Ducks Win Franchise Record Eighth In A Row
Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks continue their magical season last night with a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Though they won by two, it was one of those hard fought, inspiring come from behind wins.
Down 3-1 going into the third period, the Ducks rode who else, the captain, Ryan Getzlaf who scored three points in the final frame and ended the night with four points – including a hat trick.
It was all about the PPG line again, but this time it was a different ‘P’, as Kyle Palmieri was plugged onto the top line coming off one of his best games of the seasons against the New Jersey Devils.
The first period started slow, as either team – especially the Ducks – had a hard time finding any space in the offensive zone to get anything set up. The one time a team found any space they were able to score, as Islander Kyle Okposo found himself open in the slot and fired a puck on net that Thomas Vanek punched in the rebound.
Going into the second period, the Ducks started to get to work. And slowly and slowly you can see the game turn into their favor, and Getzlaf finally put one behind Evgeni Nabokov, after taking a shot on net went wide, he chased down his own miss and put it in for his 17th of the season.
Catching a bit of the Islanders game the night before, I saw one thing that worried me – despite them operating at only 72% on the penalty kill, with players like Michael Grabner and Vanek, they were dangerous if they choose to push the action the other way.
With the Ducks power play struggling to find a rhythm on this most recent road trip, it cost them as they couldn’t contain Vanek who blew by the defenders to score his second of the game. It wasn’t shorthanded as the penalty just ended, but the majority of the play happened while the Ducks had the advantage.
Frans Nielsen scored his 12th of the season, as the Islanders headed into the third with a 3-1 lead, despite being outshoot by the Ducks.
Two goals from Getzlaf, as well as Mathieu Perreault and the second game winning goal in as many nights from Palmieri in the third gave the Ducks a convincing come from behind win as well as set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive win.
"Our motto was to try and get to Christmas on a winning note. We’ve got a big test coming up in Washington. We can take tomorrow and prepare for that, and enjoy this one tonight.Ryan Getzlaf on the team’s franchise record winning streak"
Job accomplished for the Ducks, who finish up their road trip and head into the Christmas break with a game against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Anthony Murphy is the Editor at Pucks of a Feather. You can reach him by email amurphy540@pullinamurph.com or follow him on Twitter @AMurphyTFC.