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A week off? Yes, please.

January 8, 2018, 9:02 PM ET [7 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Anaheim Ducks don't play again until Saturday when they visit the Los Angeles Kings - thanks to the league mandated bye week. Hockey is a grueling sport with extensive travel, so the NHL added a week off for each team to rest, recovery and re-energize themselves for the playoff push.

In the Ducks case, this week could not have come at a better time.

Anaheim dropped their last two games prior to the break, including that gut punch in Calgary. The Ducks battled back from a 2-0 third period deficit to tie the game only to let any hope of at least a point slip away with a late Flames goal. And by late I mean 16 seconds left in the period late.

I too sat in stunned silence as the Ducks skated into the lockeroom empty handed. That loss followed a 2-1 shootout loss to Edmonton. To put that loss into persepctive, you have to look at the Oilers beyond that game. They've been outscored 16-2 in their last four games(1-3-0) and still somehow managed to beat Anaheim with ONE goal scored.

So, yes this break comes at a perfect time.

With Corey Perry back in the loop, the Ducks are a complete team for the first time in a long time. He a Ryan Getzlaf have only been in the lineup six times, at the same time this season and when they are - the Ducks are really good. Anaheim's offense averages over 3.5 goals per game when both are healthy and on the bench.

With a few days to collect themselves before a grueling stretch on the schedule, the Ducks should be better prepared to make a run. When they resume play, four of Anaheim's first five games are against Western Conference clubs ahead of them in the standings. It includes two with L.A., one with San Jose and one against Colorado - the team that just jumped over them in the standings.

There is no doubt securing a playoff spot is going to be an uphill battle for the 2017-18 Ducks. Those nine losses in either overtime of the shootout will come back to haunt them. As will their most recent loss in Calgary. But you can never count this team out.

Just take a peak at the standings and where they are now? Decimated by injuries, terrible beyond 60 minutes and still in the hunt? Other teams in the same situation have closed up shop already (OTT, MON, EDM.) Now they've been blessed with a week off to get a healthy group back on the same page? The timing is beyond perfect.

Thank you hockey gods.

It's more than possible for the Ducks to be in the mix come March and April. Like I said, they are making things tough of themselves, but I will never, ever count this group out.

Thanks for reading,
Steve
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