Niedermayer to play another year with Ducks

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The Anaheim Ducks gave all-star defenseman Scott Niedermayer and forward Teemu Selanne a late June deadline to decide if they’re going to return to the team for another season. There is yet to be word from Teemu, but Niedermayer answered the call today, announcing that yes, he would be back to finish his contract next season.

“I guess after a shorter year and shorter playoff run I definitely feel physically and mentally ready to go,” Niedermayer said. “I’m happy to have a decision made and to be moving forward.”
- Yahoo! Sports

Niedermayer has been an impact player for the Ducks since joining the team 3 years ago, and hopes to help the team again this coming season.

Source: NHL - Yahoo! Sports | NHL.com

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The Defending Champs Curse Strikes The Anaheim Ducks

Not since 2003 has a Stanley Cup champion made it through the first round of the playoffs the following year.  That trend has continued today after a highly underestimated Dallas Stars routed the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 in Dallas, TX.

The victory in todays game 6 not only eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champions from the playoffs, but broke the “first round” curse that has plagued the Dallas Stars for 5 long painful years.

Marty Turco, who has taken the brunt of the criticism over the previous years showed that he is one of the elite netminders in the NHL, finishing the round with a GAA of 2.01, including a shutout in game 1.

Anaheim, who were one of the strongest teams going down the final stretch into the playoffs faltered under the constant Dallas Attack, and struggled to get past the Dallas Defensive group; a group that included 3 rookies and was missing Sergei Zubov and (for most games) Philippe Boucher.

“It’s disappointing because we believe we could do better,” said Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer, the Conn Smythe winner as MVP of last year’s postseason who retired then decided to return to chase another Cup. “Our sights were set higher than this.”
- Yahoo! Sports

Dallas now have a few days to relax before the Western Conference Semi-Finals begin.  The Stars will face either the Colorado Avalanche or the San Jose Sharks in round 2, but wont know who until after game 7 between the Flames and Sharks on Tuesday evening.

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Playoff Match Results - 20-Apr-08

Please click below to view the results of the following games played today:

Detroit Red Wings Vs Nashville Predators
Calgary Flames Vs San Jose Sharks
Dallas Stars Vs Anaheim Ducks

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Tags: Alex Tanguay, Anders Eriksson, Apr, Brad Richards, Brian Rafalski, Calgary, click, Corey, Darren Helm, Daymond, Detroit, flames, Henrik Zetterberg, Hudler, Jean, Jere, Jiri, Joel Lundqvist, kristian huselius, Langkow, Lehtinen, Loui, marty turco, Match, mike modano, nashville, Nicklas Grossman, Nicklas Lidstrom, owen nolan, period, Perry, playoff, power, predators, Robidas, robyn regehr, San Jose, Scott Niedermayer, Series, Stars, Stephane, Stu Barnes, today, Wings

Playoff Match Results - 12-Apr-08

Click below to view the results of the following games played today:

Montreal Canadiens Vs Boston Bruins (G2)
Pittsburgh Penguins Vs Ottawa Senators (G2)
Dallas Stars Vs Anaheim Ducks (G2)

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Tags: Alexander Radulov, Alexei, Anaheim, Andrei Markov, Apr, Boston, Brad Richards, Brian Rafalski, Bruins, Bryan Smolinski, canadiens, click, Dallas, Darren McCarty, David Krejci, Detroit, Drake, Draper, Eriksson, Hamrlik, Hudler, Jiri, Joel Lundqvist, Jordin, Kovalev, Kris, Loui, marc savard, Marco Sturm, Mark Hartigan, Martin Erat, Match, Mikael Samuelsson, mike modano, Mike Ribeiro, Montreal, nashville, Nicklas Lidstrom, Nokelainen, Ottawa, Patrice Brisebois, Penguins, Petteri, play, playoff, power, predators, Red, Robidas, Roman, ryan getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer, Selanne, Sergei Kostitsyn, Series, Shea, Stephane, STEVE BEGIN, Teemu, today, Todd Bertuzzi, Tomas Holmstrom, Tomas Plekanec, Tootoo, Travis Moen, Weber, Wings

McKeon on Richards and the Stars

Todays article by Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports is all about the Brad Richards trade to the Dallas Stars, and talks about how Richards shines during the post season.  Richards fit into the Dallas system didn’t come easy however.  After a career best 5pt game in his first appearance for the Stars, the star forward went the next 11 games with only a handful of points.

“It was a lot tougher than I ever imagined,” Richards said in preparation for Saturday’s Game 2 of a best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series the Stars lead over the Anaheim Ducks. “The last couple of weeks I wasn’t doing anything wrong but I wasn’t doing anything right either. I had clogged my head with too many things. It’s tough when you get traded and your new team loses. It’s a new experience for me.”
- Yahoo! Sports

And then there was 2 days ago in Anaheim, in the Dallas Stars post season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks.  A game that saw the Stars, with Richards assistance win by a convincing 4-0 shutout.

…Tippett said it was Richards’ best game as a member of the team, and that includes the Feb. 28 score-a-thon against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It’s like when a traded player finishes up and comes back the next season. Everything comes easier, and that’s what we’re looking for right now,” Tippett said. “And (Game 1) was a byproduct of that transition from one phase to another.”
- Yahoo! Sports

Anaheim Ducks players and coaches alike had nothing but praise for Richards after his impact on Game 1 of the series.

“You’re talking about an MVP of the playoffs, we’re not talking about a player who doesn’t know how to get around the rink,” Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said.

“He’s one of those guys who can cause everyone a lot of headaches when they’re on the ice because it’s up to everybody to play smart and be in position to protect breakout passes and stuff like that,” Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer added.
- Yahoo! Sports

Game 2 between the 2 clubs starts this evening, and the Stars can be sure to see a much more physical and determined Ducks team than they did in game 1.

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