Stop These NHL Mind Games

By MDFAN1
Special Contributor

I had intended for my entry into the blog sphere to be a more positive dissertation on the wonders of getting out from under the disastrous reign—er, ownership--of Mickey Mouse and company but I haven’t quite finished that saga. In any case, after having agonizingly watched the Ducks’ 3-2 loss to the Flames, I was prompted to post this less than adoring essay on a team that I love.

I don’t know if the other sports leagues engage in the same play-off mind games that they do in the NHL, but the NHL has surely turned it into an art form. You know what I mean, a player leaves the game and is sent to the hospital for “observations” for some non-descript injury like “an upper body injury” and is uncertain if that player will be back in the line-up. One day later, he is miraculously recovered though sometimes never the same. Or, there’s that dangling hope that “they” like to play on you by describing a horrific injury only to say that the player is out of the hospital but there are “rumours” that he will be cleared to play. Take, for instance, Saku Koivu (of the Montreal Canadiens) who took a high-stick in the eye and was expected to be out of the playoffs “indefinitely.” Of course, that was before the Carolina Hurricanes started playing like the Number 2 Conference seed and took the series lead away from Habs. Now, he’s been “released” but “not yet cleared to play.” Yes, the article makes clear that it is not likely he’ll play in this series, but there is a definite implication and, indeed, hope of him coming back if you not so carefully read between the lines. This is part of the infamous NHL playoff gamesmanship. I don’t know if it’s to psyche out their opponents (keep them guessing) or to keep fans’ hopes alive. Either way, it’s just driving me crazy when “they” don’t know when to stop playing.

The Ducks’ premier netminder, J.S. Giguere, who will forever (justly or unjustly) be compared to his 2003 Conn-Smythe performance, is the current game being played against the Ducks fans. His “lower-body injury” has never been explained and has yet to be blamed for any of the Ducks’ losses to Calgary except for the Game 5 loss where he let in 3 goals on 8 shots. Sure, 2 of those goals were from Jarome Iginla (who has only provided further evidence that he can win or almost win games almost by himself—it sounds traitorous coming from a Ducks fan but you have to appreciate talent), but you can’t let those goals in during the playoffs especially when the opposing goaltender has a season GAA of 2.07, save percentage of .923 and 10 shut-outs. I’m still unclear if “they” are blaming his performance on the “lower body injury,” but it’s clear to me that that’s the cause.

The Ducks won Game 2 of the series in Calgary but not because Giguere was spectacular but because Kiprusoff showed he was human. The Ducks lost Game 3 of the series (the first game at home) because the Flames came ready to play and the Ducks didn’t. While that can’t be blamed on Giguere, having him there only adds to the complacency of a team convinced of smooth sailing after having won on the road. Furthermore, in Game 4, Giguere was merely good enough in their overtime win which almost wasn’t when again Iginla scored 2 goals tying the game leading to overtime. The Ducks were lucky to have won that game.

Except for Game 5, Giguere’s been good but not stellar and it’s obvious, at least to me, that it’s because he’s injured! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big supporter of J.S. Giguere and I think, when healthy, he’s awesome (a little cocky, but that just adds to the mystique). However, it is clear that he doesn’t have his A-game and that’s what the Ducks need to knock off those stubborn Calgary Flames.

The Ducks should have stopped playing the NHL playoff game with Giguere’s injury and played Bryzgalov, whose season stats aren’t too shabby, and who is just itching to prove that he’s a playoff goalie. The Ducks gambled on Giguere miraculously gaining his 2003 form, but it hasn’t happened in these past 4 games and can they really take that risk now that they face elimination tonight, at home.

Anaheim finally has a coach that senses the potential chaos before it’s way too late (he actually pulled him after goal number 3 in Game 5) and hopefully he uses some of that sense tonight and plays Bryzgalov. Knowing that Giguere is out will rally the team behind him and hopefully we’ll see what this team is made of. Giguere does have that habit of rallying from a previously poor performance but I don’t think the Ducks have the luxury of rolling that dice tonight. They’ve been complacent too often during this series and its time for some desperation and a good dose of reality. Play the back-up goaltender and play with some desperation. This has been one of the best teams in Ducks history—arguably better than the team that almost won it all in 2003. It would be a shame to squander it by not knowing when to stop playing the NHL playoff game.