With teams clinching playoff spots left and right and others competing for wild card spots, one team is starting to stand out among the rest – and that’s the Anaheim Ducks.
At the start of the season, it was unclear how the Ducks would be affected by the trade of Bobby Ryan. The right winger was instrumental in Anaheim’s past seasons.
Fortunately for the Ducks, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and hockey legend Teemu Selanne have continued their success for the team and have been playing phenomenally this season. In a single game alone, the trio totaled a combined eight points. They’ve found their rhythm together, and it seems like they’re unstoppable.
One thing weighing on all Ducks fans’ minds is that it’s Selanne’s last season. Everyone wants him to leave on a good note, and what better way than winning the Stanley Cup?
Goaltending has been a bit of an issue only because the Ducks had to choose between Jonas Hiller, Viktor Fasth and Frederick Andersen. All three have had their ups and downs, but all have been impressive as well.
Hiller has proven himself in playoff situations before. He seems to handle pressure well, which is how he claimed the starting goaltending position from Jean-Sebastien Giguere in the first place.
What has really been impressing with this Anaheim team is their ability to come back from games. Now, this is also a bad thing, but not many teams can come back from a 4-0 deficit but that is exactly what the Ducks did against the Winnipeg Jets March 31.
Anaheim didn’t even score its first goal until 2:16 was left in the second period to make it 4-1. The Ducks wouldn’t tally another goal until 16:54 was left in the third period. With the momentum in Anaheim’s favor, the team found the net again a little more than a minute later to take the score to 4-3. It wasn’t until 22.7 seconds were left on the clock when the Ducks tied the game.
22.7 seconds! This group of players doesn’t give up. They won’t relinquish their will to fight, and that’s something special. That’s what could take them all the way this season.
Then in overtime, new acquisition Stephane Robidas comes through and scores the game-winning overtime goal. It set a franchise record for the largest comeback win for the Ducks.
Check out the video to see for yourself.
Enough of all this Anaheim talk. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if the Ducks have it in them to lift the cup this year.
