The Anaheim Ducks concluded the 2017-18 regular season with a 3-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes in game 82. The Ducks complete the up-and-down campaign with a 44-25-13 record and 101 points.

Thanks to season-ending regulation losses by Los Angeles and San Jose, the Ducks moved all the way up to second in the Pacific. They have home ice in round one and will host the third place Sharks in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Kings take on the division winning Vegas Golden Knights.

The Ducks and Sharks met one other time in the playoffs, way back in 2009. The eighth seeded Ducks knocked out the heavily favored Sharks in six games - one of many bitter playoff disappointments in San Jose's history.

We will get more into the match-up before the series starts later next week.

I know I must sound like a broken record , but....- what this team was able to pull off with over 300 man games to injury and considering where they were in the standings before Christmas - it's pretty special. To push through and take second place on the final day of the season? Incredible. It's not another division title, but all things considered, this might be more satisfying.

Anaheim won its last five games and went 10-1-1 in their last 12 games of the season, reaching 100 points for a fifth season in a row - they are the only team in the NHL that has that distinction.

The Ducks are still dealing with injuries, i.e. Cam Fowler, Kevin Bieksa and John Gibson, but they have proven they cannot be fazed or derailed easily. When they needed someone to step up, they often did. One team, same goal, next man up.

Ryan Miller has been great in Gibson's absence. The 37-year-old picked up his fourth shutout of the season on Saturday and he was spectacular in doing so. Adam Henrique scored his 8th game winning goal of the season - all since his trade to Anaheim. Hampus Lindholm scored and ENG to finish off the scoring. He joins fellow blueliners Fowler, Josh Manson and Brandon Montour in the 30-point club - an Anaheim Ducks first.

It's that next man update attitude that has this team to this point. It will be their grit, guile, skill and experience that gets them farther in these playoffs.

We have a few day off to digest the season. Take it all in and get ready for another wild ride through orange fields of car flags, outdoor watch parties and fingers chewed to their nubs. It's playoff time!

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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