond in which I expect, a standing ovation. Doan has become hated even more so now. I have lost all respect of Doan, I follow in my fellow supporters footsteps in which we are all wishing for another win. A good win and hopefully a few good hits to Doan. 'm also hoping that by the end of tomorrow night, I will be cheering all the way from up here in the Pacific Northwest, "Let's Go Ducks! Well done!"

Which I really miss doing that from the inside of the Pond itself.