Ducks-Jets Game 2 Recap

It takes a special kind of team and special kind of players to never allow the big moments to rattle you and to elevate your game when it matters most. That’s what the Anaheim Ducks have done all season and continued last night as they picked up another heart-pounding win in Game 2.

The first period was the first scoreless period of the series but saw no drop in physical play. A combined 29 hits were thrown between the two teams with clearly more and more hatred building between the two teams. Both the Ducks and Jets would go 0/2 with the man-advantage but each had their share of good scoring chances.

Period two saw the Jets get on the board first. Following a scrum along the half-wall the puck was dug out and sent across to defenseman Adam Pardy. He made a nice move around Kyle Palmieri and wrapped around the net before sliding it past Andersen. Pardy got some help as Ryan Kesler had shoved Lee Stempniak into the net and he disrupted Frederik Andersen as the shot came through. None the less the referees confirmed a good goal for Pardy,( his first since January of 2011) and the Ducks would need to mount another third period comeback.

The Ducks seemed angered and more engaged following the Pardy goal and they used the energy to start to tilt the ice. The Ducks were coming strong from puck-drop of the final frame and got a power-play at just about the midpoint of the 3^rd. Andrew Ladd was careless with his stick catching Ryan Getzlaf in the face to put the Ducks on the Power-play. A power-play that ranked 28^th in the NHL during the regular season struck for the 3^rd time in two games as Cam Fowlers point blast was re-directed by Patrick Maroon to knot things up. The Ducks never let off the gas pedal from that point and that hard work paid off. With 25 seconds remaining in regulation Ryan Kesler cycled the puck back down low in the Jets zone. Jakob Silfverberg picked up the puck off the cycle, walked out-front and with 19.8 seconds let a snipe go that found the net and sent Honda Center crazy. The Ducks would wind away the remaining 19 seconds and take a 2-0 series lead to Winnipeg for Game 3 Monday night.

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Pivotal Play:

An easy choice for this would be the Maroon power-play goal and while it was one for sure, there was a play much more deserving. And it came from an unlikely source. Just a few minutes into the 3^rd period with the Ducks still trailing the Jets advanced into the Ducks zone. Adam Pardy took a slapshot that was kicked out by Frederik Andersen. The rebound seemed destined to land on Lee Stempniaks stick with a wide open net to slide the puck in. But Clayton Stoner spun around and went stick on stick with him to knock the puck a way and keep the deficit at 1. As the Ducks were able to win 2-1 this was a game saving and game altering play and if the Ducks go down 2-0 at that point the series could very easily have been tied at one.

Three Stars:

1^st Star: Jakob Silfverberg- Silfverberg has scored some highlight reel goals this season but his game winner may be the biggest goal of his young career. Silfverberg had 18:50 TOI which was fourth among Ducks forwards (behind only Getzlaf, Perry, and Kesler). Silfverberg has become an incredible two way player who can score and make plays and also goes to the dirty areas and wins puck battles. Almost four minutes of Silfverbergs total TOI was shorthanded time where the Ducks are still perfect on the kill in this series. If Silfverberg can continue to be a force it will open up more time and space for the Ducks big guns.

2^nd Star: Ryan Kesler- Yes Kesler took a bad penalty and he will have to reign his emotions in some but his good vastly outweighs his bad. His PK play was outstanding and his cycle play and chemistry with Silfverberg lead to the game winning goal. Kesler was also an incredible 70% on the dots which lead all Ducks by a wide margin. Face-offs become so important this time of year for puck possession and it was an area that sunk the Ducks last post-season. Kesler has been as good as advertised in this series just two games in and its easy to see why the Ducks went out and acquired him.

3^rd Star: Frederik Andersen- Andersen was quietly good in this game. He didn’t have to make many difficult saves but he made the ones he needed to and looked much more comfortable than in Game 1. His rebound control was vastly improved and he looked composed in net. The one goal he allowed was a tough break for him but one he could do little about. Anytime Andersen is only allowing one goal the Ducks have a great chance to win. Now comes the big test as Andersen will need to remain calm and composed as the series shifts to Winnipeg.

Looking Ahead to Game 3

The Ducks held serve at home taking a 2-0 series lead. Now is the time were the Ducks need to stay in the moment, and play between the whistles. I know its cliché but it couldn’t ring more true. The MTS Center is the smallest in the NHL and because of it the fans seem to be on top of you at all times. And with playoff hockey returning the “The Peg” for the first time in 19 years you can bet an already rowdy fan-base will be ready to go. The Ducks would be best served to get out ahead first and quiet the building as fast as possible. Their come-back ability is well documented but its always easier to that on your home ice. Push-back is a part of every playoff series and the Ducks will certainly face it and must be ready for it Monday night.