3 down, 10 games to go!

I have not written for the last three games because I've just been sitting back and watching things unfold. Its been an interesting time in Anaheim ever since Disney left town. 2 Western conference championships; 1 pacific division title; a handful of playoff appearances, and 1 Stanley cup. when you take a step back and look at that resume which by the way, this is within the last 7 years, its not that bad. There's an old saying that goes like this...."to the victor belong the spoils."

We're become spoiled with success. whether you think being eliminated from the playoffs is a good thing or not, its still a treat when your team makes the playoffs. i was watching NHL on the fly, and one of the talking heads said, this is an exciting time; the race to the playoffs is on now! They're right! there's nothing more fun than watching the scoreboards! there's nothing more nerve wracking then losing a game that you know will come back and bite you in the ass at the end of the season. Brent Severn said the other night, who would have thought that tonight's Ducks vs Nashville game would have so much on the line, as it does.

yes folks, the playoffs are an entirely new season. as we all know, the top teams have all the pressure, as statistically teams 1-3 should always be in the cup finals. I've witnessed number 7 and 8 seeds, knock #1 and #2 teams out of the playoffs with one OT goal! (Look back to the 02-03 ducks eliminating defending champs red wings in triple overtime!) I still remember cursing Chris Pronger and the Edmonton Oilers for their constant bending of rules only to eliminate us from the 2005-2006 playoffs! Man I couldn't believe the day we got Pronger! And who can forget the Dallas Stars last season eliminating us in albeit quick fashion. One thing for sure, even with all the small success we've endured in the playoffs, the great ones are the one we remember the most! 2007 and the first ever Stanley Cup in California. What a season that was.

This year everyone thinks there might be another California Cup, although the team name rhymes with the Cran so say larks, anything is possible! that's what i hold on to every time we're good enough to be in the playoffs. as great as we were in 2007, anything could have happened! Scott could have missed that goal that sent us to OT and the eventual win! Teemu could have whiffed the puck he shot, allowing Hasek to make the save! Alfreddson could have put Scotty's eye out that would have sidelined our Captain and maybe the series! Luongo might have paid attention and blocked Scotty's wrist shot, then passing across the ice to a Sedin to score for the win! Roloson could have been penalized for constantly knocking the net off it place, that led to a Ducks Power Play goal for the win! OR....Buffalo could have gone to the finals, like everyone said they would, for a Miller vs Miller Thriller in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. Anything is possible!!

While the ducks are still trying to get into this years playoffs, its becoming a mini playoff as we speak. Hopefully the boy can stay strong and keep their heads up. there are only 10 games left. As one analyst said on NHL on the fly, "The Ducks are a team that no one wants to face in the playoffs." OK, good; we've got them right where we want them! Now lets sneak in boys...quietly. I still say we're deadly in a best of seven series. By tossing some dead weight at the trade, we got back what we had in 07; Stanley Cup hunger & some new young blood. 10 more games to try and make the playoffs.....after that? Anything can happen!!! Go Ducks!!!