SB Nation - Brett Festerling

Game 32 Preview: Ducks in Columbus

Mike MacLean — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:59:05 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Sure, it sucked losing to the Preds, again. Tonight however the Ducks come to town. They are not playing to their level whatsoever, and the Jackets need to take advantage of that. That being said, so far this season the Jackets have failed for the most part in capitalizing on other team's woes. The Ducks always play the Jackets tough, so it will no doubt be a rough, physical affair.

The Jackets see the return of Freddy tonight, this will be his first game of the season. I am excited to see what he and Sammy can do together. Their chemistry on the international scene will hopefully translate to the Jackets. Murr-dog will sit tonight. There aren't any other major lineup changes from the last few games. Mase will get the start against Hiller.

Here's hoping that Nasher can keep putting the puck in the net, it was so good to see him score last game and he needs to continue to do that. If his line can produce, it will allow the other lines to get things going without having to face top checkers. I wouldn't put it past Boller to have a go with either Brown or Parros tonight, regardless of the coach's putting the leash on him.

Should be a good one!

Fearless Prediction: The Ducks aren't playing very well, the Jackets get a much-needed win. Will be a very physical game. Modin and Pahlsson show instant chemistry.

Game Time: 7:00pm ET

Opponent's Blog: Anaheim Calling

Game Page: Ducks vs Blue Jackets Coverage

TSN Preview: Ducks vs Blue Jackets Preview

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Hitchcock, tongue in cheek, on Anaheim C Ryan Getzlaf: "I think we've done really well against Getzlaf. We've only allowed him five points in two games. We have to keep up that pace. If we keep it up, we'll only allow him 20 points."

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Kristian Huselius	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
Jason Chimera	R.J. Umberger	Jakub Voracek
Fredrik Modin	Samuel Pahlsson	Jared Boll
Raffi Torres	Derick Brassard	Derek Dorsett

Fedor Tyutin	Anton Stralman
Mike Commodore	Jan Hejda
Kris Russell	Marc Methot

Mathieu Garon

Steve Mason

EXTRA: Michael Blunden, Mathieu Roy, Andrew Murray

INJURED: Rostislav Klesla

Anaheim Ducks

Kyle Calder	Ryan Getzlaf	Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan	Saku Koivu	Dan Sexton
Matt Beleskey	Todd Marchant	Petteri Nokelainen
Mike Brown	Kyle Chipchura	George Parros

Scott Niedermayer	Brett Festerling
Ryan Whitney	Nick Boynton
James Wisniewski	Sheldon Brookbank

Jonas Hiller

J.S. Giguere

Festerling A Duck, Mikkelson A Marlie, Christensen A Ranger

Arthur from Anaheim Calling — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:45:03 -0000

More photos » by Jason Redmond - AP

Hey Shane-y, he likes it!. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Browse more photos »

THE TELETYPE:

Anaheim is continuing to shake up their roster going into their mini road trip. The team has sent Brendan Mikkelson down to the Marlies and recalled Brett Festerling in his place. In other news, the Rangers claimed center Erik Christensen, freeing up a spot on the Ducks roster.

Ducks Reassign Their San Antonio Prospects

Arthur from Anaheim Calling — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:44:45 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Please don't send me back to San Antonio. Please! (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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THE TELETYPE:

J.P. Hoornstra is reporting that Anaheim prospects Matt Beleskey, Troy Bodie and Brett Festerling have been reassigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, while their San Antonio teammate Ryan Donally has been reassigned to Bakersfield.

Without an AHL affiliate this season, the Ducks have moved their brace of prospects across the minor leagues and previously placed Brennan Evans and Brendan Mikkelson in Toronto, though the latter has since been called up to the NHL roster. Donally is the third Duck to move from San Antonio to the team's ECHL affiliate, after Dan Sexton and more recently Mark Mitera.

Stargazing: Brenden Morrow goes to Camp Canada

Brad G — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:00:18 -0000

Stargazing is a daily assortment of Dallas Stars news, as well as a look at what's happening around the Pacific division and the rest of the NHL. Stargazing will run on Mondays and Thursdays, becoming a daily feature once the preseason begins.

While Mike Modano might be considered by some to be too old to make the United States Olympic hockey team (not our view here at Defending Big D), Brenden Morrow is considered anything but for Canada. As you will discover in today's Stargazing, Morrow is very well thought of north of the border. Still, it raises the question: Do you like to see Dallas Stars playing in the Olympics? Particularly one as crucial to the team as your Captain? I have to admit, it makes me very uneasy, but how could you deny anyone a chance to represent their country? (You can't really, the CBA says they can go play). Dallas Maverick fans have watched nervously for years as Dirk Nowitzki goes off to Germany to add extra mileage to his knees and ankles every summer, but that was finally stopped this year, with Dirk no worse for wear. Will watching Morrow, and possibly Modano in the Olympics next year make you more nervous, or proud?

Stars News and Notes:

The London Free Press seems to think that Brenden Morrow is a no-brainer for team Canada next February:

Needing some grit to go with skill up front, Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow is good as gold as long as he’s healthy, leaving others such as Ryan Smyth and Shane Doan to battle it out early in the upcoming NHL season with young hopefuls Milan Lucic, Patrick Sharp and Jeff Carter for one of those 23 spots on the team.

And I wish I was as optimistic as CBC.ca is about major knee surgery:

Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars — Hard-nosed captain a force in front of the net; should bounce back fine from November knee surgery.

Still, it's nice to see the Canadian media has nothing but praise for our fearless leader...

The Ottawa Citizen on Morrow at camp Canada:

LW BRENDEN MORROW

Dallas, 30: Only five-foot-11, but grit is never questioned. Suffered a knee injury early last season -- after his heroic turn in the 2008 post-season -- and suited up only 18 times. Natural leader. Five 20-goals seasons for Stars captain. A career plus-115. As 22-year-old, he was invited to the 2002 Olympic orientation camp.

And still even higher praise coming from the Winnipeg Sun:

Size isn't everything, and smaller guys with heart have a place. But there probably isn't room for both Martin St. Louis and the younger, angrier Corey Perry.

Thanks for everything, Ryan Smyth, but your time as Captain Canada should be over with Shane Doan showing he can still score and Brenden Morrow becoming one of the best two-way players in the game over the past few NHL seasons.

That guy must own even more Brenden Morrow jerseys than I do.

Stars goaltending prospect Tyler Beskorowany gets some love from a local paper in Kingston, wherever that is:

Another goaltending coach who keeps an eye on Beskorowany is Andy Moog, the former Edmonton Oilers puck-stopper who is now the goaltending coach for Dallas.

"He keeps close tabs on me. He came to Owen Sound three times during (last) season. I'm expecting he's going to come and see me in Kingston, too," Beskorowany said.

The six-foot-five netminder hadn't talked to Moog since his trade to Kingston last week. Beskorowany did speak to Tim Bernhardt, director of amateur scoring for Dallas and a good friend of Frontenacs assistant coach and former Sudbury Wolves assistant coach Darren Keily, when he was shipped to the Frontenacs for forward Bobby Mignardi.

Dallasstars.com talked to Fabian Brunnstrom, who is back in Dallas after spending the summer back home in Sweden:

Tell us about your workouts in Sweden.

Brunnstrom: I have been working out almost every day in Sweden. I have a personal trainer there. He had a tough schedule for me, but at the same time I tried to relax and rest my body before this season. We worked on a balance between getting stronger, increasing my endurance and becoming more flexible in the offseason with my trainer. I skated a few times while I was in Sweden but not much.

He'll need that endurance if Marc Crawford should decide to give him some top six minutes like we discussed here the other day.

Andrew's has a cool depth chart for the entire Stars organization of every player under contract down to draft picks. Check it out.

And Mike Heika talks about Andrew Hutchinson:

So where does that leave Hutchinson?

Who knows, really. In addition to battling Stafford and Vishnevskiy, he now has to fight for ice time with Jeff Woywitka, a similar player who was signed as a free agent in the summer. The Stars have eight defensemen on guaranteed contracts, and it seems one might get washed out through waivers, a move to the minors or in a trade. Will that be Hutchinson? It might.

Around the NHL:

Dany Heatley talks too much.
Apparently Michael Wilbon has seen an NHL game, and even used to write about hockey. I learn something new every day.
The Nashville Predators picked Marcel Goc up off a scrap heap somewhere.
I'm not real familiar with Brett Festerling, but I know I don't like him much now that the Ducks signed him for two additional seasons.
Battle of California pities Patrick Marleau...maybe.

Ducks do the ECHL shuffle

James Mirtle — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:17:32 -0000

I've written about nonsense like this before, but it's something that's worth hammering home again and again. The NHL needs to close this salary cap loophole, if only for the sake of the bubble players stuck on these insane assignments.

At minimum, players should have to play at least a game with the affiliate or NHL team before being yo-yoed back and forth (barring a last-minute injury, of course):

Three days after they were recalled from AHL-affiliate Iowa, Ryan and Festerling were sent down to ECHL affiliate Bakersfield for a day as part of a complicated move designed to free up salary cap space.

Under NHL rules, both had to physically report to Bakersfield on Monday.

For how long?

The Ducks weren’t certain. Both players brought their skates and gear just in case they had to take practice with the Condors, who were idle.

“We never got into the rink,” Ryan said.

— Curtis Zupke, Ducks blog

Bakersfield is about a three-hour drive, and Bobby Ryan and Brett Festerling spent the night in a hotel there before waking at 5 a.m. to be shuffled back to Anaheim for a morning practice. You can bet they weren't quite as minty fresh as the rest of their teammates (although both played well in a 6-4 loss to the Capitals last night).

The Ducks are in an insane spot against the cap, one made even worse by the fact Francois Beauchemin is likely to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Ryan's entry-level salary (with bonuses) is about $300,000 more than Beauchemin's and there's also the need to recall another defenceman in Festerling, who makes about the league minimum.

It's a good thing that David McNab's known as a top-notch capologist, because they're going to need his fine touch from this point on.

That — and a whole lot of trips to Bakersfield.

Ducks lose Beauchemin for season

James Mirtle — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:12:19 -0000

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the third period of last night’s game vs. Nashville. Beauchemin underwent an MRI exam this afternoon which revealed the injury. He is expected to miss approximately six months.

"This is an unfortunate injury for Francois and we feel badly for him," said Anaheim Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. "However, knowing his character as a player and person, we know he will rebound from this and return to the ice at full strength. Our team has faced adversity before and we expect everyone to step up in his absence."

>> team release

What a huge loss for the Ducks, who were relying on Beauchemin to play 25:35 a night. He was tied with Chris Pronger for second on the team in ice time.

The good news is that this does free up some salary cap room for Anaheim, who recalled both Bobby Ryan and Brett Festerling today. Expect Kent Huskins and Bret Hedican to log far more ice time than they have to this point in this season.

This is going to be a real challenge for a Ducks team that has now lost three games in a row after going 8-0-1 just prior to this latest skid. I think it's going to be a real dogfight for them to get into the playoffs this season.

Maybe Brian Burke's leaving just in time.