The Anaheim Ducks needed 37 saves from Freddie Anderson to dispatch their fiercest rival, the Los Angeles Kings.
The win was the Ducks third in a row over the Kings and second consecutive overall. Although Anaheim has been scuffling of late, they essentially control their own destiny and this upcoming week could put them in an even better position to win the Pacific Division and secure that all important home ice advantage.
The Ducks play host to head coach Bruce Boudreau's former team, the Washington Capitals tonight. This is the final meeting between these two clubs this season. Anaheim won the previous game 3-2.
This won't be a cakewalk. The Capitals are two point sout of the final Wild Card spot in the East and are essentially fighting for their playoff lives.
Tonight's game also marks the return of the recently traded Dustin Penner. Seems like both Penner and the Ducks have been worse off without each other. Besides the six-goal outburst in Colorado, Anaheim's offense has been slumping, while Pancakes has just one assist as a Cap.
Now, I'm not saying the loss of Penner is primarily to blame for the Ducks goal scoring funk. I'm just saying the timing is more than a mere coincidence. Don't you think? I'm a big believer in chemistry and if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it.
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Anaheim has an extremely light schedule this week with just two games on their plate, but they could possibly be the biggest two games of the season for them. After hosting the Caps, the Ducks fly north to face the Sharks in the Shark Tank.
It will be the first time these two clubs have faced each other since they split and home-and-home set back in December. Now they'll play with everything on the line.
Anaheim and San Jose are tied for the Pacific Division lead with 97 points...although the Ducks have played one fewer game.
It's imperative the Ducks grab all four available points this week because the Sharks have a busy week with four games on their schedule. That includes a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers this past Sunday. They host Florida tonight, the Ducks on Thursday and those same Caps on Saturday. The outcome of San Jose's next three games will have a significant impact on the Ducks going forward.
Depending on the results, the Ducks could find themselves with a four point division lead and two games in hand. Of course that would mean the Sharks, who are 8-1-1 in the last 10 games, would have to lose three games in a row - something they haven't done since the end of January.
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I like the way the Ducks have responded over the last two games after going winless in four straight, but as I've said before they are still playing with fire. I really need to see some more consistency from the defense and just a little something that remotely resembles a NHL level power play. If it had not been for Anderson the other night, the Kings would have won that game going away.
Which Ducks team shows up this week? The one that has been on top of the NHL for most of the season or the one that let the Calgary Flames curb stomp them?
Thanks for reading!
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