It Don't Come Easy - Ducks Fail to Repeat

by Bob Wage on Apr 21, 2008 11:48 PM EDT

Think it's doable to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions? Think again. The Dallas Stars knocked out the defending champion Anaheim Ducks in their 1st round match up over the weekend. But the Ducks are far from being alone in their failure to defend their championship.

Let's take a look at how other recent Stanley Cup Champs fared while attempting to defend their titles.

2002 Champs Detroit Red Wings - Lost in 1st round in 2003

2003 Champs New Jersey Devils - Lost in 1st round in 2004

2004 Champs Tampa Bay Lightning - Lost in 1st round in 2006

2006 Champs Carolina Hurricanes - Failed to make playoffs 2007

2007 Champs Anaheim Ducks - Lost in 1st round in 2008

Does reading that make you feel any better Caniacs? Oh well, I tried.

Speaking of playoffs, the Washington Capitals defeated the Flyers in Philadelphia last night to force a game 7 in Washington Tuesday night. Alexander Ovechkin came alive in the 3rd period to score 2 goals. The Caps were losing 2-0, and came back to score 4 straight to win the game 4-2.

The Flyers started out really well, but fell apart in the 3rd period. I'm not exactly sure what happened to them, but I feel that the loss of Mike Knuble hurt them badly. The Philly fans were brutal as many of them booed their team as they left the ice.

Braydon Coburn looks like a star in the making. What did the Thrashers receive for him again? Oh yes, a slow, washed up, over-paid, and often scratched, Alexei Zhitnik. Ouch.... That trade will haunt Don Waddell for years to come. It's a perfect example why that franchise will never amount to anything under current management.

Alexander will end up being the MVP of that series. Nope, not Ovechkin, Alexander Semin. I always thought that he was pretty much a one-dimensional player, but during the past month or so I've recognized that the dude has some game.

Ringo Starr

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Comments

1) Good news for Canes as well as fans of every non-Atlanta SE division team: Don Waddell’s job looks to be safe! You are dead on in your Coburn assessment.
2) Brayden’s ‘problem’ was being drafted ahead of Dion Phaneuf and the unfortunate comparisons that followed. He looks like he’ll be a franchise type defensemen. A player that teams build around.
3) Meanwhile Zhitnik sits in the press box ‘earning’ 3+ mil for yet another season to come. Any wonder why Atlanta sucked last year and we predict they will be even worse next season!

by fauxrumors on Apr 22, 2008 8:35 AM EDT reply actions

this was for yesterdays post, but makin sure people today read my opinion!

Brodeurs a baby…..waa smaller nets…waa bigger pads….boo averys mean….waa no goalie protection…..boo I’ll play 80 games even after we clinch just so my stats look good, who cares that Im worn out by playoff time…..boo I screw my wifes sister….boo freakin hoo….and still didnt be the bigger man and shake his hand.

Averys not that bad. I mean he is an agitator but everyone in the league has an edge let us not forget scotty walkers head butt. Avery broke no rule being in front of brodeur and dancing….I saw nothing wrong with that. Maybe he runs his mouth but hey, stick and stones….. Did you see the moment when 4 devils tried to hit him at once?? well avery took the hit kicked the puck out and his whole team was wide open…they scored and avery got his 5th point in 5 games. Look what he did the the trashers last year. Jeez he had them so messed up that they got swept and Ilya Koval*uck even tried to fight him!! Watch Averys postgame after the clinching game this year, he refers to Brodeur as "Fatso"….I think its great!
Compared to the bad guys in other leagues I think hes not so bad. Its not like hes "makin it rain at the gentlemans clubs!"

by Tyler on Apr 22, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

Let me be the 2nd intelligent post on this one:

I leapt for joy when the Ducks failed to advance. Why? Has nothing to do with Pronger, or Selanne, or NeiderMan, or Burke…………….it has everything to do with Bertuzzi not going any farther on his quest for the holy grail. One day the hockey Gods may forgive him. But, not Sunday night.

by Ivy on Apr 22, 2008 1:38 PM EDT reply actions