Can the Anaheim Ducks Downgrade the Hurricanes to a Tropical Storm?
Can the Anaheim Ducks Downgrade the Hurricanes to a Tropical Storm?
The Anaheim Ducks are flying high, on their first 5 game win streak of this season. They are looking to extend that streak to 6 tonight as they face off against the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2nd time in 7 days.
The Ducks, during this 5 game win streak, have looked better than they have at any other point during this season. However, that doesn’t mean they’ve been flawless. The Ducks still have a long way to go to prove that it isn’t just a short hot-streak and they are actual competitors.
The Ducks currently sit 2nd in the Pacific Division. A strong start to the season in the standings and their recent string of wins have been a big help. They’ve been winning by committee with very few players standing out every single night. Not exactly a bad way to be for a team that’s ravaged by injuries during recent times, the depth of a team like Anaheim is crucial to their success.
The last time these two teams met, the Ducks won in overtime after a game-tying goal by Pontus Aberg in the waning moments of the 3rd period. It was capped off by a beautiful overtime goal from captain Ryan Getzlaf. That win was the start of the Hurricanes current losing skid and the third straight victory for the Ducks.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes sit 12th in their conference, a team who’s record is also slightly deceiving. The Hurricanes have lacked any consistent goal-tending which has sincerely hurt them to this point. Although, their biggest issue may be their lack of consistency at scoring goals.
The Hurricanes sit at a -9 goal differential, and although it is better than Anaheim’s, isn’t good. What is even more worrying is how they’ve reached that differential. The Hurricanes will go out and score 5 goals in a couple games, and then follow that up with 4-5 games where they score 2 goals if they’re incredibly lucky. In 11 of their 27 games they’ve scored 1 goal or fewer. You can’t win games like that. Although the Ducks have given it their best effort early in this season.
Sebastian Aho continues to impress, looking like a true stud and showing why he was considered the only untouchable Hurricane to management. He has led the team with 26 points in 27 games. Teuvo Terevainen, a cap casualty of the Blackhawks team, is second on the team with 18 points in 27 games. Second overall pick in last year’s draft Andrei Svechnikov has shown flashes of brilliance as well, putting up 12 points in 27 games.
Curtis McElhinney has impressed since taking over as the starter in the wake of Scott Darling‘s continued regression posting a respectable .920% save percentage. If he can continue to find his groove and stay steady the Hurricanes might stand a fighting chance the remainder of this season. Unfortunately, it is still unknown whether he will be ready for tonight’s game.