The Anaheim Ducks were blown out on opening night, they then followed that up with a win on some last second heroics and then topped that with an emotional victory the next night. Let's just say this start to the Ducks 20th anniversary season has been anything but ordinary.
After back-to-back road wins against Minnesota and Winnipeg, Anaheim improved its overall record to 2-1-0 with much of the thanks going out to two of the teams newest members, Jakob Silfverberg and Mathieu Perreault.
Silfverberg came over from the Ottawa Senators this summer in the Bobby Ryan trade, Perreault was a last second pickup from the Washington Capitals and so far both have made the most of their short time in a Ducks sweater. Each has scored two goals and added an assist in the clubs first three games and each has played a pivotal role in the Ducks two wins.
Silfverberg's second goal of the season stretched the Ducks lead to 3-1 over the Wild before Minnesota rallied to tie the game at 3-3. Perreault then won the game with less than five seconds left in overtime. The good vibes carried over the following against the Winnipeg Jets when Silfverberg assisted on Perreault's first period goal. The Ducks hung around and went on to win that game by a score of 3-2.
Silfverberg and Perreault's four goals is equal to the output of the entire Ducks roster.
Yes, really. Not to mention, Silfverberg leads Anaheim with 10 shots on goal and Perreault has quickly catapulted himself to the top of Anaheim's face-off depth chart by winning 29 of 51 draws (57%) thus far -
something the team has struggled with quite a bit over the last few seasons.
These guys bring a ton of energy to the team. They both seem to be relishing their roles with Anaheim. They certainly seem to have a nose for the next something I didn't think we saw enough of from Bobby Ryan last season.
By notching back-to-back road wins, the Ducks can head back to Southern California feeling good about themselves. Anaheim will play the next five games at the new and improved Honda Center. The season could have unraveled quickly after the 6-1 loss to Colorado on opening night. Especially since the big guns of Cory Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne and Dustin Penner have been eerily quiet. Only a fluke game-winning goal by Perry separates this group from having a big fat goose egg on the score sheet. But, the team has regrouped and is heading back on the right track with Perreault and Silfverbergs leading the way.
If the Ducks want to continue to ride the wave of good fortune and winning, the Getzlafs and Perry's of the world will have to pick up their end of the bargain pretty fast. A little home cooking should do the trick. Perry scored eight of his 15 goals in 2012-13 at the Honda Center. Getzlaf was even better, notching nine of his 15 goals from a year ago at home and Selanne better still with eight of his 12 goals coming at home.
Anaheim will open its 2013-14 home schedule against the New York Rangers on Thursday.
***
Kyle Palmieri was hurt in Sunday's game in Winnipeg and is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury.
Meanwhile, Peter Holland was sent back down to Norfolk of the AHL. Holland did not make an appearance in any of the Ducks three games and it's better that he goes to the AHL to play rather than be a healthy scratch night after night.
***
And in case you missed it, the fans in Winnipeg finally had a chance to salute their hero, Teemu Selanne.
***
Follow me on Twitter! @StevePalumboHTW
On Facebook at StevePalumboNHL
Email me at [email protected] 
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»