Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks: John Gibson Swept The “Competition”

By Ciara Durant

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 25: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks tends goal against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on October 25, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 25: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks tends goal against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on October 25, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 10: Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kessler (17) on the ice for the first time this season in the first period of a game against the Arizona Coyotes played on October 10, 2018, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 10: Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kessler (17) on the ice for the first time this season in the first period of a game against the Arizona Coyotes played on October 10, 2018, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Duck of the Month Runner-up: Ryan Kesler

Ryan Kesler earns the honor of being our runner-up for Duck of the Month. He earned 3% of the votes for October, and rightfully so. I know many of you think John Gibson deserves 100% of the votes, and that is a reasonable argument. Nevertheless, I am a sucker for a good story, and I believe Kesler deserves to be our number two for October.

Ducks Nation was sent into a frenzy this past summer when Elliotte Friedman reported that Ryan Kesler could sit out the 2018-19 season. Most people missed the fact that it was only a possibility if he wasn’t 100% and went into panic mode.

Nevertheless, after a summer of hard work and dedication, Ryan Kesler made his triumphant return to the ice at Honda Center on October 10, 2018. It wasn’t long before the Ryan Kesler of old was back. During his second shift of the Anaheim Ducks game against the Arizona Coyotes, he found the back of the net.

A battle for the puck began above the crease. Antti Raanta denied the Ducks several times despite the traffic jam in front of his net. After Rannta lost the puck, for just a split second, off of a rebound, Kesler dug it off of his pads and scored the first goal just six minutes into the opening period.

Although Kesler has only been responsible for three goals and one helper during October, his presence on the ice has been felt. He has been consistent in the faceoff, he’s been a great asset for the Ducks on the power play, and so far, we have seen the reliable, strong-willed, defensively sound, and gritty leader we all know and love.

For a player who had been counted out by a lot of people, his performance this season has been a slap in the face to everyone who doubted him.

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