No team is taking charge in the Pacific Division. The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings are the only two Pacific Teams to win five of their last 10 games. The six other Pacific teams won four or fewer games.
The Ducks have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. But here's why they should qualify this season: 1. Special teams: The Ducks rank seventh (83.3%) in penalty killing and tied for seventh on the power lay (25%). No other Pacific team ranks in the top seven in both PP and PK. 2. Ducks and Flames Boast Best Pacific goaltending: The Flames and Ducks are tied for first in the league with a .921 save percentage. In advance statistics, Anaheim's John Gibson ranks fifth with 29.35 more goals prevented than an average goaltender. In that IcyData.com category, Calgary's Jacob Markstrom ranks eighth at 26.92.
3. Deep unheralded defense: Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Kevin Shattenkirk are playing better than 20 minutes per game and Jamie Drysdale and Josh Manson are playing 19:50 and 19:44 respectively. Fowler, Lindholm and Shattenkirk have had strong seasons. Shattenkirk helps the power play. Detroit coach Jeff Blashill calls Fowler "one of the most underrated defenseman in the league." Drysdale will eventually mature into a star. That's important because the Ducks may lose Lindholm and Manson to free agency. This is a group that competes hard. 4. Improved offense: The Ducks aren't nearly as dynamic offensively as the Edmonton Oilers. Calgary and Vegas have also more offensive might. But the Ducks score enough goals. We haven't been able to say that for the past three season They are definitely more dangerous than they were the last two seasons when they struggled to score two goals per game.
5. The Zegras Factor: Trevor Zegras has helped put a charge into this gorup. It's not just about the Michigan goal or his lacrosse-style pass. He brings a presence and energy to this group. The Ducks know he can create a goal at any point in the game. That can be empowering.
6. There's a freshness to the group: Bob Murray is no longer GM. Troy Terry is scoring important goals. Sonny Milano has stepped up. The bottom six forwards are contributing. Feels like a new beginning for this group.
a better offense
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