2010
With a 5-4 shootout loss to the cross town rival Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks are officially plucked from the postseason.
(Colorado’s defeat of the Vancouver Canucks in overtime put the nail in the coffin.)
Plain and simple, a team who gives up a 3 goal lead and proceeds to lose in a shootout has no chance in the playoffs.
Tuesday’s loss to the Kings was the epitome of the Ducks’ season in a nutshell. Bursts of hope and passion coupled with moments of pure confusion and utter hopelessness.
Add in a dash of under performing, untimely injuries, terrible defense, and an unwillingness to shoot the puck and you’ve got a good idea of what the 2009-2010 season was like for Anaheim.
A season that could have gone better with some consistency and a touch of drive and termination and we might be celebrating a different kind of ending this year.
So be it.
The Ducks deserve the early summer they’ve been given.
This team has been preparing for the summer break since the first game of the season when they fell to the San Jose Sharks at home losing 4-1 on home ice. When they finished the month of October 4-6-2, it was a good indication that it was time to panic in Anaheim.
Yet the team pushed on with the hopes of a late season surge like they had in the 2008-09 season. They played the game as if that was going to be acceptable.
We can blame the Olympics or point to injuries during the season, but those are just excuses.
Time and again we’ve said that a team with an astounding eight Olympians shouldn’t be performing the way they are.
And yet the team never turned the corner.
Even with a trade deadline that improved the struggling blue line, it wouldn’t be enough to spark the team in the final moments when it mattered most.
I’ve said that any organization must feel the pains of losing to really appreciate the victories. Lately, Anaheim has been taking the victories for granted. Expecting success to be handed to them without putting forth the effort required to deserve it.
I still feel that this is the best thing that could have happened for Anaheim this year. Missing the postseason might just be what the doctor has ordered for an unmotivated group of young talented individuals.
This medicine is bitter. Hopefully they remember this taste in October.
Is it too soon to start counting down to next season?
Too soon to start counting down to next season? Definitely not. I think many of us have been doing it for quite some time anyway.
I’ve never looked so forward to renewing my season tickets just because it meant tickets for an entirely new and different season, heh.
I’ve definitely been counting down for quite some time myself. I’m ready for a fresh start!!!
If it makes you feel better… Kopi’s shootout goal that murdered any glimmer of hope for your season was a thing of beauty.
I dont think that makes you feel better though…
Yea, you know me so well Matt…punk!
It actually made me feel like vomiting on the Kings fan standing in front of me. Then again the entire season was like one nauseating experience…so I can’t say much as to any of that.
And for the record…Colorado’s two points murdered the season for us (well, the DUCKS murdered the season for themselves…), not the Kings!
Pure excellence, SK! Glad I was able to meet you at the Ducks/Stars game. It felt good to be home. I agree with what you wrote and I have felt the same. It was sad and disappointing when the word “Officially” was stated, though the most of the Ducks faithful already knew that they weren’t going back April 11th. “Is it too soon to count down to next season?” Absolutely not.
Does it suck to think, “If they only won 3 of those 5 out from the Olympic break, we’d be in this.”? Yes
I just wonder what this team will look like come September. At least I will be back home and get to see for my own eyes!
-Go Ducks
Well said, as always SK. I’m definitely on the “they needed this” train of thinking. It will be interesting to see what is in store for the team this summer. Sure, start counting down. With each summer comes the anticipation of a new season that will be better than the last. I hope it is, anyway.
I will always cheer for my Ducks, even when they are unmotivated and seem not to care. These last few games have been somewhat inspiring seeing the “older” guys play with the fire they’ve shown. Maybe the younger guns need to take note. Life in the NHL is not always success after success handed to you year after year. Can’t wait to see what happens in the fall. Thanks for your great words this season.
It was great meeting you too! And thank you again for the kind words, I’m humbly honored.
You’re right, I think we all knew that the playoffs were out of the question once this season began, but to see that they’re OFFICIALLY done hurts so much more.
You’ll be back in So Cal!? That is awesome!
Thank you for reading my words! Sometimes I can’t bare to write them, so it’s great to know that someone out there appreciates them!
I think this lost lesson will go over well with the younger group – at least I hope it will.
Since I’ve been getting the green light on counting down…there are only about 180+ days until next season. It already feels like an eternity!