Anaheim Ducks: Early Season Pacific Division Power Rankings

7- Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks find themselves surprisingly, in the 5th seed in the Pacific Division, only 2 points out of 3rd. So, why are they this low in the power rankings? Well, to put it bluntly, numbers DO lie. The Anaheim Ducks may be 5th in the Pacific, but they have something the Kings don’t. The only reason they are not 8th in the power ranking because of their stellar goaltending. The Ducks find themselves 6-6-3 for the month of October, but again, numbers can lie.

The Ducks started out 5-1-1 to start the season despite giving up a staggering 251 shots in those 7 games while only managing 168 shots of their own. Only mustering 24 shots a game while allowing almost 36 shots a game is no way to win. Not to mention, the horrifying 2nd period against the Dallas Stars where the team allowed 30 shots in that single period alone.

The Anaheim Ducks have consistently been bailed out by John Gibson. Despite facing 99 more shots than Devyn Dubnyk, who leads the league in save percentage, Gibson currently has the second highest save percentage of goaltenders who have played 10 or more games.

Outside of goaltending, the Anaheim Ducks have had some players putting up serviceable, but not gaudy numbers. Rickard Rakell leads the team with 11 points in 15 games, Ryan Getzlaf is currently putting up more than a point per game, with 10 points in 9 games, and defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler have put up 8 and 9 points respectively in 15 games.

The Anaheim Ducks have had several significant injuries but it’s not fair to blame the teams 7 game losing streak, only snapped against the struggling Blue Jackets in overtime, on injuries. The Ducks have simply not looked good most nights. They did show signs of life against the Blue Jackets and it may be the jumpstart they needed, but if not it’s not a stretch to say the Anaheim Ducks coach, Randy Carlyle, might be the next NHL coach in the unemployment line.