Anaheim Ducks Taking Advantage of “Soft” Schedule

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After faltering briefly toward the beginning of March, the Anaheim Ducks have recently caught a huge break in their schedule as they head toward the end of the regular season.

Since falling to the San Jose Sharks back on Mar. 20, the Ducks have faced six consecutive teams who are out of playoff contention.

With Wednesday night’s win over the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim has compiled a 5-0-1 record during that stretch and still has three more non-playoff teams to go.

With the Pacific Division title hanging in the balance, the scheduling soft spot couldn’t have come at a better time for the Ducks.

After the loss in San Jose, Anaheim had fallen out of first place in the Pacific despite leading by as many as 15 points. But since that date, the Ducks have climbed back to the top and are building a lead over their northern rival.

As it stands today, the Ducks have a three-point lead thanks to a trio of dramatic victories.

In Calgary on Mar. 26, the Ducks came back from a one-goal third period deficit to douse the Flames.

The 5-4 victory at Honda Center against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night is now in the history books as the greatest comeback in franchise history. Anaheim fell behind by four goals before a third period rally saw the Ducks tie the game only to end it 16 seconds into overtime courtesy of newly acquired defenseman Stephane Robidas, who recorded his first goal as a Duck.

Most recently, the Oilers were the victims of another come-from-behind victory. After another sluggish start, the Ducks, led by two goals in the third frame by Corey Perry, took down Edmonton 3-2 Wednesday night.

Slow starts aren’t the trend Bruce Boudreau wants to see, but at this stage of the game, how you get your wins and points doesn’t matter.

A win is a win. Two points are two points.

Next up, the Ducks welcome the Nashville Predators to Anaheim on Friday before back-to-back games in Western Canada against the Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.

While everyone is looking ahead to next Wednesday’s battle against the Sharks, the Ducks have a golden opportunity to distance themselves in the division race. With three winnable games on the horizon, the Ducks have six points sitting for them on a silver platter.

As Anaheim finishes the season with games against the Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche, the next three games have become just as important in the race for the division title.

And based on their previous six games, the Ducks should be just fine.

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