Ducks Game Day: Still Prizes to be Won in Arizona
By Ed Stein
The Anaheim Ducks regular season ends tonight in Arizona. Playoff position is on the line as the team attempts to reach their fifth consecutive 100-point season.
Lay of the Land
The Anaheim Ducks, LA Kings, and San Jose Sharks have all made the playoffs. Tonight’s season finales will determine who and where the play in the first round. Here is a chart of the Ducks playoff scenarios with position, opponent, and location:
| Ducks Win | SJS win | SJS OT loss | SJS reg loss |
| LA win | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS | 2nd & host LA |
| LA OT loss | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS | 2nd & host SJS |
| LA reg loss | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS | 2nd & host SJS |
| Ducks OT loss | SJS win | SJS OT loss | SJS reg loss |
| LA win | WC1 @VGK | WC1 @VGK | WC1 @VGK |
| LA OT loss | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS |
| LA reg loss | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS |
| Ducks reg loss | SJS win | SJS OT loss | SJS reg loss |
| LA win | WC1 @VGK | WC1 @VGK | WC1 @VGK |
| LA OT loss | WC1 @VGK | WC1 @VGK | WC1 @VGK |
| LA reg loss | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS | 3rd & @SJS |
Anaheim has been almost unbeatable at home the past two months. The only way for the Ducks to have home ice advantage in their opening round is to win tonight and San Jose must lose in regulation.
More from Pucks of a Feather
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- 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?
We polled fans on twitter and facebook as to who they would prefer to face next week, here are the results: LA – 25.25%, San Jose – 31.82%, and Vegas – 42.93 %. Someone will be unhappy. If the Anaheim Ducks win tonight, there is no chance they face Vegas in the first round. If they lose tonight, that chance goes to 33%.
Captain News and Notes
Usually, this a team section, but today’s news and notes are all about Ryan Getzlaf.
- Getzlaf is on a points binge. He has 25 points and is +12 in his last 20 games
- His two assists last night, ran his total to 60 points this season. It is the ninth time he has reached that plateau in his career.
- At 49 assists so far in 2017-18, the captain has recorded 40 or more helpers for the 10th time.
- He leads the NHL in assists per game (.89 apg).
Ducks @ Arizona
The stakes of tonight’s regular season finisher at Arizona were well covered in the intro. Unfortunately, the Yotes aren’t going to roll over and let the Anaheim Ducks win. The cellar dwellers have been hot lately, going 6-3-2 (14 points) in their last 11 games.
The Ducks will more than likely play the same group they have in recent games. As much as they would like to give a little extra rest to some players, too much is on the line. As for the goalie situation, nothing has been announced. Either Ryan Miller will start both ends of this back-to-back (not ideal) or Reto Berra will make his second start of the season (not ideal either). Here is the expected lineup:
Forwards
Rakell-Getzlaf-Perry
Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg
Ritchie-Henrique-Kase
Brown-Grant-Chimera
Defensemen
Lindholm-Manson
Montour-Beauchemin
Welinski-Pettersson
Goalies
Miller or Berra
In Perspective
This game is important for the Anaheim Ducks and their fans. It pales in comparison to the tragedy unfolding in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Hockey isn’t like other sports. Those who play and watch it have a special bond. Former Ducks coach Mike Babcock held back tears in his press conference last night when discussing the crash.
Next: Ducks Tales looks back at the team's first post-season.
As a father of two young men, the same age as players of the Humboldt Broncos, my heart goes out to all those affected. 14 souls will be putting on their skates with Richard, Howe, Beliveau and the rest of the boys upstairs tonight. Also, best wishes for a complete recovery to the 15 injured. We are with you, Humboldt!