(Photo courtesy of Gosh@/ Flikr.)

When they hired former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, many wondered how the team would respond. But the Ducks have thrived under Boudreau, most notably captain Ryan Getzlaf. It has been the foot soldiers of the team, however, that have helped lift the Ducks to their lofty position. Guys like Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri, Nick Bonino and Ben Lovejoy have been key players in Anaheim’s run. Another guy making an impact? The Oilers 25th overall draft pick in 2005, Andrew Cogliano.

In 48 games played this season, Cogliano scored 13 goals and 23 points, and was a plus 14 rating for the Ducks. He’s never scored more than 18 goals in an NHL season, and had this been a a full 82 game season, he likely would have shattered his personal best in goals and points. When Cogliano was drafted by the Oilers, they expected him to be a key part of their organization moving forward. He was a speedy, skilled centre who could also play wing, but he never really seemed to fit in with the Oilers. His rookie season was his best stats wise, with 45 points over 82 games, but his totals dipped every year since then.

In 2009, the Oilers decided to package Cogliano in a trade deal that would send Dany Heatley to Edmonton, but Heatley refused to waive his no-trade clause, and the deal was nixed. At the trade deadline in 2011, the Oilers finally were able to trade Cogliano, the return being a second round draft pick. Despite being taken low in the first round, many felt Cogliano never really lived up to expectations, but his speed is proving to be a perfect fit in Anaheims high tempo system after a tough go in 2011-12

Cogliano notched 13 goals last season for the Ducks, and was able to equal that total in just over half the games this year. It’s safe to say he’s found his spot in the Anaheim and earned the praise of his head coach for working hard to  turn his game around for the better.

“To see the speed and the work ethic and his demeanor you think it would be there, but it wasn’t there (last season),” Boudreau said. “So there was something missing and whatever it was, he was smart enough to correct it. He’s now a player on our team that we really rely on. I think sometimes he just used his speed and went helter, skelter, all over the place (last season). Now he’s thinking the game a lot more and I think that comes with games maturity and playing a lot of games.” (Edmonton Sun)

For a team that relies a lot on their secondary scoring, Cogliano has found a role that he suits well. He has one more year on his contract before becoming a UFA. Depending on his play next season, he could be in line for a raise. Whether or not that’s with the Ducks remains to be seen, but he can be a valuable top nine forward in the NHL. Even though he’s not having that impact with the team that drafted him, you can’t help but cheer on a guy who’s hard work has reaped rewards. That’s what this game is all about.

Author information

Marcy Di Michele

A hockey player, and huge sports fan, Marcy is employed as a sports journalist at the esteemed online magazine Suite 101, and writes for Maple Leafs Central in addition to The Hockey Writers.

Corey Perry blame game? (Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE)

In the past, Detroits’ roster was stacked with future Hall Of Famers; Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lindstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, and I can fire off an endless lists off all-stars that donned the Red Wing crest. The team known for it’s perennial players, it taking on a different path with some new faces. Now, the Wings rely heavily on mainly two highly-talented forwards; Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

Anaheim, despite their recent success, will probably never compare to Hockey Town where winning isn’t just everything, it’s expected. However, with the Samuelis as their new owners, they’ve endeavored to keep the Ducks a playoff contender. Two monumental moves that prove that notion is the resigning of captain Ryan Getzlaf and 2011 Hart Trophy recipient Corey Perry; both being the heart of the team.

Unfortunately, Perry didn’t make much of an impact during this year’s playoffs, which I think was the deciding factor for the Ducks’ early first-round exit. There were a lot of young players who stepped up for Anaheim –Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri, Nick Bonino– in addition to Getzlaf and Jonas Hiller putting out an honest effort. Perry’s inability to find the back of the net resulted in him only contributing with two assists in seven games against Detroit.

It wasn’t for an entire lack of effort.

Perry was buzzing around Jimmy Howard for the majority of the series –registering at least several shots a game– but he didn’t make those shots count. That was the difference. It doesn’t matter how many other teammates contribute. If a team doesn’t get production from their star player their season will be short-lived, which is why those specific players get paid the big bucks; to find ways to win when their team needs them.

The Ducks were successful in shutting down the Red Wings’ top forwards, but couldn’t contain them in final two games of the series. Datsyuk and Zetterberg came up big in those games and that’s when Detroit started planning their itinerary for Chicago. Datsyuk had a goal and three points in Game 6. Zetterberg had a pair of goals and an assist and then came up with two points in the final Game 7.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk came through for their team when it mattered the most. The games the two were held off the scoreboard, the Ducks’ young guns pulled through for Anaheim. What Anaheim needed and what they didn’t get was Perry stepping up. Imagine what a goal or a few extra points from Perry could have meant for the Ducks.

Thanks Corey for that early tee time.

While some Anaheim players are probably sporting some plaid shorts and solid colored polo’s, I hope that some of players are giving Corey Perry a hard time and not just of his golf ensemble.

For more information throughout the season follow me on twitter @m_drinnenberg and on Facebook here.

Author information

Michelle Drinnenberg

Emerson Etem Photo Credit: (John Wright/Norfolk Admirals

It’s unfortunate the Anaheim Ducks season came to a screeching halt on May 12^th; however; the Anaheim organization’s future is a bright one with explosive forward Emerson Etem.

Goaltending is the backbone of every NHL club, no matter the team. Fans should give a pat on the back to GM Bob Murray and the Ducks brass for picking up goaltender Viktor Fasth who made his North American debut this season at the age of 30.

After the Ducks hasty exit from the post-season and after emotions subsided with Anaheim fans, THW pounded the key board looking for fans thoughts on the 30-year-old goaltender and the new kid on the block 20-year-old Emerson Etem.

Jack Miceli, hockey blogger and founder of The Rant, sat down with THW correspondent Ted Warren and gave his two cents on Fasth and Etem.

                                                         Miceli On Fasth:

Viktor Fasth (Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

“Great hockey player. Fifteen games in the season the Ducks brought him over. A million dollar contract in a shortened season. You’ve got to think really highly of a player who does that. “

Fasth kicked off his North American career with the Ducks top affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals season ticket holder expressed his thoughts on his first impressions of Fasth,

“His first game, he seemed kind of shaky. It was like is he really worth the million dollars?  The shaky start came because it was his first time playing on North American ice. He wasn’t used to the faster pace. I don’t think he was ready for that, but that’s why he was in Norfolk.”

Miceli chimed on Fasth’s future, “Anaheim brought him in to be the number one. I think the only reason why Hiller is still number one right now is because Fasth was hurt. If you look on his progression of play before he got hurt, he was playing the majority of the games over Hiller.”

Jack On Emerson Etem

“Watching him in Norfolk at the beginning of the season you saw the speed, you saw the skill, but his mind was going too fast for his feet. He knew what he was trying to do, but his body wouldn’t go fast enough.  You’ll never see him in the AHL again. He needs to work on his physical game. He’s a big dude now. He needs to bulk up. He needs to work on his ice vision. I don’t think he does not see the shot, it’s maybe more of a confidence thing. He thinks he can’t make that shot, but I know the skill is there. I watched video of him when he was in Juniors. He’s good enough. He’ll become a first-line player in two years when the older guys step aside. He’ll be moving in-between first-line and second-line. If the Ducks want to keep him, he’ll be really good trading power for the future.  In addition, he can dangle like I’ve never seen players dangle before, the second only to ex-Admiral Richard Panik.”

It’s as if Jack owns a crystal ball when it comes to predicting a prospect’s future. The Chicago native’s knowledge about hockey is second to none.  Make sure to follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jackmiceli

Follow Ted @bauerhockeydude

Watch Emerson Etem’s game winning goal 12/22/12

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Author information

Ted Warren

Ted grew up in Virginia. Warren has a passion for the AHL and dishes out articles about the Norfolk Admirals and the AHL. Follow him on Twitter @bauerhockeydude

At 4,692 years old, Teemu Selanne is still one of the top forwards in the NHL (Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

You know that canker sore you just can’t stop probing with your tongue, even though it hurts like hell and you detest it with every fiber of your being? For Kings fans, that’s an apt metaphor for the Anaheim Ducks.

Oh, it’s personal, all right. We just don’t like anything about them, from the silly “Mighty Ducks” logo in the early years though today’s bird crap-colored mallard-footed swoop. What marketing genius dreamed up jersey colors that include the shades of rotten fruit and jack-o’-lantern, for God’s sake? The moniker Kings represents majesty, royalty, a patriarchal succession line. Ducks wallow in mud, eat vermin for breakfast, befoul the environment and are a single species above housefly on nature’s food chain.

Teemu Selanne just won’t die. Ryan Getzlaf should be punched daily. Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry sound like two-thirds of a crappy 90s boy band. Bruce Boudreau bears a striking resemblance to the Pillsbury Doughboy. You guessed it, we don’t much like their players, either — or their coach.

And yet, we know it would have been quite a series. One hell of a series for that matter, one for the books. Consider the following:

The teams are evenly matched

Anaheim skated out of the gate incredibly quickly and on March 20th stood at a robust 22-3-4, twelve points ahead of the Kings, who had a solid start of their own at 17-10-2. However, including the playoffs, the Kings have since posted an impressive 14-7-4 record, whereas the Ducks went a pedestrian 11-10-4 through their elimination game. Anaheim still won the division by seven points, but momentum clearly favored Los Angeles over the past seven weeks.

The Ducks finished 8th in the NHL in goals scored at 2.79 per game, the Kings 10th (2.73). As for goals against, they neatly reversed positions, with Los Angeles surrendering just 2.38 per game (7th) and Anaheim 2.40 (tied for 9th). Both finished in the top ten in power play efficiency, the top thirteen in killing penalties, and in the upper-half of the league in fewest PIMs altogether. Sure, the Kings throw the body around with far more vigor and are more likely to win faceoffs, but the Quacks blocked 134 more shots than Los Angeles did during the regular season — almost three more per game.

Head-to-head, the teams each won two games and tallied fourteen goals. You can’t get much more even than that.

Both teams are loaded

Jeff Carter stepped up when it mattered against the Blues. (Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE)

For Los Angeles, Jeff Carter led the team with 26 tallies, with Dustin Brown (18), Mike Richards (12), Justin Williams (11) and Anze Kopitar (10) as their top scoring threats. Rookie Jake Muzzin (7) surprisingly led the defense in goals, with Drew Doughty (6) and Slava Voynov (6) not far behind. Jonathan Quick had a below-par regular season, but still managed to post an 18-13-4 record and a 2.45/.902 stat line.

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry led Anaheim with 15 goals apiece, with Andrew Cogliano (13), Teemu Selanne (12), Bobby Ryan (11) and Kyle Palmieri (10) rounding out a balanced attack. Sheldon Souray (7) and Francois Beauchemin (6) are the main threats from the blue line, and Jonas Hiller (15-6-4, 2.36, .913) is the main man between the pipes.

The teams have never played one another in the playoffs

It would be a first, a freeway series between the two southern California franchises. Kings fans were understandably rankled when the Ducks won the Cup in 2006-07, just thirteenth seasons after being hatched in 1993. Sweet redemption occurred last year as Los Angeles rampaged their way to their first Cup. No, we didn’t beat Anaheim, but it still felt like we’d consumed a tasty bowl of Ducks soup in the process.

Alas, during their entire co-existence, the teams have never met one another in the postseason. For the most part, when Anaheim has been good, the Kings have been terrible, and vice-versa. Only during the past few years have both risen to relevancy at the same time. Had the Ducks managed to beat the equally-detestable Red Wings, the string would have broken and L.A. would have faced Anaheim for the first time ever in the playoffs.

Neither team is the Red Menace

Datsyuk represents yet another in a long line of Russian snipers for the Red Menace. (Warren Wimmer/Icon SMI)

As much as we despise the Ducks, at least the novelty would have made things compelling. Seeing the Red Wings advance in the playoffs is about as exciting as watching ice freeze. Sure, it’s been glorious lately, witnessing their repeated failures to advance beyond the second round for three straight seasons. Last year’s 4-1 opening-round shellacking at the hands of the Nashville Predators was particularly delicious.

And yet, it’s still the frickin’ Evil Empire, a team that always seems to possess some of the top Russian snipers in the league despite their perennially-low draft positions. The good news is that they now move on to face the President’s Cup-winning Blackhawks. Good luck there, Detroit — you’re going to need it.

The Kings are moving on

Even though Anaheim couldn’t get it done, for Kings fans it only really matters that we could. In many ways, St. Louis out-Kinged the Kings, winning the shot and faceoff battles and essentially matching them hit-for-hit. San Jose isn’t built for the physical game and will need to resort to puck possession and a lethal power play if they hope to advance. Similarly, as it would seem, to how Anaheim would have needed to get it done.

And yet they won’t. As much as we dislike them, it’s a shame the Ducks couldn’t put their best webbed-foot forward this year. They may irritate the hell out of us and we may delight in their demise, but let’s be honest: a Kings/Ducks playoff series would have been fowl.

Author information

Walter McLaughlin

Walter McLaughlin is a Los Angeles Kings correspondent for The Hockey Writers. He is an avid sports fan, having followed the Kings since living in L.A. in the mid-1970's, as well as suffering through Seattle sports teams' general futility. He has a Bachelor's degree in Finance and has worked in community banking for over 20 years, specializing in SBA loans. He lives in the Seattle area with his wife of 25 years and two daughters.

Source: Wikipedia

If you’re a Ducks or a Kings fanatic, you are probably drooling all over the keyboard. An outdoor game is scheduled between the two inter-state rivals.  The tilt will be played Saturday, January 24, 2014 at Dodger Stadium in L.A. The historic event adds depth to an already heated in-state rivalry.

The first outdoor game in California will serve as a proving ground for further outdoor games in warmer hockey climates. This game will be a springboard for the NHL bringing the Canadian pastime that much closer to Mexico. Dodger Stadium sits two hours south of Tijuana, Mexico. While Mexico isn’t a hockey hot bed it’s a chance for the NHL to strengthen its fan base internationally.

[Also: See the video of the Kings outdoor game played in 1991 - in Las Vegas]

An outdoor NHL hockey game can cause grey hair for top NHL brass. It’s the fear of the unknown and Mother Nature.  Last January the average tempeture was 67 degrees or 19 degrees Celsius–not outdoor hockey weather. This ground breaking tilt will need to be put together with science and a whole lot of faith in the hockey gods.

Kings and Ducks outdoor game means history for Californians

Dodger Stadium holds 56,000 fans while the Honda Center holds 18,336 and the Staples Center seats 18,111. The outdoor game at Dodger Stadium gives fans of both clubs a unique outlook on the game and gives them a chance to rub elbows with one another.

While L.A. and Anaheim fans have chirped back and forth since the beginning of time about who is the best club in southern California, they must put their differences aside for a moment and take a look at where they will be sitting, Dodger Stadium, witnessing a hockey game.

Some of the friendly topics to discuss is the age and size of the arena…It’s the third oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The home to the 2009 World Baseball Classic is called the largest ball park in the world seating 56,000. It’s also been the home to 10 no-hitters since 1962. In short, the NHL is making strides to stretch their fan-base and strengthen ties between Kings and Ducks fans. Years ago an outdoor game in California seemed like a pipe dream.

Where can the NHL advance from here? The only answer is up! This game is nothing short of spectacular.

Follow Warren on Twitter @bauerhockeydude

Author information

Ted Warren

Ted grew up in Virginia. Warren has a passion for the AHL and dishes out articles about the Norfolk Admirals and the AHL. Follow him on Twitter @bauerhockeydude

Ryan Getzlaf (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

I wasn’t familiar with Justin Abdelkader‘s name until this year; his fifth year in the league. That’s because his production and ice-time have gone up in small increments with every season and he hasn’t done much damage to any specific team. Now he has changed that, as the winger is a household name in Anaheim for two reasons.

Abdelkader was a huge part of the beating that the Detroit Red Wings laid on the Anaheim Ducks during their slump in March. On Mar 22nd, Abdelkader helped chase hot goaltender Viktor Fasth out of net as he tallied his first NHL career hat-trick at the Honda Center. Since then, he has been a Red Wing on a mission every time he plays against Anaheim. It’s as if Anaheim brings out the best in him.

When the postseason match-ups were announced, I wasn’t just dreading the usual Henrik Zetterbergs and Pavel Datsyuks. Abdelkader was right up there as well. The uncertainty of who exactly this guy is and how he has been able to expose the Ducks’ weaknesses and exploit their holes this season was unsettling.

Abdelkader has only one point in the series against Anaheim, but that doesn’t mirror his contributions on the ice. Detroit’s first win of the series –Game 2– came when he too had a strong performance. Abdelkader had a goal and six shots on net in that game where his team went on to win in overtime. Needless to say, Abdelkader has been a thorn in the Ducks’ side this entire season.

Now, after a controversial hit Abdelkader laid on Toni Lydman in Game 3, he will be sitting in the press box the next two games as he serves his suspension. This is huge for Anaheim. Not only do the Ducks have a 2-1 lead in the series, they embarrassed the Wings in front of their home crowd with a 4-0 shutout win on Saturday.

With Abdelkader gone for Game 4 and 5, the Ducks need to make good use of their time. If the Wings and Ducks split the next two games, there is no doubt in my mind that Abdelkader’s return will fire up his squad and then some.

Abdelkader has made a name for himself as a duck hunter and rightfully so. Don’t think that he wouldn’t return from his suspension without addressing some unfinished business. Now that the Ducks have temporarily gotten into the heads of the Red Wings, they need to close them out over these next two games before Abdelkader has a chance to get into theirs.

See you later , Abdelkader.

For more information throughout the season follow me on twitter @m_drinnenberg and on Facebook here.

Author information

Michelle Drinnenberg