Drinking Skim Milk and Eating Raisin Bran.
Following the popular trend, I am going to attempt following a game for this blog, Phoenix Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks. In my pre-game ramble, I am warning you all that I will be attempting this while watching a movie on ABCFamily and dealing with 6 animals vying for my attention. I am pretty good at multi-tasking, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep up with the fast action, especially since I am pretty easily distracted… and in my defense, GameCenter can be iffy at times, but thanks to Chris for letting me use what feed it decides to give me.
Also, fun thoughts. While most people are probably focusing on the line-ups for this came and actually care about the outcome, I’m left thinking about Emilio Estevez. Most of you might know that he was equally roasted along with his brother Charlie last month, something about how he’s disappeared off the face of the Earth. I don’t think they found him to get his word on the matter.. Anyway, I think it would be wicked funny (I’m from Boston) if at the beginning of a Duck’s game, if he was just chilling on the bench with that silly duck calling whistle. There is a reason I’m watching ABCFamily while I write this.
Now, to the lines for those of you who care:
In my attempts to search for the lineups online, I found out the Ducks had a pretty good win streak going until “a poor start their last time out,” and the Coyotes are apparently on a losing streak. Based on that, I predict the Ducks winning, even though in the real world, the Coyotes would eat the Ducks no problem. I also discovered that if GameCenter doesn’t show me the lineups at the beginning, you guys aren’t going to get them because I will not be able to follow that stuff. I can give you lots of information about the making of “Corpse Bride” if you’re interested though…
And the game and movie start…
According to Cam, it is huge if the Ducks win tonight because their next game starts a 7 game stretch on the road. They showed some lines for Phoenix, but there is no way I can figure out what those names are, or spell them that fast when going back and forth between the blog document and the GameCenter feed. Sorry for all you kids who were really looking forward to those lineups.
The Desert Dogs, Ducks, and Zebras meet at Center Ice… apparently we are living in a twisted jungle? The announcers also paint us a picture, just in case we can’t see. Coyotes are wearing white with red numbers and Ducks are black with white numbers. The puck drops.
19:09: “A fortuitous bounce” for Coyotes, too bad nothing came from it except now I know the announcers have pretty intelligent diction.
18:21: Gordon has a close shot, first real strike of the game.
17:53: Ducks counter with their first stable shot of the night. Heads up, you won’t be getting a lot of names throughout this, unless I caught the players’ numbers and looked up the name to go along with it.
Fun side note: The announcer sounds like the dude from the Mighty Duck movies, makes my desire for Emilio Estevez even more valid.
16:37: Ducks almost caught with too many men on the ice, but they got away with it because no one touched the puck. Rules are made to be avoided.
16:32: Announcers call an in-field fly…. Is it just me or is that the wrong sport?
More fun facts: This is Kurtis Foster’s first game back after surgery during training camp. Apparently he previously had wires put in his leg and one of them broke free and started poking through his leg muscles. Gross.
15:54: Ducks set up behind their own net… looks like the “Flying V”
Also, if the Ducks get 5 goals? You get 5 wings from Hoooters. Here we go Ducks!
15:19: Hanzal score for Phoenix! Didn’t see exactly how the goal was scored, too busy wondering if I should actually go there and make a Gretel joke.... The jury is still out.
15:10: Smith-Pelly almost comes right back to score for the Ducks. Just missed.
14:44: “Sticks and gloves swinging at the puck” as the Ducks scramble to get on the board. I never really understood the rules for when you can and when you can’t use your hands in hockey. In gym class, it was never allowed.
13:30: A number of solid hits going on, and a demonstration of why the trapezoid is stupid. Coyote goalie almost got knocked over getting the puck from behind the net because he had to wait for it to cross into the trap.
~13: exciting 2 on 3 for the Ducks went nowhere, still 1-0.
12:46: Off-sides. The puck barely crossed the blue line, but then again, keeping it on-sides is one of your major jobs, you shouldn’t let it slip out so easily.
And a commercial break just in time for my favorite part of the movie! The piano that plays you $5 bucks to whoever can name the movie…
12:45: What are the rules about face-off violence? There doesn’t seem to be enough bruiting about to get at that puck.
12:37: Coyote easily wins this face-off, no fight at all.
12:05: Ducks have another major chance to tie the game up, but the 2 on 1 opportunity is shot wide. They clearly just need to slow down for a second and get their heads back on straight. They have the chances, they just aren’t taking them.
11:39: Visnovsky scores! A shot from the blue line takes a lucky bounce off the pipes and into the net. All tied up at 1.
OH… he fell. And the Ducks almost took the lead. Another botched opportunity. And apparently someone wanted a whistle that just didn’t happen. The Duck player fell and the announcers commented that they Coyote’s didn’t get a penalty. I don’t get it… shouldn’t the guy on the ice be more inclined to stay in the game?
10:04: The Ducks miss too many easy passes, and this was one of them. They need to look at those old Disney movies and learn a thing or two from Emilio…
9:33: The puck goes over the glass for about the 5th time already, It has been bouncing all over the place all night long.
9:14: Hiller makes a very impressive stick save for the Ducks. Those always seem trickier than the snatch with the glove. Well done.
8:59: First penalty of the night and it’s against the Ducks. Up until this point, the Ducks PowerPlay kill is 22 for 23. The Coyotes put up a good fight, but the Ducks stayed true to their reputation.
5:58: Selanne has some fancy footwork but just can’t find the net. Luckily, he finds Getzlaf who tips it in for his first goal of the season. 2-1.
5:16: Coyotes answer right back, as Hanzal gets another one the bounces in off the goalie. Still debating about the Gretel joke. It’ll come about if he makes the hat trick. 2-2.
4:59: Ducks turn it over right behind their own net. Thank their lucky stars for an amazing save by Hiller.
Ryan’s broken stick breaks up the play he can’t. The little miracles.
2:27: Ryan knocks one wide, right off the side of the net. The ‘ping’ echoes like crazy through the entire stadium.
And now the first kitten starts looking for my attention, let’s see if the blog suffers…
1:29: The Ducks get a big steal, probably stopping a great scoring chance, but not making any profit of it for themselves.
1:15: Ducks get their first PowerPlay of the night for a delay of game.
1:12: A Coyote defenseman takes the brunt of that slap shout.. OUCH!
The first ends, tied 2-2 with 45 seconds left in the Duck’s PP.
The boringness of GameCenter not showing the intermission report is reflected in the snoring dog and 3 sleeping kittens. Lucky for me, I’ve got ABCFamily.
The Second starts with the second kitten looking for my attention.
20:00: Coyote’s win the face-off, but Ducks come back strong on the PP
18:59: Poor Perry. Don’t remember why I took this note, but it was probably a bad hit.
18:38: First icing call of the night. I still don’t get why this matters. People go out of their way to break this rule, and sometimes Refs look the other and ignore it, so what’s the point really?
15:35: I didn’t actually see it, but based on the crowd’s reaction, that was a great save Smith!
15:13: Coyotes score! I missed this one too, but I have a better defense than the Ducks, I at least had a cat’s tail in my eye… Goal goes to Gordon. 3-2 Phoenix.
“Two teams that came into this game struggling to score are having no trouble now.” I love when commentators tell you the obvious..
14:01: Off-sides happens way more than it should. You are professional hockey players, know where the puck is and know how to control it so it doesn’t go back over the big blue line.
13:32: Korp scores! I know I probably shouldn’t be using a nickname when I don’t even know his real name, but I’m too lazy to look it up right now. I’m sure you all know him anyway. He had some pretty fancy stick work, barely saw it happen. Another bad turnover for the Ducks that the Coyotes take advantage of. 4-2.
13:11: Hiller makes an amazing save, keeping the Coyotes lead at two.
12:04: Somehow Hiller is flat on the ice and the puck is in the net. Hiller wants an icing call but isn’t getting one, that’s why you play until the whistle blows. 5-2.
At this point, the game is becoming a chore to watch. It is very one-sided and I have my distractions…
10:09: More off-sides for the Ducks. This really shouldn’t be such a huge problem for them. Professional hockey, come on.
10:05: First brawl of the night! Torres vs. whoever #5 is. The puck is dropped for the face-off and then play stops as the two were apparently verbally abusing each other across the ice and decided to immediately make it physical. At least the Ducks can take pride in winning this match when they have to look at the scoreboard later.
Announcer states that the Coyotes are outscoring the Ducks 10-1, something Emilio would never stand for.
8:33: After Ducks miss a rebound shot, Coyotes take a hooking penalty and give the Ducks a chance to redeem themselves. After the Coyotes open up with an attempt at a shorthanded goal, the Ducks come back strong, but overall do nothing except take a lot of bad angle shots. Near the end of the PP, the Ducks call for a penalty shot for a defender covering the puck in the crease, but they plead to no avail.
6:28: While the Ducks couldn’t do anything with the PP, Foster scores immediately after the teams are back to even strength. With a nice slap shot from mid-ice, it’s now 5-3.
4:52: The Ducks have “more pep in their step” as Selanne almost scores again.
3:23: Macenauer of the Ducks takes a puck to the face. He goes out for stitches but comes back to play in the third. Only in hockey, the toughest of the tough.
Dan Ellis takes over goal from Hiller.
Announcers are talking about other teams around the league. Apparently no one with an English last name plays in this sport. The second period ends with the thought of “it’s not over yet.”
The third starts with a cat in lap and one crying at my feet. Here we go.
19:44: After getting stitched up, Macenauer gets called for cross-checking, apparently something that’s hard to do with only one hand on the stick, but the ref decided he accomplished such a feat.
18:03: Coyotes called for hooking, mini 4 on 4. Turns out to be nothing exciting.
16:59: The first real move of the period, Hanzal has a great break away but can’t turn it into a goal.
~16:30: Ducks really fire on goal during their PP. There are a ridiculous amount of loose sticks all over the ice tonight, and right now is not an exception. With sticks on the ice, #8 bats the puck out of midair, but Smith makes an amazing glove save. I love the baseball references in tonight’s game.
14:57: Ryan gets called for off-sides. It was definitely a questionable call, but nevertheless, there it was.
At this point, I acknowledge that my attention has waned the further I get into this game. I have kittens, movies, facebook chat, and texting going on. I’m easily distracted.
13:22: During the commercial break, I learned that for pre-season, the Ducks learned Finnish. Fun fact.
Lots of backs and forths in the neutral zone over the next couple of minutes.
~12: Either the refs are blind or the announcers are making things up. They expected a too many men on the ice call, but the refs didn’t blink an eye.
Fun Fact: The are three players currently on the Jets that played in their original franchise.
10:49: Smith makes an amazing save! This goal would’ve really given the Ducks the fuel they needed to get back in this game. By some miracle, it is still 5-3.
10:33: Nice tackle, Selanne, haha! Too bad it give the Coyotes another PP. Coyotes do a great job riding the blue line to keep this puck on sides, but Ellis made a great save, with a buck 16 left on the PowerPlay? First time I’ve heard money as a term to measure time..
McMillan of the Ducks makes a great break away, but it ends quickly as the Coyotes take control of the PP back, with many fake slap shots in attempts to set up a real shot. I don’t see the point in wasting the energy in preparing a fake shot, just shoot or pass without the theatrics.
8:32: Ellis makes some awesome saves to help kill the PP for the Ducks.
7:52: Shouldn’t be missing these easy passes, Ducks. Didn’t Emilio teach you anything?
~6: Cogliano of the Ducks loses his edge and goes down, but still maintains impressive control of the puck. Maybe you can’t count them out just yet…
4:42: Ducks just missed a GREAT goal opportunity. Belesky had the shot set up by a great assist from Perry, it just wouldn’t go in. That’s what she said?
Everyone is falling all over the ice tonight, on both teams. I can almost skate as good as some of them right now.
3:32: Ducks get a huge PP opportunity. Getzlaf shoots just wide with “a buck 38” left (still stupid saying). Coyotes give a half-hearted attempt at a shorthanded shot, and Hiller continues to make great saves when the Ducks bring it back. The announcers are debating if the Ducks have been using the same guys for too long. The fact that I now know some of their names would hint towards a yes…
2:07: Ducks call their timeout to give those same guys a little rest.
1:57: Anaheim has an empty net and the end of the PP becomes a 6 on 4
1:32: 6 on 5 as PP ends and Coyotes almost get a huge empty net goal.
1:08: Ducks score! Getzlaf comes out of nowhere and takes a miracle shot to the top corner of the net, getting the Ducks just one behind. 5-4 with almost no time left.
0:54: Anaheim with an empty net again. Last ditch effort.
0:20: Ducks have been fighting hard the past 30 seconds, making a lot of hard shots. As the play gets intense, the ref manages to get caught in the way. I have been waiting for this to happen all night. Those zebras always break something up during the game.
0:00 While the Ducks fought hard through the end of the third, the Coyotes hang on to a 5-4 win. With all the minor mistakes, missed passes, and wide shots, the Ducks may have given the game to the Coyotes tonight. Guess that big win before a long road trip just wasn’t in the cards for the Ducks tonight. And I’m also glad I don’t actually bet on games because I definitely would have just lost.
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