Kings 4 Ducks 3
Jonas Hiller was in for the loss against the Los Angeles Kings, he allowed four goals but a few of those goals weren't necessarily entirely his fault. Eminger should take responsibility for one since he screened Hiller on a long shot. The team in front of him also seemed lazy, and as he struggled throughout the first part of the game, the second half he improved but Hiller allowed a late goal from a shot from Jack Johnson and was deflected and tipped in by Brad Richardson. On JJ's shot Hiller really had no chance on it there was a lot of traffic between Kings players and his own team, Ricardson changed the direction of the puck and got it past Hiller who was on his knees; the goal was Richardson's first NHL career goal. At least one goal Hiller most likely should not of let in. Hiller had big stops on the likes of Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. Kopitar, who hasn't scored within the last 9 games before the Kings entered the gaame with Anaheim. Hiller kept him at bay and extended his slump to a 10 game goalless streak.
The Kings goals came from rookie Scott Parse with a pass from Wayne Simmonds, who both extended their point streak. a power play goal by Justin Willams, Randy Jones had two.
The Ducks goals came from Corey Perry who is on a current 19 game point streak and a rare play and goal by Ryan Whitney. To tie up the game, Todd Marchant had a trash goal but the Ducks would take it.
As for the goalie opposing him? 23 year old U.S. born Jonathan Quick who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 NHL entry draft, he was taken 72nd overall. He had a workload on him and he has for the last couple games he's started. While his teammate and fellow goaltender 27 year old Swedish born Erik Ersberg. Who has struggled this season. Quick, a young goaltender who if he can keep his play up will become an elite goaltender in the future. A goalie I've been watching since the 2007-2008 season when he had a chance to play with the Kings. Quick remains to fly under the radar within the NHL but has inched up on my list as a favorite goalie. Only he's a "floater" because he wears a Kings jersey.
Another reason for the loss against the Kings Hiller wise, he was cold. He was in for the one goal loss against the San Jose Sharks and Giguere got the start against his former team the Calgary Flames. Giguere was drafted by the Hartford Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes) The Whalers drafted him in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft 13th overall. Hiller has let in more than 3 goals in his last couple games he's started. Hiller has been struggling this season with Giguere finding his way back to his old form.
In addition, the Ducks lack defense and they lack in the D-Corps mainly because there's so many young defenseman, who haven't played in the league for a long time. This is also a result especially at the beginning of the season, the Ducks trying to find a way to play without Chris Pronger as well as with Francois Beauchmin. Offensively, the Ducks have improved but still struggle on the second line.
Hiller plays deep in his crease, he also plays on his knees a lot it's just his style of play, but he has a lot of top shelf goals scored against him when he's on his knees. Hiller plays a deeper butterfly style than Giguere. He has troubles on his rebounds and his stick side where he has allowed most of his goals against. Compared to Giguere, who plays aggressively and challenges the shooter and has left his crease; in result for Giguere going far out of his crease he has let in goals. Giguere is one goalie who has literally jabbed skaters with his glove to keep him out of his crease. A couple of goalies to name with the same tendency come from heavy rivals: Dalla Stars' Marty Turco and San Jose Sharks' Evgeni Nabokov.
Hiller is un-drafted he was signed as a free agent in 2007. During the lockout, Joe Thornton went to play hockey in Switzerland and suggested his teammate Jonas Hiller who before then went virtually unknown to NHL fans. A huge reason why he decided to sign with Anaheim, which ended up being a rival to Joe Thornton's team when the Bruins traded him to San Jose. Thornton was playing for Boston at the time of the lockout and the suggestion of Hiller. The Ducks took a punch in the stomach when Francios Allaire's contract ended after 13 years with the Ducks and he headed over to Toronto with former Ducks General Manager Brian Burke.
Hiller's play last year warranted him to have an excellent career and a favorite, he was also touted being the No 1 goalie over Giguere.
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