442nd

iTrader: (3)

George Parros had more goals through the first nine games than the Anaheim Ducks' top scorer from a season ago (Corey Perry) and just as many as Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf. Parros' two goals don't put him atop the scoring column for the Ducks —- Francois Beauchemin leads that category with three tallies —- but it's almost as surprising that the Ducks' tough guy isn't leading the team in penalty minutes. He recently spoke with USA TODAY's A.J. Perez:



Question: You're known for fisticuffs more than anything, but take us through your breakaway goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 21.

Parros: The puck went to Brad May and (the Maple Leafs) were caught in our zone. They'd been pretty aggressive all night pinching down our zone. They got caught. We got the puck up (the ice) quick and I had a step on their defenseman. I was able to get in all alone. That was probably my first (breakaway goal) since high school.

Q: We're one month into the season and you've already reached your career high in goals. Did you find your scoring touch in the offseason?

Parros: I don't know. I've been able to get some good shots on net. Some years they go in for you, some years they don't. I usually don't get too many shots, but I've gotten myself into some good position. I don't think there's any way to explain it. They've just gone in. Thank God for that and I hope they keep coming.

Q: You've played on the same checking line with Brad May and Brian Sutherby for a while. The combination has provided a disproportionate amount of offense when compared to how little ice time you guys get. Are you guys just clicking right now?

Parros: We're pretty comfortable playing with each other. We've been playing for a couple years. I think we work the puck well together. If you take one of us and put us on a scoring line, I don't think it'd work as well. We all play the same game. It's not pretty. We get the puck deep, work hard and now we're being rewarded. We're happy to contribute.

Q: You graduated from Princeton University with an economics degree. Since it appears we could be in a recession and the stock market is in upheaval, have any of your teammates come up to you and asked for some advice?

Parros: Not exactly. Nobody has asked me for some stock tips or anything like that. We're all keeping an eye on it. I'm watching a few stocks right now, a few good companies I feel that are a low point. I'm going to give it up couple months and let things settle down a little bit before I invest in them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfzldkvD3dM

Q: The Ducks have had an erratic start, losing the first four games of the season before winning the last three. What has been the message inside the dressing room?

Parros: I think the first few games, we lacked the urgency and the intensity. Now, our backs against the wall. We need to keep getting points or else it's going to come back to haunt us. I think we're definitely playing with more desperation now. Even though it's early, we've already played 10% of our schedule. We need to start making things happen now.

Q: You didn't play in the Finals, although you played in plenty of games throughout the 2006-07 season to get your name on the Cup. Was it difficult to watch the final minutes of Game 5 of the Finals?

Parros: We were up 6-2, so it was looking pretty good that we'd be able to clinch it. We weren't on pins and needles. We got dressed and were getting pretty pumped up waiting to skate on the ice. Whether or not I played in the last game didn't really matter.

Q: Where did you take the Cup when it got to you that summer?

Parros: I took it a few different places. I took it to my high school in New Jersey, the Delbarton School, in the morning. Then I drove it down to Princeton and did a thing with some youth hockey kids. I was fortunate to have a friend of a friend to fly us to my uncle's dairy farm in Pittsburgh. That's where all my family met up at and we had a big bonfire. We put it on display. Everybody got a photo op with it. We put some moonshine in the Cup, roasted a pig and just had a good time.


Page Article

__________________
Mad Mel Bridgman
Position: C
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 lbs.
NHL Ass Kicker