Good afternoon, Anaheim Ducks fans! It’s another game-day, as the Ducks travel to San Jose and the SAP Center for the fifth and final meeting with the Sharks this season. The Ducks have gone 1-3-0 against the Sharks this season, as opposed to 10-0-5 against the rest of the Pacific Division. The Ducks’ one win came in overtime on December 22nd, on a goal from Ryan Kesler once a 4-on-3 power-play expired. San Jose won the other three contests by scores of 4-1, 6-4, and 3-0, and each were some of the Ducks’ worst games of the season.
The main key for the Ducks will be to continue their stretch of strong play. They are on a six-game winning streak and have played some of their best hockey in the stretch. The team was prone to lazy play and didn’t always give a full 60-minute effort, but three of their six wins during this streak have been complete games (against the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, and Vancouver Canucks). The Ducks won those three games by a combined score of 13-1, winning each by four goals with two shutouts from Frederik Andersen.
The game isn’t even the biggest news with the Ducks however. The Ducks, along with many of the Pacific Division NHL clubs, are making waves by relocating their AHL affiliates to California and forming an AHL Pacific Division, with five clubs in California. This is a big move for the Ducks, whose organization is centered around drafting and developing their own players. Now, the players are much closer, instead of being cross-country in Norfolk. It makes the AHL-NHL transfer much easier, and the organization can monitor player development much more easily with the affiliate so much closer.
That was the biggest piece of news in the NHL, but there was more. Here are some Ducks and NHL news for the day.
More from Ducks News
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- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
Anaheim Ducks launching American Hockey League franchise in San Diego (Ducks)
Will the Anaheim Ducks’ new affiliate be called the “Gulls”? (San Diego Union Tribune)
Anaheim Ducks are achieving their success through defense (LA Times)
Anaheim Ducks will be a team to watch at the trade deadline (Pro Hockey Talk)
The departure of Jason Spezza from the Ottawa Senators was a rare “mutual breakup” (TSN)
The New York Rangers need to start shooting the puck more. (Blue Line Station)
Johnny Boychuk has hurt the Boston Bruins as much as he has helped the New York Islanders (ESPN)
The Washington Capitals were right in picking Braden Holtby over Ryan Miller (Stars and Sticks)
There are many reasons for why Dave Tippett is the angriest man in hockey (Sportsnet)
The Dallas Stars are playing some of their best hockey and still losing (Blackout Dallas)