Anaheim Ducks: New Year, Same Position
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Today the Anaheim Ducks find themselves in the same position they were during last year’s playoffs.
After dropping Games 3 and 4 to the Dallas Stars, the Ducks responded with a huge win in Game 5. The Ducks went 4 for 7 on the power play and six different Ducks players scored en route to a 6-2 win.
The Ducks lead the series 3-2 and can finish off the Stars tonight.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Last year the Ducks also had a 3-2 series lead on the Detroit Red Wings. The Ducks went to Detroit and dropped Game 6 in overtime after overcoming a two goal deficit.
At that time it looked like the Ducks would be good considering they had home ice for Game 7 right?
Wrong.
Despite the great regular season last year and winning the Pacific Division, the season ended on an abrupt note. This has led to the Ducks’ theme of “unfinished business” for the 2013-14 season. The Ducks had a great regular season winning the Pacific Division again and taking the first seed in the Western Conference for the first time in their young franchise’s history.
Today will measure if the Ducks have learned from last year’s early playoff exit. The Ducks have played well at home outscoring the Stars 13-7. But on the road the Stars have outscored the Ducks 7-2 including a shut out in Game 3.
The Ducks need to carry their play at home to the road.
It’s time for the Ducks to develop that killer instinct and close out this series. The Ducks can’t rely on having a Game 7 at home because as we have seen throughout the history of hockey that anything can happen in a Game 7.
If the Ducks play their game for 60 minutes, win the special teams battles, and don’t get distracted by the Stars’ game strategy, then they should close this series out tonight. The Ducks have not advanced to the second round since the 2008-09 season.
Tonight the Ducks can make that all change.
The game starts tonight at 5:00PM and will be on Prime Ticket.
Follow Pucks of a Feather on Twitter.
Like Pucks of a Feather on Facebook.