Pivotal Five-Game Eastern Conference Road-Trip for Anaheim Ducks

Mar 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (19) congratulates right wing Corey Perry (10) after Perry scored the game winning goal in overtime to beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

With just nine games remaining in the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks will begin their final extended road-trip when they begin a five-game swing against Eastern Conference foes on Sunday. The Ducks can continue to make their push to secure a playoff spot (the Ducks are currently six points from clinching a postseason berth and ten points from clinching the Pacific Division). However, these are important tune-up games for the Ducks, as the team needs to continue elevating its level of play as the postseason draws nearer.

While the Ducks can do that against anybody they face, the important distinction between the opponents on this road-trip and the other four teams is that all of the Ducks’ remaining opponents who are in playoff contention will be on this road-trip. The best way to get ready for the playoffs is to play at the highest level against teams in a similar position. The Ducks will face pivotal tests against three opponents on this trip: the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and New York Islanders.

Next: Game 1: New York Rangers

Jan 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) attempts to move the puck defended by New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: New York Rangers

The Ducks’ road-trip begins with a primetime contest against the New York Rangers. Against the Rangers, the Ducks will be facing a team that is in contention for the President’s Trophy: the Ducks have two more points than the Rangers, but the Rangers have three games in hand. The defending Eastern Conference champions, despite the absence of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, have been carried by the spectacular play of Cam Talbot in that span (14-3-3, 2.13 GAA, .929 SV%).

Anaheim Ducks

The Rangers have made waves because of their incredible team-speed. It is an asset that helps them offensively: the Rangers are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (2.94) and fourth in shots per game (31.5). Rick Nash has 39 goals and 62 points in a spectacular 2014-2015 campaign, while the Rangers have also gotten scoring from Derrick Brassard (14 goals, 53 points), Martin St. Louis (20 goals, 47 points), and Derek Stepan (11 goals, 43 points, despite missing 14 games).

The Rangers also couple their team-speed and goal-scoring with great defensive structure. Even with losing Anton Stralman to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the offseason, the Rangers are anchored by star defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who averages 23:12 of ice-time per game with a +17 rating. Add in Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Dan Boyle, and newly-acquired Keith Yandle, and the Rangers have arguably the best defense group in the NHL. That is partially reflected in the team’s GAA (2.23, second in the NHL).

The Rangers will offer a major test for the Ducks and will arguably be the best team that the Ducks will face in the remainder of their schedule. The Ducks lost 4-1 to the Rangers on January 7th at Honda Center behind a terrible team effort, as Ilya Bryzgalov allowed three goals on 29 shots. That was one of the worst showings from the Ducks this season and one of many games where the Ducks struggled with speed. An improved showing on Sunday night must be expected if the Ducks are to win.

Next: Game 3: Boston Bruins

December 1, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) reacts after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Boston Bruins

After a game in Columbus, the Ducks will then travel to the TD Garden to take on the Boston Bruins on Thursday. The Bruins are currently fighting for a playoff spot. Last season’s President’s Trophy winners currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, yet the Bruins lead the Ottawa Senators by only one point, and Ottawa also has a game in hand. A desperate team provides its own challenges, but outside of injuries, this is still largely the same core of players that won 54 games and earned 117 points last season.

Boston is only 19th in the NHL in scoring, at 2.60 goals per game. That’s a tremendous drop-off from their figure last season (3.15, which was third in the league). The Bruins have struggled in the goal-scoring department: they only have eight double-digit goal scorers and only two 20-goal scorers (Brad Marchand with 22 and Patrice Bergeron with 20). Part of this is that David Krejci has only played in 38 games this year with various injuries and the departure of Jarome Iginla to the Colorado Avalanche in free-agency.

Although Zdeno Chara has produced less this season (just seven goals, 19 points this season after a 17 goal, 40 point campaign last season), Dougie Hamilton has blossomed into a terrific player. The ninth pick in the 2011 NHL Draft has 10 goals and 42 points this season, 15 of which have come on the power-play. Hamilton also has a 55.2 CF% at 5-on-5 this season, and he has been tremendous for Chara this season (they control 57.5% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 when on the ice together, but without Hamilton, Chara’s figure drops all the way to 44.1%).

The Bruins have had to compensate for their lack of scoring with Tuukka Rask. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has a 29-18-11 record with a 2.28 GAA and .923 SV%. The Bruins’ GAA as a team is 2.44, which is tenth in the NHL. The Bruins are 7-2-3 in their past 12 games, and the team is in pure desperation mode to get into the playoffs, making them a dangerous opponent.

The Ducks defeated the Bruins 3-2 on December 1st, as Frederik Andersen made 32 of 34 saves in the victory. The Ducks allowed 28 shots on goal in the opening two periods, and that number needs to go down, both as a sign of improvement and as a key for the game.

Next: Game 4: New York Islanders

Nov 5, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg (33) attempts to move the puck defended by New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) during the third period at Honda Center. The New York Islanders defeated the Anaheim Ducks in overtime with a final score of 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Game 4: New York Islanders

On the fourth game of the road-trip, the Ducks will begin their final back-to-back of the season with the upstart New York Islanders. The Islanders are currently second in the Metropolitan Division with 92 points after having the fifth-worst record in the NHL last season. The Islanders have slipped and relinquished the top spot in the Metropolitan Division to the Rangers, but this is a team loaded with skill.

The Islanders are led with John Tavares, who will surely be in the Hart Trophy conversation this season. He is tied for second in the NHL with 73 points and third in time-on-ice per game among forwards (20:36). Anders Lee has entered the Calder Trophy conversation with 23 goals this season, helping mask the absence of Kyle Okposo, who had 15 goals and 45 points in 51 games before an eye-injury.

The biggest adds for the Islanders have been on the back-end. Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk were acquired in the offseason from the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins in an effort to get under the cap, and both have been instrumental for the Islanders. Both players have upped long-term with the Islanders (Leddy for seven years, $38.5 million and Boychuk for six years, $42 million). The team also acquired Jaroslav Halak in the offseason and signed him to a four year, $18 million deal, and he has helped the Islanders’ long-time goaltending woes with a 35-15-1 record, 2.41 GAA, and .913 SV%.

The Islanders are a super-skilled, strong puck-possession team (they are fifth in the NHL in CF% at 53.1%). The Ducks dropped a 3-2 overtime contest against the Islanders on November 5th, despite the absence of both Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. After a sluggish start to the game, the Ducks roared back before Tavares converted a power-play goal in overtime to end the game. Unlike many of the Ducks’ losses this year, the issue was not a lack of effort: instead, the Ducks showed that they can compete with any team with the 18 skaters they dress.

Next: Final Thoughts