Should we be worried that Anaheim’s dynamic duo failed to score a single point in Sunday’s win against the Blackhawks? Read on!
Well, it was bound to happen.
After nine games of sheer dominance, the two best players on the Anaheim Ducks, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, were held in check , with Getzlaf scoring the only point for the pair on a meaningless (relatively speaking) empty net goal with 1:18 left to go in the contest.
The Ducks lost won, naturally, because that is just the way the postseason has been going for these Ducks. I have said it a few times now: this is not the same Ducks squad that played .500 hockey when Getzlaf and Perry were held without a point during the regular season. Anaheim has been getting solid contributions from 3, sometimes 4, lines a night – just look at the 2 goals and 4 points the Ducks got from the Andrew Cogliano – Nate Thompson – Kyle Palmieri line yesterday.
To beat the Anaheim Ducks, you are going to have to do more than simply shut down Getzlaf and Perry . . . but does the duo’s near absence from the box score signal an advantage that the Chicago Blackhawks are eventually going to exploit?
Pucks and Pitchforks
Anaheim managed to score an anemic 3 three goals in three games against the Blackhawks during the regular season. In those games, Getzlaf and Perry combined to score one point (an assist by Perry) and a -8 rating. Hmmmm.
Don’t worry – I’m not trying to be a naysayer. Obviously, being able to win games based on the contributions of your second and third lines is a good sign, and the Blackhawks, who relied heavily on Duncan Keith (28:25 TOI) and Brent Seabrook (26:57 TOI) on the defensive end, now have to worry about getting worn down by the size and depth that the Ducks are able to throw at them.
Still, whether or not Chicago has Getzlaf’s and Perry’s number is a story line to follow, especially once the Blackhawks’ scorers start finding their touch.
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