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I had completely forgotten what it feels like to watch a win. This feeling of joy and exuberance. To come home after 60 minutes of hockey with NO voice because I wasted it cheering.
Call it lucky bounces, like Joffrey Lupul's crazy bounce off of the glass to finalize the game at 7-2. Call it ideal, like not having to face Roberto Luongo between the pipes. Call it whatever you want.
Ducks fans are calling it a relief.
As the clock wound down during the final moments of the third period, a large collective sigh was let out of the Honda Center for the first time this season. Fans were finally feeling the Ducks making a turn for the positive—and hopefully they'll be riding this positive for quite some time.
Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan both found the net twice Friday night. Lets face it, that is expected. Ducks fans are EXPECTING those guys to step up. They should be scoring goals night in and night out for the Ducks. They should be making the big plays and bolstering the offense.
Fans and the team are looking at that top line to produce. What fans are not expecting is an offensive burst from the fourth energy line.
Before Ryan Carter injured his foot, I had been boasting that the fourth line was the best the Ducks had. That line of Mike Brown, George Parros and Carter were the only three guys playing with chemistry. They were the only guys able to dominate and control the puck down low.
On Friday night, Carter returned to the lineup, and that line once again proved they are more than just "energy."
Carter for one, was amazing in the face-off circle, winning 100 percent of his defensive face-off’s (4-for-4) and going 9-for-15 overall. Carter spent more time on the ice then any other center, including all-star Ryan Getzlaf. The fourth line deserved their ice time—dominating just as they had been.
In addition, Parros' goal to tie the game, and Brown's short-handed tally were the spark to ignite an offensive explosion from the Ducks.
But it was so much more than watching this team score goals. It's possible the Ducks are finding their footing.
It's great to see them collapse around their goaltender, Jonas Hiller, and protect his crease. It's fantastic to watch them clear the puck on the penalty kill, and to find the top shelf on the power play. It's comforting to watch them play the way fans know they can.
Overall, the Ducks played like a team for the first time in this young season and maintained intensity for a solid 60 minutes, even after gaining the lead.
They even looked like they were having fun for a change.
Hopefully the Ducks have gotten over their slump. Hopefully this wasn't a flash in the pan. Hopefully they continue with this intensity.
Hopefully they find ways to do it again and again and again...GO DUCKS!!!
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