INSIDE HOCKEY

I met the moustache. I requested that Parros be brought out after his post-game workout for a brief interview with me. He was and it was amazing. This happened after the game. It’s probably more logical for me to start from the beginning of the game, but I wanted to highlight the most exciting event up front. I’ll start fresh for you.

When I got to my seat in the press box for the Anaheim Ducks versus San Jose Sharks game at the Honda Center, I realized that my seat was in the part of the box that didn’t have an outlet to plug in my trusty laptop. Nursing a freshly tattooed arm, I found a new seat with an outlet to witness the Nor-Cal, So-Cal showdown.

When I opened up the packet of news articles in front of me, my heart sunk when I saw that the Ducks had traded Andy McDonald in order to make room for Scott Niedermayer’s return. Because the team had over $50 million committed for the next season before moving McDonald, they had to trim about $900,000 to fit in Niedermayer’s $6.75 million salary. For McDonald, the Ducks got St. Louis center Doug Weight.

Although I got teary eyed when I didn’t see McDonald on the roster, I agree that Weight, Neidermayer, and the re-signing of Cory Perry is a very good thing for the Ducks. Not only is he a strong player, Weight is American born and has 697 career assists. It’s undeniable that McDonald has not played as strong this season as he did in the Ducks’ cup-winning season last year. This step could be great for both McDonald and Weight. McDonald will be reunited with Paul Kariya, and Weight can make some magic in southern California.

Weight proved his worth quickly with a pass to Bobby Ryan 13:41 in the first period; Ryan’s goal went smoothly in past San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Ryan had just been recalled from the Portland Pirates, the Ducks minor league team in Maine, when he scored this goal, his second-ever in the NHL. Todd Bertuzzi assisted the goal as well.

“I think you’ll see them together for a while,” coach Randy Carlyle said.

During this game they proved to be a strong line, but it could be just some new fresh chemistry. Carlyle also said, “We have lots of options. We have to create two lines of offense.” Let’s see if this one can be the one to beat.

It was exciting watching Niedermayer get back into the action. Overall, it was a lively game. The sold out Honda Center crowd got to witness a penalty shot by Milan Michalek against Giguere, who stopped it. The first period ended in a hopeful 1-0 lead by Anaheim.

The Ducks started off really strong in the second period. But then things seemed to go a little haywire for them.

“Our penalties took energy away from us in the second period,” Carlyle said.

This wasn’t the case for the San Jose’s goal. Michalek’s high sticking penalty led to a shorthanded as well as unassisted goal by Torrey Mitchell that seemed to go in easily behind Giguere at 5:13 of the second period.

Halfway into the third period, we got to see a little Ducks action on this side of the ice. Even though they had opportunities to put one in and take the lead in the third period, they didn’t and regulation ended in a tie.

Bertuzzi and Perry put goals in for the Ducks, but Pavelski, Marleau, and Thornton knocked three in, giving them the extra point for the win.

“I think tonight was the kind of hockey game we’ll see more of,” Carlyle said. It was a great game, for sure. All the change-ups and the spice between the teams made for good entertainment.

To close this out, I need to refer back to the moustache. Recently, Parros cut his hair for charity, but, luckily, kept the hair on his face. I told him how I wanted his moustache to be my hockey buddy. He seemed amused that I gave his facial hair its own persona. “That’s great,” Parros said. “I fully support it.” He then said if it could, it would be hanging out playing some Sega with me.

If it only knew I have a disc of Sega Genesis games sitting in front of my TV, it might just take on a life of its own. I could only hope.