By now we all know the Anaheim Ducks are off to a 2-0 start. Considering how poor Anaheim started last season, (2 wins through 7 games) this is a positive sign for Bruce Boudreau's club.
The Ducks haven't been great, but good enough to get the win. I would even go as far as to say Anaheim is a bit lucky to be where they are at this point. Typically when you are out shot by your opponent, while giving up two power play goals a game, winning can become very difficult. I guess scoring 12 goals in two games helps. But, the defense and penalty kill has to improve or the tide will turn on the Ducks very fast.
The last time the Ducks started a season 2-0, was the 2010-11 season, which also happens to be the last time Anaheim made the playoffs. Coincidence? Perhaps. Good sign? I think so.
Did I mention the Stanley Cup champs are 0-2 and have only scored three goals - total?
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Cam Fowler WAS the Ducks iron man with 152 consecutive game played until he missed the teams season opener in Vancouver with the
Flu. Now, when I first heard this I thought to myself, "How does anybody play 152 straight games if they can't play one game with a little fever?"
Turns out Cam had more than a little fever. He tried to skate through it but he was too sick and dizzy to be effective. I commend him for not trying to push it. He will be much more valuable in game 35 than game number one.
Fowler returned to the Ducks line-up for the Calgary game and led all Ducks skaters with 22:05 of ice time.
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I can't say enough about the Ducks third line of Andrew Cogliano, Saku Koivu and Daniel Winnik. The trio has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) with a +15 rating through two games. Not bad.
I was shocked when I learned that Daniel Winnik became the first player in Ducks history to start a season with consecutive multi-goal games and the first player in club history to record multi-goal games in his first two games as a Duck.
When you think of some of the talent that has made their way through Anaheim, that is pretty impressive.
Like Boudreau said he's on a 96 goal pace and I like it.
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Reminder: Fans attending the home opener at Honda Center will receive a free Teemu Selanne T-shirt! WooHoo!
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