I hope everybody enjoyed the holiday break. I'm sorry for the lack of posts in the last week. It's been busy in the Palumbo household, but that's all in the past. I'm back and the the Ducks are back. Tonight they play host to the Pacific Division leading Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas is no longer the feel good expansion team they were in the first few weeks of the season. Instead, they are a legit threat out west and one of a bevy of teams looking to dethrone Anaheim from its place atop the Pacific Division standings.
The Golden Knights (23-9-2)come into tonight atop the division and eight points better than Anaheim with three games in hand. Adding insult to injury, they were playing some of their best hockey of the season prior to the Christmas break. Vegas has won four in a row and eight of nine with the one loss being a point producing OTL. They will try to keep in going against the Ducks.
The Ducks (16-13-8) shouldl get a lift from the return of Ryan Kesler. The veteran center had hip surgery in the off-season and was slated to return around Christmas. Two days after the holiday, he is back. Anaheim can roll four lines with Antoine Vermette, Adam Henrique, Ryan Getzlaf and Kesler as their centers. That's really good news for a team that's been biding its time until it got healthy. Minus Corey Perry, this is as healthy as they've been at any time this season.
The Ducks play the next three games at home following that beast of a road trip. The Ducks finished the six-game gauntlet 3-2-1, ending with two big wins before the break. It was a bumpy ride but Anaheim survived as they have all season long.
Here's a few tidbits I put together to surmise what happened.
- Ryan Getzlaf returned and got stronger and stronger with each game. The captain is not the fleetest of foot, but he's as good as anybody when he has the puck. His ability to create space for himself and his teammates is remarkable. Almost magician like. As a result he is riding a six-game point streak that includes a goal and eight helpers. Getzlaf is the epitome of Ducks hockey.
- Ondrej Kase has been sensational himself. His confidence with the puck grows with every touch. As a result he has a goal in three straight.
- Anaheim had at least a two goal lead in five of the six games. They came away with points in four of them. They only game they didn't earn a point was against New Jersey. The Ducks led 2-0 and 3-1 and still ended up losing 5-3 in regulation. I hope that doesn't come back to bite them later on.
- The 4-0 win against Pittsburgh was Anaheim's best effort of the season. Anytime you thump the defending champs it carries some serious weight.
- Anaheim leads the NHL with 217 man games lost to injury and at the start of games tonight they hold a playoff spot. Remarkable.
Tonight's game is sold out and it's should be a great atmosphere. A couple months ago nobody would have believed, a late December game, in Anaheim, against Vegas, would be the hottest ticket in town. Incredible.
Thanks for readings, Steve