There’s nothing funny now. Oh, sure, if you’re the ultimate optimist, the Ducks are still mathematically in the running, but they’d have to win every game from here on out and everyone else would have to lose. However, I don’t think the guys have the time to start sabotaging water bottles with baby laxatives and loading jocks with itching powder.
Everything I hoped wouldn’t come true did last night. The Sedin line was reestablished, the ‘Nucks were hungry and aggressive and “Razor” Raycroft came through in the 11th hour.
McElhinney, in his fourth consecutive start, worked hard frustrating the Vancouver shooters, but the wear and tear was beginning to show. Time and time again he let rebounds he should have frozen go skittering away, leaving his defensemen to pick up the slack and clear the puck.
I can’t really blame the guy, though. This is the most action he’s seen since…uhm…can I get back to on that one?
Saku Koivu elicited some delirious cheering when he tied the game with 84 seconds left in the third, but alas, McElhinney wasn’t able to brick wall Kyle Wellwood and Pavol Demitra. Corey Perry was the lone success in the shootout.
Our only bright spot was Teemu Selanne’s 603rd goal (which was also his 218th power-play goal), but in the aftermath of a game the team had to win, Selanne clearly had no interest in talking about breaking records. He stated to reporters that he’d rather have a win than a record.
Tonight against the Kings is going to be a nailbiter. The Kings have Quickie back in net and it looks like it’ll be McElhinney for the Ducks, with Joey MacDonald (recalled from the Toronto Marlies) as second. J.P. Levasseur has been reassigned to the Springfield Falcons.
The Kings can practically smell their playoff spot, but we all know the Ducks never go down quietly. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of youthful abandon Bonino will bring to the ice.
Kings fans have been offering me all sorts of insincere, mock condolences, so, to respond in a similar, juvenile fashion, I just have one thing to say: “WHERE’S YOUR CUP?????”