Coming off of two shut-out losses is no fun and now we face the Oilers, to whom we dropped 4-2 back in late November.
Ducks fans and NHL writers in general are puzzled by the team’s lack of production. As one writer asked me, “what’s wrong with your guys? Seems like you’ve got decent talent on your front line.”
Don’t I know it! And it’s not just the combo of Getzlaf, Ryan and Perry, it’s the better part of the team. Do a rundown on the active roster and there really isn’t a name that jumps out at you and makes you want to scream “Frog Pussy!”
Of course, with Selanne out of the lineup, Sexton back in Syracuse and a diminished Lupul playing, things could be grim. And who will Koivu be paired up with? Too many questions, not enough aggressive play.
Without Selanne, our power plays have been disgustingly nonproductive and Bobby Ryan isn’t stepping up to the challenge.
As reported by the Orange County Register from Monday morning’s practice:
Here were the line rushes …
Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry
Jason Blake-Saku Koivu-Joffrey Lupul
Matt Beleskey-Nick Bonino-Brandon McMillan
Aaron Voros-Todd Marchant-Kyle Chipchura-George Parros
Uhm…Blake, Koivu, Lupul? Am I the only person getting a queasy feeling right about now?
Meanwhile, off the ice, Cam Fowler is now all of 19-years-old and I hope he gets his Christmas wish – facial hair!
Here’s the cake Mrs. Niedermayer made for lil’ Cam (I like how the design is the 3rd jersey):
Probably the only good thing that’s happened because of the losses is that the true fans will become obvious and the bandwagoners can go expletive themselves and root for the Kings or the Sharks.