Anaheim Ducks: Who Deserves the Three Stars of the Week?

With the Anaheim Ducks performance last week, they have made voting for our Three Stars of the Week very difficult. Does anyone deserve it at this point?

An eight-game losing streak is not something that makes Ducks Nation jump for joy. In fact, the Anaheim Ducks most recent loss has tied them with a franchise worst.

Yet, here we are. No changes have been made. While I may be a little impatient, I think it’s high time that all of us come to terms with the fact that if changes are made, they may not be the ones we know are needed.

What’s even more ironic is the fact that we’re bringing our Three Stars of the Week feature back this week. I can see the wheels turning in your brain, wondering where the logic behind that one is.

Well, to be quite honest, the decision to bring it back was made long before the Anaheim Ducks lost their three games last week. I know we were all holding onto the hope they’d at least win one game. Nevertheless, the Ducks are still winless. With that being said, it’s time for me to rain on everyone’s parade with some exuberant positivity!

We know the facts. The Anaheim Ducks have been performing, to put it nicely, lackluster at best. Their specials teams are disastrous, their “third line” seems beyond repair, and Randy Carlyle seems to think it’s pretty funny to push the boundaries as a coach as far as he can without getting fired.

However, we also know that there is no way to turn back the hands of time. What’s done is done. Although that may not reduce the blow of an eight-game losing streak, it reminds us that hockey players are human!

We put them on a pedestal and in some ways it’s fair and in others, it’s not. It is totally okay to put expectations on the team, they’re professional athletes, so it’s their job. However, there are also things that are out of the player’s control and we cannot blame them for everything going amess.

So, despite it seeming like the sky might be falling in Anaheim, we were able to, as the saying goes, separate the wheat from the chaff and choose our Three Stars of the Week.

Disclaimer: our Three Stars of the Week has less to do with a player’s overall weekly performance and more with a player’s individual performance during one of the games last week. 

Honorable Mention: Hampus Lindholm 

Hampus Lindholm played 26:25 minutes during the Anaheim Ducks loss against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. He was on the ice more than any other player. Lindholm logged almost four minutes more than Ryan Getzlaf, who had the second highest time on ice.

He also recorded nine blocks and eight hits, including five of each against the Golden Knights.

Third Star: Daniel Sprong

Daniel Sprong‘s second-period power play goal against the Vegas Golden Knights sparked something in the team. While the spark may have only lasted for 18 seconds, he gave the Anaheim Ducks a fighting chance against VGK.

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Second Star: John Gibson

In three games last week, John Gibson made 92 saves on 101 shots on goal, giving him a .910 SV% for the week. While it was not his best week by any stretch, as it is always said, any average goaltender between the pipes probably wouldn’t have been able to keep the Anaheim Ducks within one goal of a possible win.

He led the team to overtime against the Tampa Bay Lightning and he held the Vegas Golden Knights off from an even larger lead.

First Star: The Fans

With everything you’ve had to endure the past few weeks, it seems only appropriate that we give you, the fans, the first star of the week. If I could, I’d give you the first star of the month!

I know it’s frustrating watching the Anaheim Ducks lose eight in a row, hold onto their coach, and not make any changes to try and fix anything. Yet, you still faithfully fill the seats in Honda Center, watch from home, or listen on the radio.

Although the Anaheim Ducks organization is going to do what they want to do, you’re not afraid to let your voice be heard. You see the change that needs to be made, and you speak up because you want to see this team be successful.

Hopefully, in the near future, the Anaheim Ducks will actually head our advice and make the changes we know need to happen. Until then, I commend you for standing by them.

It’s a new week, and hopefully, we see a new team out on the ice! The Anaheim Ducks certainly need to figure things out before they head to Winnipeg. Maybe the Ottawa Senators are finally the team that can help them break their losing streak “curse.”