Now that the 2013 NHL schedule is out an official, it might be worth looking over some of the Anaheim Ducks games of interest during this 48 game sprint to the playoffs.
Jan. 19 - Can't miss this game. The Ducks open the season north of the border against the Vancouver Canucks. Will Roberto Luongo still be there?
Jan. 25 - The Ducks finally return to the Honda Center to open the home half of their schedule. The victim, err, opponent? Why those same pesky Canucks.
Feb. 1 - Anaheim gets their first look at the revamped Minnesota Wild. Zach Parise and company venture to Honda Center to prove that he and his buddy Ryan Suter are money well spent. (New Jersey and Nashville hope not)
Feb. 2 - Ryan Getzlaf and the boys get their first crack at the defending Stanley Cup Champion L.A. Kings and it all happens live in the city that No Doubt made famous.
Feb. 4 - Anaheim plays host to another divisional and interstate rival when the San Jose Sharks make the trek to So Cal for a tilt with the Ducks.
Feb. 12-16 - The Ducks take on the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators at the tale end of a six-game road trap that also includes games against the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues. Yikes!
Mar. 2 -6 - This is three games, but I'll clump it into one. The Ducks play the Phoenix Coyotes three games in a row! Yeah! Who said shortened schedules don't rock!?
Mar. 18 - Apr. 17 - In this one month span, the Ducks play 12 of 16 games at home heading towards the final 10 days of the regular season. Of those 16 games, nine are against playoff teams from a year ago. Make or break playoff push?
Apr. 1-5 - Ducks once against play an inter-divisional three-game set against the Stars. Let me guess, next you'll want to add the DH to the Western Conference or something.
Apr. 8 - Welcome to Anaheim Mr. Schultz.
Apr. 27 - Ducks end the regular season at home against the Coyotes. Will it be the last home game of the entire season or will the playoffs follow close behind?
***
I spent some time at Ducks camp this morning and here on a few of my observations from the first practice at the Rinks in Anaheim.
- First off, kudos to all those to made it through the frigid Orange County morning to be there. It was a really good turnout.
- It was great seeing Scott Niedermayer on the ice as a full-time assistant coach. He seemed to be enjoying himself and I did notice him giving a few guys some quick tips - including Corey Perry.
- I was impressed with the Ducks new net-minder, Viktor Fasth. I thought he was sharp, played the angles well and was very light on his feet. It also helped that his mask is pretty impressive.
SEE IT HERE
- I thought it was very clear who played during the lockout and who didn't, BUT Bobby Ryan was clearly in good shape. His hands and feet looked quick and he received a few "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd with some of his fancy stick work during the drills.
- Kyle Palmieri is ready to play in the NHL full-time this season. At least from what I saw. He looked loose and could easily hand with the best forwards the Ducks had on the ice.
- I thought Peter Holland, Emerson Etem, Richard Rakell and Devante Smith-Pelley were a bit sloppy and I even sensed a bit of pressing from Holland; he looked very tight with the stick. I thought Etem seemed disinterested in some of the drills.
- Sheldon Souray can still shoot - hard. He is also the only guy that can go from clean shaven to five o'clock shadow in the course of an hour.
- Jonas Hiller looked very solid. Hopefully he has put all the vertigo nonsense behind him and he's ready to become an elite NHL goalie.
- I somehow missed Sami Vatanen. Apparently he was there. I never saw him. Is that good or bad?
- At one point Selanne went into the boards hard and appeared to hurt his wrist. He was able to shake it off and Ducks nation exhaled in unison.
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