First the Anaheim Ducks fire head coach Randy Carlyle after a win and then Bruce Boudreau suddenly takes over just 2 days after being given his pink slip in Washington, and now he’s still wondering how to get a first win with his new team?
The Ducks blew a 3-0 lead to Philly in Boudreau’s debut only to lose in overtime and tonight they played like Carlyle never left…inconsistently throughout the game and lost another one on home ice to Minnesota 5-3.
Before the Flyers game, Bruce was kind enough to squeeze a couple of minutes to call me for his introductory interview and he was quite excited (besides admittedly nervous) about making his Anaheim coaching debut. You can see how his more enthusiastic and open-communicating style of coaching could be of benefit to his new team but so far that hasn’t produced the bottom line-2 point games!
It’s up to the players to take it from here and one of those, young Andrew Gordon a 3rd line winger was also a guest of mine before Bruce’s inaugural game in the OC. Gordon is the lone Ducks player who’s ever played for Boudreau on the NHL level and he was open with this thoughts on his new coach and the club’s outlook. The irony is that Andrew’s lone NHL goal was scored for Boudreau’s Capitals last season and he scored his first Ducks goal for Bruce on Friday night. I texted Gordon to congratulate him minutes after the goal, of course little did I realize that the Ducks would eventually give this game away.
Here are my 2 interviews which despite being conducted a few days ago, will show what the Ducks are hoping to become and how they might get there?…
Bruce Boudreau with Ted Sobel:
Bruce Boudreau after 2nd game in Anaheim:
Andrew Gordon with Ted Sobel: