Sometimes a little change is good. For the Anaheim Ducks change was very good. The Ducks had been mired in a season long slump....at home. A place that was supposed to be safe refuge and a place that once meant an easy 'W'.
With the the Ducks having played a road heavy schedule, a few games at home should have been a blessing. It was anything but. Anaheim has lost four of five at Honda Center and three in a row there. So it came as some relief that a road game in Nashville right before the Olympic break offered a bit of a reprieve for the now home weary Ducks.
Remember the Ducks got here by playing great hockey on the road. So this comes as no surprise.
By getting back to what got them the leagues best record, the Ducks dominated the Preds en route to a solid 5-2 win. The victory ensured that Anaheim would head into the three week Olympic break as the NHL's best team in terms of points.
We can now breath a little as the NHL slumbers.
It's time turn our attention to Sochi and the seven Anaheim Ducks representing their native countries. Cam Fowler will represent team USA. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry will play for Canada. Teemu Selanne is playing in his 100th Olympics, as he and Sami Vatanen will wear the colors of Finland proudly. While Jonas Hiller will represent the Swiss and Jakob Silfverberg will skate for team Sweden.
I will be following the progress of these seven players and updating you here on my blog. The tournament drops its first puck on Wednesday with two games - Czech Republic vs. Sweden (Silfverberg) and Latvia takes on Switzerland (Hiller).
The hockey tournament has always been one of the highlights of the Winter Olympics and this year is no different, especially since it may be the last time we see NHL players participate. I am looking forward to another Canada and USA good medal game, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Russians steal the show in their home country.
Thanks for reading!