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The Anaheim Ducks’ season came to an end on Friday, with the team missing the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
The final week saw the Ducks beat the Sharks 5-2 on Tuesday, before falling 4-2 to the Dallas Stars in their final game of the season on Friday.
Against the Sharks, the Ducks were outshot badly in the first period but managed to escape the opening frame with a 1-0 lead. Goals from Max Comtois and Sonny Milano extended the lead in the second period but the Sharks started to climb back, with two late second period tallies cutting the lead to one. However, Anaheim limited the Sharks to just six shots in the third period and a goal from Josh Mahura, followed by an empty netter from Zach Aston-Reese secured a 5-2 Ducks win.
Then on Friday against the Stars, Max Comtois scored the only goal of a low-event first period, to put the Ducks ahead after 20 minutes, but John Gibson left the game with an upper-body injury. Anaheim then fell behind early in the second period after two quicks goals from the Stars, but Troy Terry managed to tie the game late in the frame, keeping it at 2-2 after 40 minutes. However, after an injury to Anthony Stolarz as well, the Ducks were forced to use an emergency backup goalie, Thomas Hodges. The Ducks capitalized, with a goal from Jason Robertson, followed by an empty netter from Vladislav Namestnikov leading to a 4-2 loss for the Ducks.
Hodges' entry into the game against Dallas made for an interesting final period of the Ducks’ season, which given the stakes being pretty much zero, made for a bit of fun. It also wasn’t a poor set of games from the Ducks, given that they were in the game against the Stars as well and played a solid third period in front of Hodges.
Looking more broadly though, it’s still a disappointing last few months for a team that showed a lot of promise early on. It’ll be an interesting offseason for sure, in terms of whether the team looks to keep selling or instead tries to add some players that can help right now via free agency.
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QuizWiz
OTHER ARTICLES FROM APRIL
Ducks drop two home games to Stars but stop 11-game losing skid vs. Coyotes
Ducks suffer blowout loss to Oilers at home
Ryan Getzlaf announces he will retire at end of season
Ducks eliminated from playoff contention, sign Blake McLaughlin
Looking at the Ducks’ collapse in the back half of the season
Ryan Getzlaf plays final NHL game in loss to Blues
Ducks re-sign Sam Carrick 
Anaheim Ducks Blogger • 
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