One move I didn’t care for was pulling Michael Leighton in favor of Brian Boucher. Still licking my wounds from the Ducks’ own goalie issues   this past season, I can’t help but be hyper sensitive to other guys in fairly similar situations (so yes, it was painful to watch Jaroslav Halak , too). Both the Flyers and ‘Hawks needed to step up their defensive lines and support their guys in net. Though a little more than 30 SOG isn’t absurdly high, when they’re coming at you from every angle, without any D, from sizable guys (ahem, Pronger, Byfuglien), goalies have a tough time. The decision to yank him—in this particular high-scoring situation—struck me as premature and even panicky.

Chicago is looking really good. I am astounded by their stick handling. I think they are the best in the league at it. And although yesterday was a very, very spooky day for both goalies, I still have a ton of faith in Antti (Neemo) Niemi. He stopped some of those frightening Pronger cannonball shots. Holy Chee-tohs they come at him hard and fast. Love those Finnish players, Versteeg didn't do so badly either. Uva Suomi! 

Other guys are contributing, as they love to say. Byfuglien, wow! Pronger did his famous, hassle, annoy, manhandle thing and Byfuglien stood up to him—he's heavier than you, Chris so watch out. Ever notice that Pronger never fights? He's all show and no go. Bolland was great and so was Sharp. Let's pray for no injuries and for Niemi to keep his head on straight. The Flyers are going to fire, fire, fire and hope to get a lead they can protect. Because Chicago is the younger team and the team with the better defense. Also, Chicago really plays like a team, the Flyers, less so. Can't wait for Game 2. I predict Hawks in 5 games or less.

PS Hey, readers, what is that goofy goal song Chicago plays? If you know, clue me in.

—Anne Valdespino

I also thought I would root for Vancouver since that is my husband's home town. Like Scotty Niedermayer my guy was born elsewhere but grew up in BC and fell in love with it. But after watching a few games, we fell for Chicago. They don't play that high-minded finesse game the Canucks play. They just put their heads down and win battles for loose pucks, make no mistakes when it comes to defense, and bring that refuse to lose attitude. Their stick handling was amazing. I can't wait to see them play those streaky Sharks and win!

The other wonderful surprise was Montreal beating Pittsburgh. Can you believe the defending champs went down? I'm supposed to hate Montreal because my in-laws are not Quebeckers and so they had to put up with years of that dynasty. But, hey, I think it's wonderful when teams that haven't been front and center come to the fore. It is fantastic to see Boston, Montreal, and Chicago  in the playoffs. Love it. And I have to admit that all that time I heard Canadians griping about how the league went straight to hell by adding expansion teams, I never cared until now. It's nice to see the old-school clubs rising. What a fun playoffs!

On the other hand everyone's saying how great the Sharks are and maybe it's their year. Yeah. Right. The only reason they're there is because the Ducks aren't. They always have trouble with us and we knock them out early. So, good luck San Jose and No Show Joe. I can't wait to see the Blackhawks humiliate  you.—Anne Valdespino

"Tonight on Versus, it's Hockey Night on Sports Soup with el Moustache himself, George Parros. 6:13 PM May 4th via TweetDeck" (@mattiseman)

Then we tuned into Duck Calls on 830 AM. That host was discussing "How is Saku Koivu NOT one of three stars?" He said the typical designation is two stars for the best players of the host team and then one outstanding player from the opposing team. That's not what happened last night and he said, "I've pretty much stopped paying attention to the stars of the game."

The media, of which I'm a member, always used to pride itself on objectivity. But it's a different world now in the information age. Unfortunately there's soooo much opinion out there and rants and raves garner ratings. Do they side with their team because they're biased or because they know we're biased? Either way it's BS.

One amusing discussion thread was the half-empty glass gab about the Kings' playoff chances. Momentum? Shmentum! Duck calls was all about how the Kings are rattled now because they've beat us so many times this season they were shocked to the shorts to lose. They're freaking out like the perky and popular high school diva who was sure she'd make cheerleader and got aced out by the nerdy girl from gym class, a math-lete who does killer backflips but wasn't pretty at all until somebody decked her out with makeup and hairspray.  No fair!

This is a really big X-factor for the Kings and for the Ducks. If we can beat them—without Hiller and Getzlaf, mind you—anyone in the league who has the will and the drive can beat them too. And isn't that the case in any game? You can't be in the NHL unless you are mightily skilled and play with the heart of a champion. The Kings are in trouble if they can't dig deep and come up with the nerve and the goods. Tuesday's game should be a great ride. Can't wait to see who gets the three stars from Hazy and Billie Mack.—Anne Valdespino

Vancouver played their back-up goalie, we played MacElhinney—somebody give this worthy kid a nickname fast. Mac? CuMo? CuMackey? The appearance of the backup boys is  not surprising, since so many monster goalies got burned out during the Olympics. Everyone is  gearing up for the playoffs or trotting out new guys to gauge their worth for next season. But it's pretty much over for us and that makes me really sad.

I keep trying to focus on the new players and feeling good about their skills: Troy Bodie, MacElhinney, Blake, Lubo, Bonino. Maybe that's what we've got to do. And rest our superstars like Getzy and Hiller. Maybe, if we've fully given up, even Niedermayer should have a few games off. We tend to think of him as a robot, a hockey-playing machine. But is that really fair? Let's not burn him out. Maybe "Mr. Natural" deserves some down time so he can decompress: he could roll his cart through Whole Foods shopping for organic produce, or fire up  his hydrogen-powered Honda and drive the picturesque roads of the Central Coast, looking for hiking spots and tasting vino from sustainable wineries. The last good break he had was when he sat out the first part of the season after winning Lord Stan in 2007.

 Anyone have any tips on how we can focus on moving forward? Comment here. And say something encouraging, puhlease!

PS: Everyone involved with CHOC had nothing but nice things to say about the Ducks' charity work there. Praise extended to the players and their wives, Sirpa is considered an angel for taking charge of all the kids at a recent event, making sure they were all comfortable and having fun. One CHOCster mentioned that a recently acquired player called up and requested an orientation visit because he knew the team is really involved with the hospital and he just wanted to be up to speed. Wow! Good hire.

That's one of the things I like about the Ducks. It's not just a paycheck. They care about the community.—Anne Valdespino

When my friend Rosemary told me you were giving her your tickets so we could sit on the glass I was thrilled. I have sat on Club level with the swells. I have sat in a suite and dined on catered munchies. I've even sat in the press box. But this was the best!

It really is different. And in some ways it's not what you expect. From where we were sitting we couldn't see into the corner on our right. And at times it was tricky to see pucks going into the net. But we had an unbelievable view of everything in front of us: We were directly to the left of the opposing player's bench. I mean, wow! There was Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars, just inches from me. The thrill of that wore off when he wouldn't move and I couldn't see some plays, but hey, who's gonna tell the big guy to get outta the way?

And we had a nice view of the opening ceremony saluting Teemu Selanne's 600 career goals. Hall of Famer Jari Kurri was there and so was Teemu's whole family. His baby girl is beyond cute. She looks like Cindy Lou Who in the Dr. Seuss books.

We got the biggest charge out of being within reach of the players. The whole Dallas bench banged their sticks in support of Selanne—that was cool. And we got to see our favorite stars up close and personal. For instance: you can't know why they call Selanne the Finnish Flash until you sit on the glass. He moves so lightning fast it's almost frightening; look up and all of a sudden he's there. And what a pleasure it was watching Niedermayer skate. The way he glides around you don't notice all the finesse of his footwork and how quickly he swivels and turns when you're sitting up high. You can also see that famous Scotty stubble, yeah, his five-o'clock shadow puts Fred Flintstone to shame. 

And we loved getting a peek at some of the newer guys. The look on Troy Bodie's face when he flies down the ice is really scary when he's coming at ya. Imagine what that's like for his opponents! And it was super cool to see Nick Bonino get his first NHL goal on a Selanne assist. He was so stoked he forgot to get the puck. Selanne retrieved it for him and we could see the veteran talking to the rookie just after, congratulating him while bringing him down to earth probably—most players say that first goal is surreal.

Any drawbacks to the experience? I wouldn't say so. Although some folks don't like the smell—hey, you've got to sweat to play hockey. And some of the other fans are really loud. It's natural. Sitting there you feel so close to the guys you probably start to think you know them. But a few spectators scream as if the players can hear them and would actually pay attention to their lame and obvious advice. Most of us can't skate to save our lives, but this is how involved you get when you're this close to the game. You see how incredibly fast the puck moves and how rough the players are with each other, tapping, touching, annoying, and nagging each other all the time, and slamming each other into the glass with such force it's really startling.

I think anyone who has never been to a game before would become an instant fan if they could see it this way. For a gal like me who is a fan already? It was like dying and going to hockey heaven. And so I thank you Sharon, from the bottom of my Ducks-lovin' heart. That was a game I will never, ever forget. You will always be one of my hockey heroes.

Sincerely,

Anne Valdespino

If you're Ryan Getzlaf, you get a haircut. That's what we heard from the ladies at Illusions Unlimited in Mission Viejo—if you're bored with your hair, go there, owner/stylist Lori Solari is a genius. Anyway, this was when Getz was sitting out with that first injury, pre-ankle, after his skate cut. He lives in Aliso, so that makes sense.

He was really shy, according to the only person who recognized him. He must not have been feeling well or wanted to remain low-key because those who have talked to Getzy know he is a yakker and a card. This young woman, who was into ice skating when she was a kid, and has a hockey-playing boyfriend, immediately recognized him. Don't know if she said it out loud or just stood there in shock thinking it, but her reaction on seeing this golden hockey god was, "OMG! I can't believe you're standing right in front of me!"

Word in the salon is that Getz and his girlfriend Paige are house hunting. Wonder if he's looking in Newport, maybe that's too close to all the party boys on the team, or getting ready to move to Coto de Selanne, or Irvine so he can be neighbors with Koivu.If he stays in south county there's one gal at Illusions who would be thrilled to see him again at work because he totally made her day. When she got home that night her dad was watching the game and she said, "Daddy! Daddy! Guess who came into the salon today?" And he goes, "Oh, I dunno...Ryan Getzlaf?"—Anne Valdespino

It's hard to believe that it's all over, and even crazier that although some of our guys have proven they are among the best ice hockey players in the world, they have to get right back to work to grind out a playoff spot in the Western Conference of the NHL. Wow! Someone reminded Niedermayer of that and he just laughed it off. Other players confessed that the work they would have to do in Anaheim was always at the back of their minds. All said they couldn't wait to get back and play together again.

My list of their unforgettable accomplishments during the games:

Bobby Ryan: Came home with a silver medal for playing on Team USA, chipping two teeth in the game against Norway! He played with speed and energy every game. And he become somewhat of a media darling with his down-to-earth Jersey charm. It was great reading his fun and funny quotes in the international press.

Ryan Whitney: Getting picked to play on Team USA and winning a silver medal -- all of a sudden he's a brand name. He's not a flashy guy, just someone who always does his best and gets the job done. Fans will remember him now.

Luca Sbisa (Ducks prospect): Played for team Switzerland and although he didn't medal he got some great experience and showed incredible gutsiness playing with a fractured finger that split open during the game against the US. He wouldn't have it any other way. "I don't want to be when I'm older sitting in my chair thinking I should have played that game," he told the media.

Teemu Selanne: His Finnish teammates wanted him to win a gold since it was his last year in the Olympics, but Selanne seemed happy to play at all, wearing that goofy chin guard the whole time and looking skinny as Jesus out there -- he hasn't fully recovered from the fractured jaw injury. He didn't have as much ice time as some of the other guys, but he stepped up whenever he was out there, making plays and getting shots on goal, he holds the Olympic record for goal scoring. His bronze medal is a great finish to his Olympic career.

Saku Koivu: Captain for Finland; it's a tribute to him that his guys came out playing as a team from the very first game. Some countries never meshed or melded into a team. Koivu led by example as always, making tons of assists and setups then stepping back and letting other players have the spotlight. Oh, and he went home with a bronze medal and the knowledge that he put a giant smile on the face of his best buddy Teemu at the end of the tournament.

Scott Niedermayer: Canada's Captain, fulfilling the role like a true British Columbia native -- strong and solid as a Douglas fir. Also just as impenetrable when you're on another team trying to break into the zone. His already groaning trophy case gets one more knick-knack.

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry: The twins were instrumental in Team Canada's success, giving it the old one-two with Getzlaf feeding Perry, who always went hard to the net and found those tricky "garbage goals." These two were consistently producing when other superstar players were skating around with nothing to show for it. Getzy showed his typical make-things-happen flair, scoring two minutes into the Russia/Canada game to set the tone for a big win. They were a huge factor in Canada's gold medal run.

Jonas Hiller: No medal for our favorite goalie, but he has risen to international stardom. Everyone knew it was Hiller who kept Switzerland in the game throughout the finals and almost took them to the bronze round. Many eyes will be on him in the next few years because it's clear he hasn't even peaked yet. This Olympics will always be known as the year three phenomenal goalies simply melted down: Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist, Miikka Kipprusoff. In contrast, Jonas Hiller always kept his cool. Bravura tactics were the demise of some of these other goalies but Hiller's style of playing was precise, careful, selfless, and as consistent as a Swiss watch. It feels so good to have him in net for Anaheim.—Anne Valdespino

By 11:30 Sunday the drinks were mixed, the scones were made, and my Canadian in-laws called continually as if it were Christmas day. The atmosphere at my house started out super jolly. But as I watched the game, things began to change. All those superstars on Team Canada were sitting back on their lead. What the heck? And the Americans were working harder and harder.

In the end it was overtime. And overtime doesn't necessarily mean the best team wins, it's just the team that scores first. So there I was being a Crosby hater when he scored. The guy, who from where I'm sitting, underperformed the whole way, pulled it out in the end. We read sooo much about him in the media he had worn out his welcome the day he stepped off the plane in Vancouver. But, OK. He is enormously talented and we can't hold that against him or we'd be just like the dads who jeered him when he was in the peewee leagues  just for making their kids look so bad. Crosby got to be the hero, fine. But I was so wishing it could have been someone who had put in a ton of effort and had star turns the whole way, like Jarome Iginla or Getzy/Perry. Or maybe someone who had made a tremendous difference behind the scenes, like Scotty Niedermayer, who according to Getzy, gave calming and inspiring St. Crispin's Day style talks to the guys in the locker room.

But the poor Americanos. It was over in a heartbeat and there was Ryan Miller looking like he was going to cry and giving an interview anyway. The saddest pic of all was Getzy (Canada) hugging Ducks teammate Bobby Ryan (U.S.A.) in the handshake line. Aw! And the Americans standing there looking as if they had been humiliated, like the silver medal was a turd hanging around their necks. Oh boy. 

As much as I love the guys on Team Canada the end result will always haunt me. Not only did the U.S. almost win, Canada nearly lost! Expect to read reams  about Canada second-guessing itself. And maybe too about the genius of American GM Brian Burke, who sure knows how to pick winners before they are overhyped, overpaid, diva-ish and whiney. Yeah, Brodeur, I'm talkin' about vous!—Anne Valdespino

Later that night Canada started strong against Slovakia. They were up by two when Getzy potted an insurance goal near the end of the second period, dumping in a rebound during a power play. But Slovakia came back with an answer goal and then another. Some tense moments for Canada, but eventually the clock ran out. Getzlaf, who along with Bobby Ryan has become something of a media darling, summed it up. "When you get a lead in the third period it's not easy to keep pressing in a tournament like this. The tendency is to sit back and not make a mistake rather than pushing forward. But we were able to get it done," he told the Houston Chronicle. 

Some tense moments, but that's what makes Olympic hockey exciting -- the knowledge that anything can happen. We look for Finland to win the bronze on Saturday night as they have in so many previous Olympics, but Slovakia could surprise us. I'm sure Kipper surprised the hell out of Selanne!—Anne Valdespino

That was extremely deflating for Jonas Hiller who performed like a champ and has made a name for himself on the international stage. Everyone is talking about him and how he kept his team in the game even when his defense was crumbling. Read his blog on the Ducks Web site and get his take on things. He may have left the ice in tears, but the world of hockey has embraced him as a big star. The Canadians especially loved him, giving him a huge ovation and rooting for Switzerland the whole way against the U.S., which shocked Bobby Ryan, "People are chanting, 'Go, Swiss, go!' and I'm like, 'What?" he told the Los Angeles Times.

That was all because America kicked Canada around the ice in their last game. Now it's all about rooting for whoever will defeat the states. Ryan had some interesting things to say in his Times blog about his experience. He said he felt bad for Hiller and hugged him at the end of the game. He also had an odd experience running into Luca Sbisa, a former Ducks teammate in the cafeteria, who also played for Switzerland. The rules say they're not supposed to eat together so they just chatted and went separate ways. Tough, for friends who played together and still hangout: Sbisa stays in Bobby Ryan's O.C. place in the summer.

But back to the lineups. Tomorrow Finland will play the U.S. and Canada will play Slovakia. Losers from those games will play a bronze medal round on Saturday night, winners will meet Sunday to play for gold and silver medals. I'm calling it for Canada unless something goes terribly wrong. I think they have a dream team with a tremendous amount of skill. When they're fired up, no one can beat them. Russian goalie Bryzgalov (a former Duck), said they came off the bench to start the game like "hungry gorillas." To which sassy color commentator Jeremy Roenick added, "Like hungry, angry, fightin' gorillas." The defense, lead by Captain Scott Niedermayer, shut down Ovechkin, and our guys scored and scored. Two for Corey Perry and one for Getzy. I will be really surprised if they don't win gold. 

For silver, it could be the U.S. with that young, gutsy team put together by our former GM Brian Burke. They have a do-or-die attitude, diving in front of the net before the puck could even get to their goalie.  Or it could be Finland. They've got skill, a great captain, our own Saku Koivu, and motivation; some commentators said that Teemu Selanne is so beloved that his teammates are playing their hearts out because they know it's his last Olympics and they want to see him with a gold medal. They also have a classy style of play. The Czechs were pretty frustrated and got kinda dirty, and those penalties drew them down. The Finns rose above it and never took the bait.

But don't count out Slovakia, they play hard, unlike the Russians who I noticed only played to the level of the opposing team--they came off as lazy and arrogant. Slovakia might surprise us all as they are getting better every game. They stuck it to Sweden, an elite team that started slow and whose goalie had an off night. Golden Boy Lundqvist lost his stick and borrowed one from a teammate so he couldn't really defend properly. A shot on his stick side went in and then he seemed discombobulated the rest of the game. Another went in and Sweden came back, scoring twice, but Slovakia didn't give up and eventually won the game with an empty netter. Lundqvist seemed close to tears. 

Anyway, this weekends' games will be so much fun to watch with Ducks players on the U.S., Finnish, and Canadian teams. It's like stretching out a Ducks back-to-back weekend over three days. Woo hoo! Still a lotta hockey to watch before the Olympics are over.--Anne Valdespino

Of course we're thrilled Sexy is back because he added such a lift when we were struggling earlier. He scores and scores and he's such fun to watch. About Paul Kariya's height but lighter. We worry about him because big ogres from opposing teams rudely got in the habit of ragdolling him into the net and the corners.

We really want to see him make a comeback so maybe someone can put him on the Kariya workout and nutrition program? It really helped Kariya to put on some upper body bulk which strengthened his frame and his game--smaller guys are in big danger of getting concussions. Remember that hit Kariya took center ice, and how everyone held their breath watching him lie there until we saw his face mask fog up? Phew!

These smaller players have to be really careful in the rough and tumble world of hockey. That said, it would be great to have Sexton back, fans love him. Although it is kinda nutty hearing grown men refer to him as "Big Sexy" and cheer him on by screaming, "Go Sex, go!"--Anne Valdespino

Even worse, Brodeur would not admit guilt, his quotes showed a man in denial, and so the press was reverential in its criticism but between the lines sports columnists have begun to whisper “has-been” about both him and Scott Niedermayer. And they’re not the only ones. Crosby was faulted for underperforming and being second-guessed as to whether he can be a star without Malkin backing him up.

 Poor Thornton--we've hated him ever since the last playoffs when he taunted Getzy at an opening face-off and got punched in return--has been dubbed “No-Show Joe.” Thanks, Joe. Because no one noticed one of our guys was having a crappy game, too. Corey Perry had a head-on collision with two of his own teammates and the Americanos' winning goal was a puck stolen from Perry on a breakaway.

Sad, sad. But what do we expect? The Olympics is a brutal contest. It’s all about who is hot at the moment and who is not. Remember a teenaged Sarah Hughes stealing the gold from So Cal sweetheart Michelle Kwan in 2002? It happens all the time, and so we’re all left wondering. Should Babcock have played Canucks star Roberto Luongo who pitched a shutout against Norway? Could be. The US stuck to basics and walked away with a win. Again it has us all thinking about the genius of Brian Burke, our former Anaheim GM, who handpicked the American team. No elder statesmen super stars were chosen, simply solid players with a median age of 26. They played as a unit and stuck to basics while Canada’s dream team passed to one other, deferred to each other and waited too late to grind out a win.

Goalie Ryan Miller performed heroically and in later interviews deflected attention from himself and back to Brodeur’s stellar record. Resumes can’t play games. It simply shows how tough the game is on older players. Hiller vs. Giguere. Brodeur vs. Luongo. For the record, Luongo said he’s not here for Roberto Luongo, he’s here for Team Canada and will live with whatever decision Babcock makes. Last night it was announced that Bobbie Lou, as they call him in Vancouver, will start.

So the frenzy continues as the authorities close liquor stores early in Vancouver, concerned there will be incidents. Meanwhile, the press smells blood in the water and continues to rachet up the drama: Team Canada will have to win all four of their next games to get a gold medal. In the meantime it’s all about the young Americans: Bobby Ryan, Rafalski, Ryan Miller and our own, Ducks player Ryan Whitney who said in a "diary" published in the Register, that it’s so special to beat the Canadians on their own soil.

Have a blast, Ryan. Because as you youngsters become veterans you'll never be picked by Burke again who will probably choose players much younger when the time comes. It’s the “Miracle on Ice” all over again. Youth, conditioning, and forming a team from scratch that peaks at just the right time seems to be his philosophy. And maybe he's right. Politics and diva turns didn’t get the job done for Team Canada on Sunday. Now they've got to play Germany today and Russia tommorrow.--Anne Valdespino

She repeated that she was indeed his mum. "And that's his wife right there." Now I was really hyperventilating. "Oh my GAWD! Lisa's here, too?" A blonde with shoulder-length hair and pretty blue eyes turned to face me and said hello before going back to shopping for pins. For the next 10 minutes I made a complete jackass of myself telling Carol, not sure if that's the right spelling of her name, things she already knew. "He's the greatest defenseman in the league, everyone in Anaheim loves him, Corey Perry says he's the only guy for  the job of captain of Team Canada, bleh, bleh, bleh. She was very polite and simply said of her son's enormous talent, "He is blessed."

We talked about her grandsons. All of them, except the youngest, play hockey. They were in the park with their dad; he got a couple of days to spend with family before he had to go back to the Olympic Village to stay with the team and focus on the game. I asked how his brother Rob liked New Jersey. She said they didn't know until the last minute he was going there because he had been making plans to play in Russia. She said she had been worried about him taking his family there, then backtracked a little saying she didn't mean to say it was unsafe. But I know what she meant: she wanted her family to stay closer to their hometown. She's a lot like her son, very diplomatic.

When Lisa was done shopping, my brother gave her a pin in the shape of Texas with a Lone Star flag symbol on it. She graciously thanked him and said her kids would like it. Nice, nice people. Needless to say, I was on a cloud all day. Almost got hit by a car on Granville Island, could barely taste my Roger's chocolates maple cream with nuts, my favorite, and only started to calm down at tea time when I had a cup of incredible malty, tippy Assam at the Granville market. We sat for an hour and a half with a British friend of my sister-in-law's and gossiped about the royal family. I finally calmed down enough to enjoy dinner and the game. But I have to say, between that and the Finnish victory I found it very hard to get to sleep last night. Scotty Niedermayer's mum. Wow!--Anne Valdespino

Another sign I saw was carried by a skinny dude in a Montreal Canadians jersey: "We miss our captain, Saku Koivu!" I yelled at him, "Well you can't have him back!" My husband Paul pushed me back into my seat before I could start an international incident. The game was about to begin and we settled in while the team roster was announced. Then I yelled again when they put Koivu and Selanne's names and numbers on the jumbotron, "Gooooooo Ducks!!!"

Germany never scored. Our goalie, Backstrom, was phenomenal. The score didn't really reflect how good the German team was. They were pretty tough, checked hard, took a bunch of penalties, but just couldn't get past Backstrom. Selanne had a special moment when they announced that he had just achieved an Olympic record for most points. Very cool.

The Finnish fans were going wild. They wore blue and white wigs, carried huge signs and painted their faces with all kinds of crazy team designs. They were chanting incomprehensible cheers. Afterwards they exited the stadium shouting, "Suo-MI!, Suo-MI!" So whenever you see Finnish fans, just start it going and they will pick it up. It was so much fun I did it the rest of the night as we tooled around looking for a pub without a huge lineup. Never found one, so we grabbed some Tim Horton's donuts for this morning's breakfast and went home to drink Okanagan wine and celebrate our victory: 5-0. Suo-MI! Suo-MI!--Anne Valdespino

Here's what I saw. The Swiss had really picked up their game. Did Hiller school them on all his teammates? According to
Agence France Press, Getzy said HIller's heroics in net confounded the Canadians. Getzy could not get by him in the shootout but Sid the Kid did, Babcock used the international rules and let Sid go twice. Final score was 3-2. We watched the shootout in the bar at Goldfish in Yaletown where we were having dinner. The crowd screamed for every shot and food and drink service stopped completely as waiters, busboys, hostess and all gathered around to see Canada win. "Sid Ends Our Fright Night with Blood, Guts, and Goal" was the headline in the Vancouver Sun, a pic of a  blonde in fan gear held a  sign, "Sidney, Can I Hold Your Stick?" Hoo boy!

My sisters-in-law were calling to make sure I knew the score. We discussed. Are we having goalie issues? Brodeur might not have been as strong as Roberto Luongo, Bobby Lou, as they call him here. We'll see who starts next time. That night after the lame-o Neil Young concert the streets were still full and Canadians were hootin, hollerin and hangin out. At the subway stop we saw a sax player blowing the national anthem with a crowd of rowdies singing at the top of their lungs.

The top ticket for the US/Canada game is out of reach and only available at auction, scalper or fan-to-fan. Last quote from a ticket broker was $1,500 a ticket for the upper tier. Wow. We did manage to get tickets for Finland/Germany tonight, $140 a ticket for lower level. Can't wait because the Finland vs. Belarus game was wonderful. Two teams, two equally incomprehensible languages but it was fantastic to see Selanne and Koivu. Saku is the team captain and he had a great game. Selanne seemed a slow starter but I think he'll be warmed up today. He's so graceful on the ice he sometimes seems to be standing still but he's reading the game and making moves all the time. It's going to be great to cheer him on again. When they read the roster and come to his name we're going to scream: "Goooooooooo Ducks!!!"--Anne Valdespino

The line at Robson Square snaked around a couple times. This would take a while, so my husband, sensing my antsiness to get back to the game, suggested I watch the show while he waited. Folks had gathered by a makeshift ice rink to see a performance. Corny kid stuff with the Olympics mascots, a cuddly Sasquatch and an orca/sea bear creature that both look like San Rio characters. After about 20 minutes of that nonsense, the mascots were now playing a hockey game. I ran back to the Vogue to watch the real thing.

Dang! I missed Bobby Ryan's score for Team USA! But the last couple periods were interesting, Hiller looked more confident than I have ever seen him playing for Switzerland, swinging way out of goal to handle the puck and gloving everything in sight. Team USA won 3-1. We left for lunch and by then  Robson Street, which had been closed to traffic, was crowded with flag wavers, fans with painted faces, international tourists, street performers, students, cops on the beat and official Olympics volunteers offering directions and information to anyone who looked lost.

We needed lunch and ducked into an Irish pub bursting to the seams with revelers, it felt like St. Paddy's Day with a live band, complete with fiddler, downstairs. Upstairs there were waitresses carrying trays of pub grub and pints of ale. Everyone watched a Canadian win the women's snowboarding event and went wild, excited about adding to the gold medal tally.

We took a break and walked down to see the torch, or Wayne Gretzky's barbecue as we now call it. We had just enough time to get back to the Vogue for the game. What a scene. By now the theater was completely full and they were doing a great business selling cold Bud--I think the red bottle made it extra attractive. Any Canadian not wearing red this week is probably in danger of being a suspected terrorist.

At first the Norwegians looked formidable. They were pretty physical and seemed to have some great chemistry, but after the first 20 minutes the Canadian dream team started clicking. We--there are three Ducks players on Team Canada--outshot and outskated them. It makes you realize what a team sport hockey is -- when every guy  makes his best effort all players shine. Corey Perry spinning around like a figure skater to hit a shot on goal. Getzlaf stuffing in a goal by taking a blind shot behind him. Iginla's hat trick. So much was made over Sid Crosby but he wasn't the star of the game, such was the depth of talent. More than that, every player was pushing, and the speed of the game was phenomenal from start to finish. Final score was 8-0,  a well deserved shut-out for Roberto Luongo, with the hometown crowd screaming, "Lou!!" every time he made a save.

After dinner we popped into a tiny coffee bar at our subway stop and checked in on another game. A lackluster Team Russia was leading Latvia about 3-1. Totally different feel. Russia wasn't pushing because they didn't really have to and Latvia was giving up. You had to hand it to the Norwegians for showing a tremendous amount of heart. They played full out the entire game and never looked like they were folding. That's the kind of game you want to see and that's the tone Team Canada has set. With the whole town watching every game and a national push to "own the podium" I will be very surprised if there is no gold medal this year.--Anne Valdespino

The other big topic was how well the Canadian women's team was playing. They beat Slovakia 18 to 0. The talk was all about whether or not there should be a mercy rule. Nicholson said there shouldn't. That the Canadian team should play full out and show what they can do every game, Canadians expect no less. He said the crowd was cheering like crazy for Canada and that after the game they gave a huge ovation to the Slovakian team, "They were crying. It was really special!" I know he meant it to be warm and fuzzy but you'd cry too if someone had just kicked your little Eastern European butts in front of the whole world!!

Nicholson then invited everyone to come to Molson House, a place to watch on TV if you don't have tix. it's basically a tent with a huge Maple Leaf-shaped entrance and hockey videos projected on the front. You get all your food free--by Wolfgang Puck's company if you care about that kinda thing--and you can get in and out privileges. But it's $99! Yes. Tickets are scarce for that experience and the games. Warning if you're coming without tix: go online and you'll find out you must be a Canadian resident to buy them, even for the cultural events. Otherwise you have to buy fan-to-fan or by auction for the most coveted games. Those prices go from $900 to $3,000 and more for the best games. Wow!

We feel very, very lucky that our friends jumped on line and got us tickets. We're going to see the Neil Young tribute and we will see Belarus play Team Finland!! Yes. Get jealous because we're seeing Teemu Selanne in his last Olympics appearance along with the Koivu brothers: Saku and Mikko. Can't wait!--Anne Valdespino

GETZY WATCH: In Canada it's national news. He skated Friday and he wants to play tonight or Sunday. It's all about staying healthy and not getting cut. Same with Selanne who is looking forward to joining Team Finland and staying out of harm's way. Also from today's Register: "It's not even funny anymore," he said of his back-to-back injuries.

GRETZKY WATCH: Practically sacked from his last job, #99 is still No. 1 in hockey fans' hearts. Everyone predicted he would light the torch and we were right. He was shuttled through the streets of Vancouver in a big white SUV that might as well have been the Popemobile. Spectators were over the top excited to see him, running alongside the car, smiling and waving—in the pouring rain! Oh yeah, we can't wait to be in the world capital of ice hockey.—Anne Valdespino

Still, let's not forget this is Hiller's time. He's more than earned it. Did you see the way he played against Detroit tonight? One goal he let it. One lousy goal. And at times they were peppering him. I'm so glad that pressure of 'win and you're in' has been lifted from both these guys. Did anyone notice that both Hiller and Giguere pitched shut-outs the second that was over? Good luck to both of them, and I think the fans are ready to move on judging from the incredible cheers Hiller got tonight.

The best part was seeing Hiller look so happy after the game. He was exhausted, but not too tired to remember to thank the fans. His teammates were grateful too. That famous Getzy grin, delivered with a wee sideways cock of the head said, "You're the man!" to Hiller as he made his way to the locker room. Sometimes it's the little  things that speak volumes. Getzy's gesture showed that one more piece has snapped into place for us. Now let's kick ass against the Kings tomorrow night.—Anne Valdespino

Ducks fans (including myself, big time) are mourning our loss in many different ways. We're looking to the Register  for local commentary, we're scanning tweets for...well...Web sites where we can e-cry with each other I suppose, we're sending Jiggy messages ...in short, we're acting like a family member has died.

To a certain extent, that's not far off. Our franchise goalie who took us to a Stanley Cup win--and just four short years before won the Conn Smythe despite losing our grip on hockey's Holy Grail--is packing his bags and moving 2,500 miles and a conference away. At least, as is the case when a loved one leaves, we'll always have our memories. Which include these games , and this heart-wrenching photo  from the night we won the Cup.

—Rose

Top photo by Gregory Shamus / Getty Images; bottom by Mike Blake / Reuters.

Check out the story by John Manasso on Jonas Hiller at nhl.com. It gives an interesting perspective on the relationship between the two guys:

Jiggy on Hiller: "He's a great kid. People always think we're in a competition, but I don't believe in that. He's a teammate and I want him to be successful. when I play, I don't compete against him, I compete against the puck."

Hillsy on Giguere: "Even though he doesn't play and I know he's not happy with the situation...even through all of the circumstances, he's a great guy, he's not  mad at me or anything. He tries to help me and that makes it easier, and I'm definitely very thankful for his help and having him around."

Maybe now we can move forward with a little less anxiety and a lot more energy. Jiggy fans know he's not done yet with the net. It's hard to lose him, which I'm sure we will, but maybe being first in goal on another team will be the tonic he needs to be the amazing goalie he was in 2007. It will certainly be hard for our guys to face him as an opponent. When he's on, he's a force of nature: yelling encouragement to his teammates, playing way out of net to keep the puck in play, and forcefully challenging guys in one-on-one situations. Those of us who love his style wish him all the luck in the world.—Anne Valdespino

  

 He's wearing shades, and he slips into the restaurant so quickly we don't get a good look at his face. We're checking in at the hostess stand. Geez! Why is this taking so long? By the time we get our table, he's already zipped out onto the patio. Dang!

It's a lovely brunch, though. Eggs Benedict, "cooked to the perfect tremble," as restaurant writer Gretchen Kurz promised in her review, California sparkling wine, fresh orange juice, and hot coffee. My husband and my friend chatter on. I can barely concentrate on what they're saying. All I want to do is find some excuse to stroll out to the patio and see if it's really him.

The pace of the meal seems glacial. Finally everyone's finished eating. We pay the check. I'm still in a daze and sooo not listening to what anyone is saying. All I'm thinking is: It's him. It's not him. Is it really him? We get up to leave and on the way out my ever schmoozy husband begins an extended conversation with our friendly waiter. I'm looking toward the patio. I see the guy I think is Wisniewski. Oh no! He's getting away. Now I'm in a full-blown panic, thinking, "Oh shoot! Now I'll NEVER know." I feebly pull my coat on. We get our car and say goodbye to our friend.

Hubster finally notices my extreme anxiety. "Honey, what's wrong?" I look at him and can't believe he's having a jolly time when I'm so disappointed. "You took forever talking to the waiter and it really ticked me off. Couldn't you see I was trying to get out there and find out if it was really Wizzy? Now I'll never know."

My husband gives me one of those you're-cute-when-you're-mad looks that are so marriage-endangering, then laughs. "Well of course it was him. The waiter said so. He was there with his fiance and their wedding planner."

Holy flaming guacamole! Not only did I really see him, I was there during an important moment in his life. Wow! Totally special! Except that...he doesn't even know I exist. Which is OK. I just wanted to know for sure it was Wiz. Now I can die happy.

Let's recap some awful moments, now frozen in time:

1. The color commentators, who always try to make the most of the "crosstown rivalry," actually shocked and not  knowing what to say when it got real—and it was UGLY.

2. The look on Hiller's face after he got pulled and throughout the rest of the game. If you could read his thought bubble it cried, "Muti!" (Mommy!")

3. The look Scotty gave Giguere after getting hit in the shins by a puck he cleared.

4. Brookbank and that Simmonds kid going at it. What a tough customer Simmonds is. Can we please acquire him in a trade? And bring Pronger back while you're at it.

5. Corey Perry hitting the locker  room with a 10-minute misconduct that ended his evening. Dude! Stop fighting. It's not your thing and we need you on the ice, not in the shower.

6. Randy Carlyle losing it after the fourth goal was reviewed, not in our favor. You don't have to be an expert lip reader to know he had some choice words for the refs, most beginning with the letter "F."

7. Those mean musical stings, like the fat lady singing near the end and the "na-na-na" song. When they were taunting Hiller, the organist even played along. Not nice!

Yeah, Teemu's out and it's a bummer. Yeah, it's not fair that we're playing more of the games against the Kings on their home ice. But we can't continue to get all emo. Did anyone realize that Koivu left late in the second with a "lower body" injury? There are bigger things going on here and we gotta focus. That goes for fans, too. We need to be getting on the freeway and supporting our team.

Something happens when you cross the county line. You're going to the big, bad city and there's a tendency to get tougher wherever you go and whatever you do. We need to fight that feeling when it comes to playing dirty because it only works against us. Oh well. This terrible night will make the next time we beat them all the sweeter.—Anne Valdespino

In other downer news, Eric Stephens of the Register interviewed Scotty about the possibility of a trade. The Cap'n was his usual noncommittal self. What use is it quoting him on anything? He gives nothing away. But it was kinda funny when he got into that whole bridge metaphor. Reminiscent of Gretzky's, "When you're Wayne Gretzky you gotta take the heat with the roses," mixed metaphor quote. Just what we need. Hot roses.

Stay tuned for another back-to-back tonight. We're on a roll, especially Hiller. Notice the attention he's getting from his teammates. He got that Getzy grin and a wink last night, and after the Chicago game Koivu skated up to Hiller, held his mask and spoke to him for what seemed like 15 seconds. In these tough times of injury and scratching our way up from the bottom, a goalie on a hot streak is your MVP every night. Let's go Ducks! We can beat the Kings if everybody continues to step up. Do it for Teemu.—Anne Valdespino

But it was nail-biting too because the Blues were desperate to win and ready for a scrap. What's Perry thinking taking on some big guy who's only going to knock him down? Yeah you're an edgy player, Pears, but don't go Getzy on us. Getz is no Pronger, but at least he's big enough to take on Joe Thornton. Lean-and-mean Perry will just get knocked over at the first punch. Don't take the bait, Corey, we need you in front of the net. You're above it, you're a finesse guy.

I was also concerned for the Cap'n who has been looking a little stressed out lately. I wouldn't say he's off his game but he fell uncharacteristically for a guy who is always rock-solid on his skates—was it a couple times?—and getting caught for penalties means maybe he's tired and a little slower than usual or his mind is on a million other things. So let's hope he gets a few days off before he goes on the road. You gotta love the way the Cap'n looks embarrassed as a naughty school kid when he goes into the penalty box. He must be the only man in the league you can count on not to do that look-behind-him, who-me?, followed by outrage, cussin,' and snarlin' when a ref points his way.

Supporting players were fantastic, like Wizzie and Beleskey getting goals. Kinda mean of the TV commentators to ask Bellsy what happens when Selanne gets back, but, hey, that's their job. And speaking of that's his job....how about Marchant's empty netter? He really outmuscled a couple players to take that long shot and it's getting to be such a habit that we're starting to expect it. Still, it's a thrill every time it happens. Goooooo, Toddy!—Anne Valdespino

Will we fight our way back from the bottom to a spot in the playoffs? Who knows? But our hopes rise every time we win.—Anne Valdespino

Last time we checked, the captain, who was also named captain over all the superstars that make up Team Canada, was our greatest defender. So how will it help to send him packing? Especially after our GM said he wanted Scotty to retire here. Friends, this is the last place you should look for analysis of the game. But from where I'm sitting it's a combination of factors: injuries, losing our goalie coach, defense not clicking like it should, goalies made crazy and insecure because they have to hop in and out of the starting lineup.

Maybe it is time to do some rebuilding to get our defense where it should be. But can't we keep the part we know is working? Think about this while you watch the game tonight, which could be painful. And email me here with your ideas, thoughts and prayers.—Anne Valdespino

Second most memorable moment: Getzy's outfit in the post-game interview. A pink ball cap, or was it a beanie? His number was monogramed on it, and he paired it with what looked like a Japanese kimono. Did he wear this before he played? Then he has to keep it in the locker room before every game from now on. Hey, whatever works! So wear it, pul-leeze, domo arigato, Getzy-san!

—AV

We got into the elevator and started backing up so that more people could join us. Who should appear but the Finnish Flash in the flesh, wearing a suede jacket that exquisitely matched his hair.

“Oh my God!” I blurted out. “It’s Teemu Selanne!”

Others took up the chant. I asked how his left hand was doing; he’d injured it in Thursday's game and will be out for at least four weeks. It was encased in a big, scary-looking white bandage. I added that he needed to get better, fast, because we could have used him in the shootout. He reassured me that he would have put the puck in the net.

By his side were two of his sons, adorable Mini Me’s who looked just like him.The younger one seemed amused by all the attention dad was getting. “Why does everyone say, ‘Teemu Selanne! Teemu Selanne’ all the time?” He sounded like a typical American kid—not a trace of his father’s accent.

I said, “It’s because everyone loves Teemu Selanne. Didn’t you hear on the radio the other night—they called him “the face of the franchise."

“French fries?” the boy asked.

“No,” his father said. “Franchise. It’s a funny word, isn’t it?”

And in a flash, the Finns were gone, leaving good will in their wake. Sure we lost. But that’s not what I’ll remember about tonight. I’ll only recall the glow of getting up close to one of the greatest players in the league. Personality is a big part of the game. I’ll talk about that in another blog post about feel-good guys.—AV

Steve Eminger 6’1”/202. Defenseman.

Number: 7

Age: 26

Birthday and place: Oct. 31  (How fun is that?), Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada

First impressions: slightly long hair and a lean, hungry look. Kinda like young Willem Dafoe without the crazy energy. I think it’s cool that he really likes Orange County, “I love the beautiful weather and the people are so laid back,” he said. “I live in Newport and I step outside my door and I’m right on the beach.”

Food and Wine: Likes everything from sushi to steak. Red wines, especially cabernet; Sycamore Lane from Napa is a favorite. (Cheap date. It’s only $8.50 a bottle!)

Music: Listens to hip-hop, techno and country singer Kenny Chesney.

—AV

Sbisa has a great attitude and he is an elegant young man.Teemu Selanne remains the most beautiful Euro dude on the team, with angelic Jonas Hiller coming in a close second, but Sbisa has a sleek build, dark hair, dimples and a gentlemanly charm that belies his 19 years. Born in Sardinia, his family moved to Switzerland when he was only a year old. He speaks Italian and French but German is his first language.

His English is great, too, and he seems to like life in the US; his taste in music leans toward rock bands like Coldplay and Phoenix. And his palate couldn’t be more American. “I love meat, steaks, good barbecue, filet mignon,” he said. He also likes to drink merlot. So next time you have a glass of merlot, or any red wine, think of Sbisa. Toast him, thank him for his brief contribution to the team, and wish him well, especially if you’d like to see him back at the Honda Center.

—AV

OK. So last night was rough on the whole team but a uniquedeezaster for Teemu Selanne and friends. Imagine your lifelong hockey idol (Jari Kurri) comes to scout you forthe Olympics and your team loses. Not a good night for our boys from Finlandiawho have actually been a bright spot among all the losses.

Nokelainen hasn’t contributed a lot but he has stayed outtatrouble for the most part and we appreciate keeping the penalty minutes low.But the real story is the bromance between Selanne and Koivu. It has ignitedSelanne who has been scoring more than Getzlaf lately.

Watch the interviews with Teemu. Whenever he speaks aboutSaku he’s got that barely contained smile of a guy in love. Don’t get me wrong.There is nothing physical there—not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’ssimply great to see him come alive again.

It reminds me of the old days when he and Kariya firststarted clicking. Koivu and Kariya are both finesse players and not too big.They are both fantastic around the net getting Selanne all kinds of assists andthen staying out of his way so he can score. Teemu almost got that backhanderlast night, in his younger days he never would have missed it. Anyway, it’sjust amazing to see Selanne moving lightning fast again and playing a starringrole. If we make it to the playoffs you can bet he will be on fire again.

Memo to concession stands at the Ponda: How about half priceshots of Finlandia vodka every time Selanne, Koivu or Nokelainen score? Woohoo!

—AV

—Rose

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We continue our introduction to the new players today with Saku Koivu, former captain of the Montreal Canadiens and now a big factor on the Finnish line with his Team Finland pal Teemu Selanne, and Joffrey Lupul. He lives in Irvine with his wife and two kids: a daughter, 4, and a son, 3. Hmm … two of Selanne’s kids are already playing hockey. Could we see another Selanne-Koivu line in 20 years? We hope so, especially if they play for the Ducks.


Saku Koivu  5’10”/182. Center.
Number: 11
Age: 34
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
First Impressions: His picture on the Ducks Web site does not do him justice. Koivu has rugged good looks and deep blue eyes. If you go for Daniel Craig, he could be your type. He sparkles in person, giving off a real nice-guy vibe, and he’s a class act: He will not say a bad word about the way he was treated in Montreal. (If you’ve ever been a tourist there, you know what we’re talking about. The natives do not dig outsiders and blogosphere sez Koivu was given a hard time for not being a Francophone.) He simply says that people here in O.C. are “so friendly” and that, “I’m more excited about coming here than I have been about anything in a long, long time.” He also said he would “do anything for the team.” We like the attitude. Best friend so far is Teemu Selanne, of course. But we predict that with his upbeat style he will make a lot more buddies quickly.
Food and Wine: He likes reds, Italian wine (especially Tuscan Tignanellos), and Napa cabs. “If I had to pick a favorite it would probably be Caymus Special Select,” he said. Caymus makes one of the most elegant cabernets you can drink, soft and approachable, and it starts at $100 a bottle, depending on the vintage. So he’s got expensive tastes but it only goes so far--he said he won’t shell out for cult wines like Screaming Eagle or Harlan. He had a favorite wine purveyor in Montreal and is looking for a new one. We suggest Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa or Rolf’s Wine in Newport. Eclectic tastes in food. Of course he likes steak, which would pair with that Caymus, but Finns love fish as he told us at the Ra Sushi event on Monday. He also enjoys Indian and Thai food--“I like spicy but not too strong.”
Music: Soft rock, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Finnish rock.

I asked each of the guys what made his sushi special and got a chance to see their rolling techniques up close.

My report:

Right Winger Mike Brown cooked with confidence. He says he loves sushi and makes it at home. His roll, dubbed “Lucky 13,” had albacore, crab mix, shrimp, asparagus, and cucumber and was topped with mango salsa and roasted pine nuts. “Getting it tight is the hardest part,” he said. He seemed to have no trouble, but watching the chefs was helpful. “They put less ingredients in theirs and it rolls tighter.” He’s already got a sushi set at home but after rolling with the pros he said he’d like to get, “a real sharp knife and a rice cooker.”
First bite: A nice, light roll with a sweet topping, maybe too sweet.

Center Saku Koivu might not have the best rolling technique but he seemed like he was having the most fun. Wouldn’t you? (Knowing you wouldn’t have to face the Montreal winter again, which probably started in August.) His creation was called “When You’re Finnish, You’ll Want More Saku.” The combination of spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, and avocado was topped with sliced yellowfin tuna, salmon and spinach tempura flakes, and drizzled with eel sauce. Too much fish? Not for this Finn. “Sushi is getting more and more popular in Finland,” he said. “We eat a lot of fish—salmon and a lot more. If I knew the names of all of them I could tell you.” His favorite sushi joint in Orange County? He doesn’t have one yet: “I’ve only been here three weeks,” he explained. In Montreal he eats at Kaizen Sushi Bar.
First bite: This was the most flamboyant looking roll with a crunchy tempura shrimp tale sticking straight out of the top. It didn’t make a big impression; we were wading through so much crunch it was hard to get a handle on the flavors.

Defenseman James Wisniewski not only had the best-looking roll, it had the best name: “The Big Wisniewski.” Apparently he’s a natural. The Canton, Mich. native had never made sushi before but his spicy yellowtail, crab mix, jalapeño, cilantro dish was gorgeous, crowned with sliced yellowtail and slices of avocado. The toppings were all neatly aligned and he covered each roll carefully in plastic wrap before cutting perfect slices. He could even multitask, chatting and flashing a great smile while he rolled. His ingredients inspired him: “Wild, raw yellowtail— I love it,” he said. There aren’t any memorable sushi joints in his hometown so he goes to Japonais in Chicago.
First bite: Big bold Mexican flavors of jalapeño and cilantro made a huge impression and the creamy mouth-feel of the yellowtail and avocado wound around them created a synergy that carried all the way through a long finish.

Wisniewski’s technique seemed to fascinate Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, who stared as his teammate cut those textbook slices. We love the Cap’n, a genius on the ice, but in the kitchen it’s another story. There he was rolling a big fatty of soft shell crab, avocado, carrot, and cucumber, trying desperately to hold it together as he sliced. The whole thing began to pancake while he sawed away, bits of sticky rice dotting the backs of his big, hairy hands. There’s plenty of salmon in British Columbia but no sushi restaurants to speak of in his hometown of Cranbrook. Still, he might have had an advantage for other reasons. So we had to ask—they do roll a heck of a lot of loco weed in BC, don’t they? “Oh, I don’t know anything about that,” he said.

First bite: Lots of classy ingredients, but overall a bit bland. Just like most of the captain’s quotes to the media.

The winner? The Big Wisniewski walked away with the Fan’s Choice Award and the Judge’s prize. Scott Niedermayer just walked away with big grains of white rice still clinging to his brown shoes.

—AV

Aww shucks! Imagine our delight to find our blog mentioned on Kevin Roderick's LAObserved, a Web site that's catnip to writers and media watchers throughout the Southland. Check it out and find links to more blogs about the greatest sport in the world.

—AV

But this is 2009, more than 80 years since the first television broadcast, and I was unable to watch the Ducks lose to Vancouver last night, thanks to poorly planned scheduling by the geographically challenged minds at Cox and everyone else that decides which teams will appear on TV.

If I were a Boston or Toronto fan, I could’ve watched their preseason game on Wednesday night. If I cared about game 4 of the Pittsburgh/Carolina playoffs, I could’ve absorbed that last night. However, I’m not and I don’t. Since the Ducks’ first preseason match-up (also Wednesday evening) and their second game (yesterday) both occurred on home ice, both should have been broadcast at least to local subscribers.

Be prepared to listen to—not watch—these preseason games.

Perhaps this is yet another example of the shaft that expansion teams experience. I don’t know. Whatever it is, it’s ridiculous. Radio broadcasts are perfectly fine and wonderful, in fact, when you can’t get out of having to be in the car during a game, but in the (very expensive) 21st century in which many of us pay for higher cable tiers in order to get the sports channels, we should have choices.

—Rose

First things first—our wonderful, amazing, tough-as-nails Ducks beat the Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout last night! Woo hoo! Exciting stinkin’ game, that was. Some thoughts: Bobby scored two goals and one in the shootout … he’s amazing. And Hiller displayed much of what we loved about him last season … that goalie spot is going to be a tough one between him and Giguere …

In case you haven’t picked up on this yet, Anne and I take our hockey very seriously, and pre-season quenches our thirst for the game while allowing us some opportunity to breathe (come Oct. 3, Rose will cease to inhale/exhale during games and Anne will walk around the office blurting out what’s wrong with opposing teams).

We’re so serious about it that we discuss, in great detail, Bobby Ryan’s form, Scotty Niedermayer’s still-graceful glide around the ice, and of course, Teemu Selanne’s bronzed hue. Anne and I have already dissected Lupul, Koivu, and Sbisa’s records, guesstimated the length of George Parros’ hair, and decided which weekday games are most important to attend. Very calculated. Very serious stuff.

So yesterday, when I got home to a Ducks mailer waiting for me, I was beside myself with excitement (clearly, the period between playoffs and pre-season is a long, grueling one). I ripped it open, totally excited to see the huge Ducks logo on the front and gasping at the lovely celebratory photo of Getzy, Ryan, and Perry on the inside. But my joy plummeted when I saw the ticket prices and remembered that I knew what they’d be—a few months ago, the club announced that pricing would remain the same as last season, but, well, not much has improved for a lot of people … suffice it to say, when I can make it to a game, I’ll be interested to see how full the house is. And maybe this year, when we enter the playoffs, game-day prices will go down if the Ponda’s not sold out. Better some money than none, am I right?

—Rose

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When Rose and I found out the team was sending Jonas Hiller’s mask to the magazine for a photo shoot, we were downright giddy. Breathless. And the day it was to arrive I ran to her office without even putting down my briefcase. “Is it here?” “It’s in the studio.” “OH MY GAWWWWWD!!!”

It came in a black zipper case about the size of a bowling ball bag. And it was the real deal. Not a new mask but last season’s. The one he wore when all eyes in the league were on him, and all Ducks fans were praying he would pull us through a rough patch with Giguere and into the playoffs. Miraculously, he did, starting with a shutout debut, the first NHL player to do so since 2004.

This was it. I started to unzip the bag and my first thought was its possible aroma. “Does it smell?” I asked Justin, our assistant art director and the photographer assigned to shoot the sacred object. “Yeah. Smells like hockey equipment.”

I’ve never been in a locker room but I have 6 brothers. With the bag completely unzipped, I recognized the scent as dirty football equipment. Sports gear was always left lying around our house when I was growing up; my brothers came home exhausted from practice and dropped their stuff wherever before plopping on the couch. I never thought of it as a particularly bad smell, just a guy smell. Rose insisted it stank and I found myself defending the alleged stench. “Hey, when men work hard, they sweat. OK?” 

She said nothing. Just gave me that blank stare. But I could hear her thoughts, which were simultaneously saying, “Gross.” And “You’re ridiculous.”

Of course she was right. She’s always right. That’s why she’s the managing editor (the boss of me) and I’m the features editor (cat herder to a bunch of freelance writers). But I’m not listening. I’m carefully removing that mighty mask, terrified I’ll drop it.

I’m looking at it from all angles and to me it’s exquisite. It’s smaller than you might think. It reminds me of the few helmets I’ve seen in museums, those of conquistadors, medieval knights; they all seem so little and yet they housed the crania of some of the most fearsome warriors of all time. This one is no different. It’s full of symbols, not unlike heraldry marks: team emblems, a delicate Alpine flower, a Swiss flag.

It’s painted in yellow and orange, but there are white dings in it. I think back to the time Hiller took a puck in the face and there’s a feeling of awe remembering how he merely shook it off. Pucks fly at 100 miles an hour and this one must have really rung his chimes to chip that helmet.

The awe is followed by an overwhelming urge to wear the thing. To look through the face guard, see what he sees, feel what he feels. Suddenly I’m overcome by my own unworthiness to be in the same room with the thing. I carefully put it back in the bag and slink back to my desk.

But all day it’s in the back of my mind. And that night it’s the big topic of conversation at dinner. My husband wants to know all about it: whether it’s still at the office, and if he can drop by and see it. “No!” I say in a loud voice startling us both. I’m still protecting and defending the thing. Again I hear Rose’s voice, “Ridiculous.”

I am ridiculous, or at least obsessed because the next day there I am in the studio again, talking to Justin about putting the thing on. I don’t dare I say because of my hair. I’ve got this wild, wooly dark hair and I shed like a husky. If only I had my swim cap, I say. He says he’s still got one from the last month’s swimsuit fashion shoot.

In a nanosecond I’m stretching out an ugly rubber cap that grandma never would have worn. Ugh. These caps can pull your hair in a million painful directions. I don’t care. All I can think about is squeezing into that helmet even if I have to don a head condom first.

I’ve got it on. And I’m amazed. I don’t secure the strap at the back and still it’s snug. If it fits me it must really be tight on him. At first it feels like a cage. Then you settle into it and look ahead. Through the gold bars. Your vision is hardly obstructed. You see everything and your peripheral vision is pretty good too.

I imagine what it feels like to skate out in this thing. It’s a feeling of power, protected all the way around and still it’s merely an eggshell, your skull is delicately gimbaled, like an astronaut ready for a rocket launch to the moon. Justin wants to take pictures. Bring it!

He asks me to look mean and it’s easy to do. Soon he’s asking me not to show my teeth. This helmet makes you feel like The Hulk. I love it. But in about five minutes my moment of glory is over. I see the pictures and I do look fierce. I don’t even look like me from the neck up. I look like my brother Greg who, in his high school football days, was built like Arnie Schwarzenegger.

I am not built like the governator. When I see full body shots later I’m disgusted. Cleavage and a goalie mask? My husband says he found that strangely arousing, as only a Canadian could. I hate the head-to-toe shots of me and I’m not surprised because I typically hate all pictures of myself.

But I am surprised with the whole exhilarating experience of wearing the helmet. I think of my friend Dave, a gun nut who takes all his dates to the firing range. Put a pistol in their hands and girls love it, he says. Now I understand. It’s totally empowering and not in a phoney “Helen Reddy hear me roar” kinda way.

Five minutes in that helmet and you have a grasp on the most dangerous job in hockey. A goalie is clad in armor and still remains completely vulnerable. It’s an enormous responsibility and I’m really glad it’s not mine. Ridiculous that I was drawn to that helmet like a moth to a flame? Maybe. Weird and crazy that I have a world of respect for any guy who wears it? No way.

—AV

Read Rose's Deconstruction piece on Jonas Hiller's 2008-09 helmet on Pg. 26 of Orange Coast's October issue.

Gretzky, that is.

One recent Saturday morning, my family and I woke up extra early to catch a 9 a.m. whale watching tour off the coast of Newport (I’m told the sea creatures are most active in the mornings and evenings, and I wanted to make sure I saw one!). Very quickly after getting out to the—foggy, slightly rainy, and very chilly—open ocean, our guide spotted a pair of blue whales about half a mile directly in front of our boat. The captain headed for the beautiful 300-or-so-foot-long animals, following their billowing spray. Everyone on board was leaning over the side of the vessel, snapping photos and filming the incredible site (blue whales are the largest animal ever to live, and remain on the endangered species list), when one of our guides calmly said, “Oh hey, that’s Wayne Gretzky’s yacht.”

My head snapped around. There, off our port side, was an impressive (to me, anyway) yacht named “White Night.”

“Are you being serious?” I demanded of the guide, totally expecting him to cop to a joke.

“Definitely,” he said. “We see it around.”

Oh. My. Gretzky? I looked at my husband, whose eyes were transfixed on the “Night.”

You have to understand—he’s revered in the world of ice hockey. His wedding to Janet Jones at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton back in ’88 was broadcast across Canada. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame just seven months after retiring (normally there’s a three-year waiting period). No one is ever—ever!—allowed to wear #99, because NHL commissioner Gary Bettman retired the number during a ceremony preceding the 50th All-Star game. He’s known as The Great One. The Great One, for heaven’s sake! We’re talking hockey royalty, people! And his yacht, according to our guide, was mere feet away. So of course I shot a few photos, while my husband strained to try to recognize people milling about aboard the boat—there had to be at least 10 between those on the top deck and the others at the bow, watching the same pair of whales we were.

So I guess they were actually bumming off our tour, now that I think of it. Whatever. Though there’s a chance it wasn’t even The Great One's yacht, you can bet this is one of those tales I’ll tell for years to come...despite the fact that he now coaches the horrific Phoenix Coyotes, who we'll meet on Halloween night at Jobing.com Arena, btw.

—Rose

Getzy, Bobby, Scotty, Jiggy. What’s with all the silly nicknames? Let’s face it, they sound like baby names—exactly what mum cooed to stop him from banging his chubby arms on the highchair tray long enough to spoon porridge into his cute lil kisser.

But it’s time to grow up. Are these proper monikers for some of the biggest, roughest professional athletes ever? It’s probably just a habit from schoolyard days. Boys tend to give each other these names because it’s a lot easier than stumbling over multi-syllabic first names and surnames when you’re shouting for someone to shoot you the puck. And that makes sense because hockey is an international sport where something as simple as François goes to “Frankie” (Sayonara Beauchemin!) faster than you can say, “Five minutes for fighting!”

Those shortcut tags are convenient when fans are cheering, and that’s fine. Although it was weird yelling, “Go Koonie!,” whenever Chris Kunitz (Sayonara, again.) had possession. But seriously, all our best players deserve bitchin’ nicknames like “The Finnish Flash,” aka Teemu Selanne. Besides being a phenomenal player, I think it was, again, partly a result of the language barrier: It’s impossible to add that sweet little “ie” sound to his first name without creating a whole new dialect.

“The Flash” is a perfect description of one of the most graceful athletes since “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio. Almost a danseur on the ice, there is no wasted motion in anything Selanne does. At times it seems he’s hardly moving—opponents don’t notice him until he’s flying past. Was it not an extreme pleasure to watch him break away from Grandpa Chelios in the playoffs? Chelios became so enraged he could do no more than annoy Selanne, whacking him with his stick as The Flash slipped away at lighting speed to bury one deep in Detroit’s net.

These kinds of nicknames, dreamed up by sports writers and editors, aren’t handed out like candy, they’re earned. From hard-nosed reporters with a pack mentality, they’re as tough to come by as Stanley Cup Rings. Recall last year’s fun story in the O.C. Register by Al Balderas. It listed a truckload of cool goalie nicknames: The Wizard of Oz (Chris Osgood), CuJo (Curtis Joseph), The Dominator (Dominik Hasek), then it called for a nickname for Hiller (that's him in the photo) without suggesting one. Cop out!

C’mon! After the way he played last season he deserves a fancy title. Killer Hiller. Or how about Holy Hiller for his miraculous saves and the way he smothers the puck, kneeling over it and bowing his head like a penitent facing Mecca? While we’re at it let’s update Jiggy’s name, too. Jiggernaut? PQ? (Not “Parti Québécois” but “Puckstopping Quebecker.” You kinda hafta be Canadian to get this one.) 

Think of all those formidable nicknames in the hall of fame: The Rocket (Maurice Richard), Mr. Hockey (Gordie Howe), The Magnificent One (Mario Lemieux), and of course The Great One (Wayne Gretzky). Creating a larger-than-life image for standout players not only intimidates opponents, it immortalizes our heroes. And that’s how it should be. Remember, the Greek definition of hero is half god, half man. So for those amazing creatures who can shoot pucks, defend the net, throw off the gloves and fight or take a punch when necessary—all while skating backward or forward at 90 miles an hour—they’ve earned it.

—Rose

photo by Harry How / Getty Images

Brady writes that while the jersey is expected to remain unchanged this season, there may be plans to switch things up a bit in 2010-11. And in the interest of engaging fans, he’s issued a challenge to come up with your own design for Anaheim, using the nifty custom jersey builder at The Sporting Store’s site and the Ducks logo provided in his post. Participate at your own risk; he’ll be showcasing the best and worst—with commentary, I imagine—of the bunch sometime this week.

Here’s my oh-so-stylish creation, though I must point out some frustrating aspects of the builder that I couldn’t work around: 1) you can’t have text on two lines; 2) kiss font options good-bye; 3) no dice on increasing text size; and 4) my custom neck choice didn’t take! So there you go. Comment away. I can take it.

—Rose

           

“There’s great fans here, but I go a lot of places and nobody knows I’m a player. That’s part of it.” —Joffrey Lupul , on how happy he is to be back

“Teemu and his family love the sun too much and love California and Anaheim too much for me to get him to come to Montreal. He said there was no way.” —Saku Koivu , on his failed attempts at luring the eternally tanned Teemu Selanne (could he be the George Hamilton of hockey?) away to the Montreal Canadiens

“He’s also going to like coming here, where the media attention isn’t as great. In Montreal, there are 50 media waiting for you after practice, and sometimes they try to find the negative things.” —Teemu Selanne , on why Saku Koivu will like O.C.

“It’s awesome out here. It’s so beautiful in the mornings. I’ve got a really nice house in a nice area and [my family is] getting to know the area out here. Waking up with the sun shining is just beautiful.” —ex-Duck Doug Weight, in February 2008

“I’m very excited to be staying with the Ducks. Orange County has been a great place for my family over the last six years, and we are grateful to the entire organization for the opportunity to stay here.” —J.S. Giguere, when he re-signed back in June 2007

—Rose

Hockey is about the team. Camaraderie. Solidarity.* Enforcers do their part when they protect their teammates from being stapled to the boards or sent sliding down the ice into other players, but they also do their job when they break out in fisticuffs. Bobby’s expression, as he leans out over the ice, probably shouting, “Kick his ass!” (or maybe worse), represents the passion that fuels every player on his road to the Cup, and that every fan feels as we cheer him on.

What the NHL needs to keep in mind, is that hockey’s also a gentleman’s sport. What other pro league becomes insulted when players fail to stick around after post-season games to shake hands and honor the effort from both sides? And for the most part, these guys don’t pick fights without good reason. Just read “Code of Honor” on Page 131 of NHL official Lloyd Freeberg’s “In the Bin .”

So anyway, point is, we CAN’T WAIT for the season to start! Parros, Mike Brown , we’ll be waiting for those gloves to drop to pump the guys up starting Oct. 3 . Hope you’re hitting the gym.

—Rose

*That’s precisely why hockey fans continue to mock Marian Hossa , and even news stories made a mention of his long-ago Penguins-to-Red Wings decision .