The Anaheim Ducks capped off 2017 by winning four of their final five games. It was ended with a solid 5-2 win over a competitive Arizona Coyotes club with little but respect to play for.
If the last five games mean anything - it's that a healthy Ducks team is a dangerous Ducks team.
Regardless of team speed, playing style or personnel, Anaheim is still a team poised to make noise in 2018 and it all starts now. Because there is basically no "later."
The meteoric rise of Rickard Rakell (5 game goal streak), the increasingly crafty Jakob Silfverberg (4 game point streak) and a defense on the verge of turning the corner compliment an already proven cast of characters. If the season ended today the Ducks would be one of the final eight left standing out west. But there is pressure coming from all sides and if the Ducks do make the playoffs it will be because of these next 8-10 games.
Anaheim can better bolster their playoff standing with a strong start to the new year. Seven of their first eight games are against Western Conference teams that are positioned within five points or ahead of them in the standings.
In order to make this happen they need to survive another extended road trip. Why? Because the first five games of 2018 are away from the Pond - highlighted by a run through Alberta and another showdown with the Kings.. Thanks NHL schedule guys....
It all starts tonight in Vancouver against the surprising Canucks. Our friends in British Columbia had a solid start to the season, but have cooled off considerably with only two wins in their last ten. Anaheim can't overlook this game for even a second. Every point counts - especially when you consider the Ducks have played more games than most of the teams ahead of them in the standings and after tonight, they will have hit the halfway mark of their season.
One game at a time. Two points at a time. In the immortal words of Tim Allen or Winston Churchill (take your pick), "Never give up, Never surrender."
Thanks for reading, Steve