#anaducks

MOM <3 

I ship you with HAMPUS <3

Brandon Montour - will literally have his mouth on your tits at ANY opportunity

Hampus Lindholm - language kink

Adam Henrique - hickeys (giving)

Jakob Silfverberg - mutual masturbation

Pontus Aberg - Praise Kink

Extra Shift: Lightning 5 Anaheim Ducks 1

At his morning press conference, Lightning coach Jon Cooper was asked about his team’s success against the Western Conference (the Bolts were 6-0 against the West heading into this game against Anaheim). Cooper referenced the different games the Lightning had played against the Western teams, conceding that the Bolts stole a couple from Chicago and Edmonton, but had played pretty evenly with the opposition in the others. He spoke of Tampa Bay’s 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings earlier this year and noted that it was much closer than a 5-1 game.

Well, this one wasn’t closer than a 5-1 game. The Lightning decisively outplayed the Ducks, especially in the first half of the contest. The Bolts build a 4-0 lead in the first 31 minutes. The Bolts enjoyed long shifts in the Anaheim zone, while the Ducks were mostly ‘one and done’ in the Lightning end. The puck possession differential was particularly pronounced in the first period, but in the opening minutes, despite having the puck in the offensive zone, the Lightning had trouble getting shots through to Ducks’ goalie Jonas Hiller. The Ducks entered the game having blocked the fourth-most shots in the league, so it’s something they do well. But finally, the Lightning broke through when Matt Carle, Teddy Purcell and Valtteri Filppula worked consecutive cross-ice passes. That opened up a shooting lane for Filppula (as well as an open net) and he gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

The Lightning’s power play clicked for two goals in game, a good sign heading into the upcoming road trip. The power play had been on an 0-21 skid before Marty St. Louis’ first period goal. By the time Filppula had added another PP goal in the second and Alex Killorn roofed a rebound of his own initial shot, the Lightning had a 4-0 lead.

The Ducks had their best push in the second half of the second period – and they got a goal during a four-on-four to cut the Lightning lead to 4-1. But Tampa Bay got through the rest of the frame without any further damage done.

Victor Hedman’s early third period tally took any remaining wind out of the Ducks’ sails and the Lightning managed the rest of the final period well. They had only two period shots, but that total was a function of them holding onto the puck in the offensive zone, not being pinned back in their own end. In all, it was a solid win – and an important one, as the team picked up two points in their only home game during this current eight-game stretch.

Lightning Radio Big Moment of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito). Filppula’s second goal, giving the Lightning a 3-0 lead in the second period.

Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito).

Valtteri Filppula – Lightning. Two goals and one assist. Won 16 of 24 faceoffs.

Marty St. Louis – Lightning. One goal and two assists.

I had the opportunity to photograph the second game of the SoCal Hockey Futures Game at the Kings practice center in El Segundo.  Unfortunately, it's dark, not evenly lit and has no holes cut out in the plexiglass.  The glass is filthy with stick & puck marks, spit, spray, and every other disgusting thing you'd expect to see at a public rink.  

I shot the entire game at ISO 3200 and probably underexposed by -1/2 to a full stop.  I shot mostly at 1/800th but probably should have shot at 1/640th or slower.  

Anyways, it was nice to see a great turnout.  The Ducks brought both Emerson Etem and Devante Smith-Pelly, two kids with NHL experience.  John Gibson, one of the top young American goaltenders got the start for the Ducks.

I had the opportunity to photograph the SoCal Hockey Futures Game a few weeks back at Honda Center.  Over 7,500 people showed up for the free event.  I think the 97 degree heat outside had alot to do with the huge crowd.

The Ducks Team Photographer & I were the only one shooting the game.  So she gave me free reign to shoot from anywhere.  I was able to shoot from the a photo hole usually assigned to AP Images during the regular season.  It's a great perspective to shoot from.  The action is always coming right at you.

I brought a 300mm just in case I got kicked to the top of the concourse but instead used it to shoot down on the other end of the ice.  It gives you a different perspective for sure, but it's pretty cumbersome to try and switch back and forth between a 70-200mm around your neck and a 300mm down by your feet.  If a power play is occurring down on the other end of the ice, the 300mm is perfect.  But other than trying to shoot a few portraits at center-ice, the 300mm is just too heavy to hand hold for me while trying to smash it up against the plexi-glass hole cut for a 70-200.