Friday, April 18, 2008

Ducks struggles continue with elimination in the Stars


Tuesday nights manhandling of the Dallas Stars by the Anaheim ducks may have very well been a one night stand afer all. As on Thursday nigh it was different story on the ice and the on the scoreboard, as the Stars rebounded from their game three loss, to grab game four and as much momentum as they can pack into a hockey bag.

The Stars managed to get the monkey off their back over home ice wins, collecting only their second win on home ice in nine games, a skid that can ruin many a good intention when it comes to carrying Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Thursday they were full value for their 3-1 victory led by Marty Turco who provided more than enough key saves to last this team through to next season. With a 27 save performance he stymied many of the Ducks big guns, closing the door on the night and putting Anaheim one game away from joining their dance partners in last years Stanley Cup on the outside.

The Ducks stand on the ledge of their playoff ambitions, a struggling series that saw them have troubles getting untracked for a consistent basis to make a surge into the latter rounds.

While it’s never wise to proclaim a series is over, you get the feeling that the spark isn’t there at the moment in Anaheim. While Dallas may have struggled at home over the last little while, they’ve been pretty good on the road.

They have a chance on Friday night to send the Ducks out of the playoffs, knowing full well that giving the defending Stanley Cup champs any kind of momentum would be a foolish thing.

Friday night’s match up will most likely be an intense and physical match we suspect, befitting a team desperate to stay alive as the Ducks will be and one determined not to give them a life as the Stars will be working towards.

Orange County Register-- Ducks miscues cost them Game 4
Orange County Register-- Ducks on brink of being ousted
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NHL.com-- Stats Pack

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