Anaheim completed the season-high eight game road trip in grand fashion with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Kyle Palmieri, a native New Yorker, scored the winning goal and Frederik Andersen made 32 saves for the streaking Ducks. Corey Perry remained red hot, scoring his ninth goal of the season and fourth in the last six games.
The victory completed the a season sweep of the Broadway Blue Shirts and concluded a successful 5-2-1 trip away from Orange County. Anaheim grabbed 11 of a possible 12 points in their last six games after having lost the first two games of the extended trip.
With the win, Anaheim improved to 12-3-1 and stands alone atop the NHL standings with a hefty 25 points; one point ahead of the Central Division leading Colorado Avalanche.
The fact that the Ducks continue to win in spite of themselves in something quite remarkable.
They have already battled through a slew of injuries, an anemic power play and a pathetic penalty kill to reach the top of the Pacific Division and NHL. In the last 15 days, Teemu Selanne (oral surgery), Saku Koivu (head) Jakob Silfverberg (hand), Sami Vatanen and goalie Viktor Fasth (lower body) all went down with injuries.
For most teams this would be trouble. Not so for the Ducks. Anaheim's tremendous depth at the forward position and between the pipes is already paying off and proving to be a real difference maker.
It also helps when your team is the NHL's most productive team 5 on 5. Entering the game with the Rangers, Anaheim had a 1.91 goal for/against ratio at even strength. Yes, that is good. Very good.
BUT....Sustaining that level of play 5 v. 5 is going to be nearly impossible over and 82 game schedule. While it has helped jettison the
Quack Attack to the top of the standings in spite of glaring weaknesses on special teams it will eventually come back to haunt them. NHL teams are too good to be beaten night in and night out by a Ducks team that is basically a one-trick pony.
Speaking of ponies.... I'm going to beat this dead horse until it stick like glue...from the dead horse (get it?
rim shot). Anaheim was 1 for 24 with the man advantage on this road trip. Are you serious? Hopefully playing at home can help turn things around.
Anaheim will finally return to the Honda Center on Wednesday to play the Phoenix Coyotes. It has honestly felt like an eternity since they've been home. I hope they still remember how to get to the rink.
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