In a crucial Game 4 between the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars, the top two Ducks players failed to show up to play. One of them quite literally.
While Corey Perry was simply ineffectual on the ice, Ryan Getzlaf didn’t even step on the ice. Apparently he took the advice of good friend Trevor Daley – “If his jaw hurts and he can’t play then maybe he should sit out.” – to heart, and boarded a flight to Anaheim early. Over at Puck Daddy, Harrison Mooney speculated on the ‘upper-body injury’ that kept Ryan Getzlaf from playing in Dallas last night:
“[One] possibility is that he reaggravated the jaw injury running his mouth about basic gamesmanship.”
The Ducks have got to learn to protect their assets better than that.
Of course, the Stars continue to have their own injury problems. Patrik Nemeth went down with a ___-body injury last night, and Brenden Dillon still hasn’t been wholly cleared to return from his lower-body injury. You can all see the need now though to hide the nature of these injuries right? For example, if Ryan Getzlaf’s injury had been a secret on Monday, and if he wouldn’t have punched Antoine Roussel, he might not have been ‘targeted.’
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Recaps are so much more fun after a win. [Sports Day DFW] [Stars Inside Edge] [NHL.com]
Notes… [Stars Inside Edge]
And quotes… [Sports Day DFW]
Alex Goligoski takes Puck Daddy’s Second Star for last night. Ahh but that goal was beautiful… [Puck Daddy]
The Texas Stars had their own comeback last night, winning game one of their first-round series in overtime. [Austin American-Statesman]
The Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets, in this year’s Stanley Cup Final. I can see it now… And hey, both tied their series at 2 last night, so it could still happen. [NHL.com]
You know how Penguins‘ goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has a bit of a reputation as a playoff liability? Well, he did nothing to alleviate that concern last night against the Blue Jackets. [Puck Daddy]
Tying a playoff series at 2 games apiece was apparently a theme last night. The Chicago Blackhawks held serve and will return to St. Louis even. [NHL.com]
Nothing Stephane Robidas can do but look ahead… [Sports Day DFW]
Surprise surprise! Matt Cooke was suspended 7 games for his hit on Tyson Barrie in Game Three of the Wild–Avalanche series. [NHL.com]
On that topic, Avs fans have taken exception to the fact that Barrie, one of their top defensemen, will be out 4-6 weeks, while Cooke, who is not one of the top Wild players, is out for 7 games. It’s a pretty valid point… [Mile High Sports]
And lastly, yes, this kid is a Penguins fan, but still. Tell me this isn’t exactly how you felt last night: