from Eric Stephens of the OC Register,

Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Friday night …

Let’s look at Bryzgalov. The Ducks are paying him some real good money to be a No. 3 option who has to be the No. 2 for now as they opted to have John Gibson get well in Norfolk. General Manager Bob Murray was watching his investment ($2.88-million salary cap hit, $1.9-million actual money) blow up in his first start from high up in Canadian Tire Centre.

Every shot began to look like an adventure after a while but this was the wild ride Murray signed up for in the mercurial Bryzgalov when his goaltending beyond Frederik Andersen was either on the training table (Gibson) or wrapped up in a bandage (Jason LaBarbera).

Suddenly LaBarbera didn’t look so much like a feared option if or when things get desperate. And Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau, when asked if it was a tough spot to put Bryzgalov in at the end of a nine-day road trip, didn’t jump in defend the dismal outing even when the rest of his tired team disintegrated around the netminder.

“It’s a tough spot but Freddie played 20 games in a row and it’s not like Bryz is a first-year player,” Boudreau said. “He knows what he’s done. He’s been practicing for two weeks. He’s played two games in the minors. Played the third period or more than a period and a bit in Toronto.

“He’s practiced. He should have been ready. And he should be ready.”

Ouch.

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