Faxes from Uncle Dale

Tag: Anaheim Ducks

  • Take Away This Ball And Chain: Hawks 5 – Ducks 3 (Hawks Win Series 4-3)

    Take Away This Ball And Chain: Hawks 5 – Ducks 3 (Hawks Win Series 4-3)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War On Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    Maybe it’s better that the Hawks won it this way. After all, other teams got to enjoy coming back from 3-2 to win a Game 7 in Anaheim, so why should the Hawks be left out? The Hawks were clearly not going to get caught stretching and yawning in the 1st period as they did in Game 5, and Toews had them up two barely halfway through the 1st. Though no one would say it out loud at the time, I’m sure most felt the game was already over at that point, considering the Ducks’ reputation and history. The Hawks had to weather some storms, Crow had to make a couple big saves to keep the gap where it was, and after Getzlaf earned an assist on Saad’s goal (rounding out his complete passenger performance in this series), the Hawks were content to sit back, absorb, and break when the Ducks got over exuberant. Considering how many odd-man rushes the Hawks had from the 2nd period on, they could have (and perhaps should have) put up seven or eight. Hossa was the only one able to pot one of those breaks, and it’s debatable whether it should have counted.

    But no one cares about that and it probably wouldn’t have made too much difference. It’s onwards and upwards for the Hawks, so let’s clean up this series before we look forward to Tesla coils and Petty references.

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  • The Mongoose Flies: Ducks 2 – Hawks 5 (Series Tied 3-3)

    The Mongoose Flies: Ducks 2 – Hawks 5 (Series Tied 3-3)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War On Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    In what was probably the most even game of the series, the Hawks were simply just a little better in every area that saw them to a win that will force a Game 7. While we all hoped for a dominant Hawks 1st period, the Ducks came out with their hellacious forecheck and didn’t give the Hawks a lot of time to create much. But the Hawks were able to navigate just enough, Crow make just enough saves, and just enough rushes up the ice to make the Ducks and Andersen work in their zone to keep things even. The dam broke in the 2nd, when the Hawks were able to get to their creative best. That’s something the Ducks simply couldn’t match tonight, and it’s why we’re headed back to Cali, back to Cali.

    Let’s do it:

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  • Start The Machine: Hawks at Ducks Game 5 Preview/Pregame Thread/Whiffle Ball Tournament

    Hawk Wrestler vs. donald-duck-dunn-620x413

    Puck Drop: 8pm Central 

    TV/RADIO: NBCSN, CBC Up ‘Dere, WGN Radio 720

    IN LINE AT SPACE MOUNTAIN: Anaheim Calling. Battle Of California

    And now we get to the business end. Someone’s leaving on the brink tonight. And it’s become something of a race to see which happens first: The Hawks lose their legs or the Ducks lose their minds.

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  • You Gotta Keep 'Em Separated: Ducks 4 – Hawks 5 OT (Series Tied 2-2)

    You Gotta Keep 'Em Separated: Ducks 4 – Hawks 5 OT (Series Tied 2-2)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War On Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    Even the next day I’m not sure where to begin this. So let’s flip it and look at it how a Ducks fan (if there is such a thing) might look at it. You still haven’t lost in regulation, and had Corey Crawford not put on two borderline-incredible overtime performances in Games 2 and 4, this series might already be over. Your 3rd period magic has now worked both ways, in that the Ducks were able to protect leads, and rather easily, rather easily in Games 1 and 3. And then there was that comeback, which has been a Ducks specialty this season, in Game 4. You’ve rolled the Hawks in the overtimes, they still only have four ES goals in the series. So yeah, things probably look pretty rosy, even if you think you can’t waste a three goals in 37 seconds burst like that.

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  • You Gotta Keep ‘Em Separated: Ducks 4 – Hawks 5 OT (Series Tied 2-2)

    You Gotta Keep ‘Em Separated: Ducks 4 – Hawks 5 OT (Series Tied 2-2)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War On Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    Even the next day I’m not sure where to begin this. So let’s flip it and look at it how a Ducks fan (if there is such a thing) might look at it. You still haven’t lost in regulation, and had Corey Crawford not put on two borderline-incredible overtime performances in Games 2 and 4, this series might already be over. Your 3rd period magic has now worked both ways, in that the Ducks were able to protect leads, and rather easily, rather easily in Games 1 and 3. And then there was that comeback, which has been a Ducks specialty this season, in Game 4. You’ve rolled the Hawks in the overtimes, they still only have four ES goals in the series. So yeah, things probably look pretty rosy, even if you think you can’t waste a three goals in 37 seconds burst like that.

    (more…)

  • Make Them Believe: Hawks at Ducks Game 2 Preview/Pregame Thread/Soakin' It

    Hawk Wrestler vs.howard_the_duck

    PUCK DROP: 8pm (or 20 minutes later) Central
    TV/RADIO: NBCSN, CBC In The Great White North, WGN 720
    MICKEY GROPERS: Anaheim Calling, Battle Of California

    Now that all the teeth-gnashing and forcible hair removal after Game 1’s loss has faded, the Hawks get down to the business of trying to grab a split in Orange County, which is what they needed when this all began anyway. Nothing is fucked here, Dude.

    As you may have seen the debate rage on Twitter last night, it looks like there’s going to be one lineup change for the Hawks tonight as Kyle Cumiskey will come in for David Rundblad. Let’s be clear, neither is an answer to any question anyone is asking. This isn’t about one being better than the other. But it is highly strange that after it was clear that Rundblad was struggling with rust after not playing in a month combined with the deficiencies in his game, that Q would then opt to try another d-man who hasn’t played in a month and hasn’t even been playing in the NHL this season save for six games that weren’t all that impressive. It’s unlikely he’ll play enough to make a difference, but then we thought that about Rundblad, didn’t we?

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  • Make Them Believe: Hawks at Ducks Game 2 Preview/Pregame Thread/Soakin’ It

    Hawk Wrestler vs.howard_the_duck

    PUCK DROP: 8pm (or 20 minutes later) Central
    TV/RADIO: NBCSN, CBC In The Great White North, WGN 720
    MICKEY GROPERS: Anaheim Calling, Battle Of California

    Now that all the teeth-gnashing and forcible hair removal after Game 1’s loss has faded, the Hawks get down to the business of trying to grab a split in Orange County, which is what they needed when this all began anyway. Nothing is fucked here, Dude.

    As you may have seen the debate rage on Twitter last night, it looks like there’s going to be one lineup change for the Hawks tonight as Kyle Cumiskey will come in for David Rundblad. Let’s be clear, neither is an answer to any question anyone is asking. This isn’t about one being better than the other. But it is highly strange that after it was clear that Rundblad was struggling with rust after not playing in a month combined with the deficiencies in his game, that Q would then opt to try another d-man who hasn’t played in a month and hasn’t even been playing in the NHL this season save for six games that weren’t all that impressive. It’s unlikely he’ll play enough to make a difference, but then we thought that about Rundblad, didn’t we?

    (more…)

  • Down On The World Again: Hawks 1 – Ducks 4 (Ducks lead series 1-0)

    Down On The World Again: Hawks 1 – Ducks 4 (Ducks lead series 1-0)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War On Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    The Ducks draw first blood on one thing we didn’t account for, and that’s Frederik Andersen turning in a great performance. Andersen has proved to be a good goalie these past two years, but he hasn’t proven he can win a series by himself. And he still hasn’t. But he has proven he can take a game and was very good today.

    Because what else happened that you didn’t expect? The Hawks horsed the Ducks for the first 40 minutes, racking up a 63% shot attempt advantage. We also saw Rundblad have a few yips, which we pretty much all saw coming. The Ducks’ defense wasn’t actually much better, turning the puck over whenever under pressure and allowing the Hawks far too many looks than any Anaheim fan should be comfortable with.  The Hawks biffed a couple power plays they gotta have, but with the help of Andersen as well. The Ducks took their opportunities, Andersen made sure the Hawks didn’t take theirs.

    And yet some people make it seem like the world is collapsing in. Let’s clean this one up.

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  • Same In The End: Breaking Down Hawks vs. Ducks

    Same In The End: Breaking Down Hawks vs. Ducks

    None of what comes in this post is going to be much of a surprise to you. After reading us breaking down the entire Ducks team, you probably know where we think this is headed. But thanks to the NHL and their infinitely genius scheduling, we’ve still got time to kill. So let’s look into the crystal ball.

    (Although I guess I understand the series didn’t start tonight, as with Kanye playing the Honda Center tomorrow it probably takes all of today to stuff his aura into the arena).

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  • It Wasn’t A Pretty Picture – Anaheim’s Special Teams And The Rest

    It Wasn’t A Pretty Picture – Anaheim’s Special Teams And The Rest

    Time to clean up our preview of the Hawks’ Western Conference Final opponent the Anaheim Ducks.

    Special Teams

    Now this is where things could go a bit sideways for the Hawks, and clearly the biggest flashing red light. Just like the Hawks did last round, the Hawks will face the team heading into it with the playoffs’ hottest power play, as the Ducks are clicking at 31% in two rounds. Both Winnipeg and Calgary had middling kills during the season, but it’s not like the Hawks’ can claim much else from about March on.

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