Ducks Best The Best.

Well, I am totally enjoying the rest that comes after winning a series. What a game!! Many things occurred that were a first for my eyes. First off the talk of today definitely has to be the Joe Thorton and Ryan Getzlaf tussle two seconds into the game. I read this morning that Joe had actually challenged Getz to fight in game five, but according to Getz he did not feel it was appropriate having a 3-1 lead in the series. God, you have to love hockey! This one of many reason why people should bee watching this more than any other sport. The little battles that are all part of the big picture! OK back to the game....the the big centers went at it and quickly set the tone for the rest of the night. I had said in game 5 that this type of game play was too intense for the Sharks to keep pace with and eventually they would run out of gas. I had hoped that would have happened in the 3rd period of game 5, but I'll take game 6 any day!

Then it happened...a barrage of penalties against the good guys and the sharks go on one of 4 (I think) power plays eventually scoring first. the first thought that entered My mind was hearing Brian "Hazy" Hayward say that teams that score first in this series have gone on to win the game. So naturally I was not happy. Thankfully the Ducks struck back and scored before the end of the period and tied it up. That alone led me to believe that the Ducks were going to clamp down, tighten the vice grip (*LA) and shut the Guppies down like they did every team in 2007.

In the end there were many great moments; some comedic (Perry being dragged by the skates), others agonizing (Boyle breaking his stick realizing a goal went in off it), and also satisfying moments like Getz and Thorton hugging and shaking hands, JR spending extra time on the ice with Nieds and Hiller, and watching "Big Joe" slam his water bottle on the bench. We've been there before, specifically last season when we could not figure out the Stars to get past the first round, (I still have no0t forgotten you, Turco). Probably the one that hurt the most was when the OT goal in game 5 slowly etched it's way over the line giving the Sharks the win, man! That sucked! What a series! (Oh, and there's this uncomfortable moment I found for Sharks fans)

So now we play the Red Wings. The defending Stanley Cup Champions. As one of my friends put it; "I hope the Sharks beat the Ducks! We can't beat the Ducks." What i think is funny is that we went from being the forgotten team that just barely made it into the playoffs, to the team no one wants to face. How did that happen? I think everyone was secretly relieved when we had such a bad regular season, so much so that no one thought they even had to make plans to face the Ducks. Now, the Wings are no slouches, and I continue to give the respect that I give all opponents. I'm not here to make predictions or attack the Wings, all I am saying is that we need to play at the same level we played the Sharks. After all, the Sharks are still the best team in the NHL, as of last night.

What I love now are all the Wings fans coming out of the wood work with their anti-Ducks sentiment. It seems with each round and each opponent there is always trash talk that comes our way. I especially like this Detroit fan page that breaks down the reasons why we'll lose by re-introducing us to key players on Detroit's squad. I couldn't help it but to comment at the bottom.

Well, let's all relax for one day, because round 2 starts Friday! I love playoff hockey. Remember what I said from the beginning of the playoffs, I like our chances in a seven game series, because in the playoffs.....anything is possible! Go Ducks!