Anaheim Ducks evening news: Week 18 recap after a return to NHL action

After the three-week Winter Olympics break, the NHL and its players have been trying to get back their regularly scheduled programming, with varying degrees of success. The Anaheim Ducks may have had a short week with only two games on the schedule, but they picked up right where they left off, before the pause in the regular season.

After coming from behind to down Connor McDavid and the Oilers, the Ducks needed overtime to secure a 5-4 win over gold medalist Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. By banking four points in the standings, the Ducks have retained their position for second in the Pacific Division with 67 points. While they may be only three points back of the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the division lead, the aforementioned Oilers are just one point back and the Seattle Kraken are four points back. With so many teams bunched together, the margin for error has become very slim, but the Ducks have held serve for now. On to this week's three stars.

Three stars of the week

Third star: Beckett Sennecke

Sennecke tied for the team lead in scoring for the week with four points (one goal, three assists). His game tying goal against the Oilers, sent Tristan Jarry to the bench.

Sennecke also currently leads all NHL rookies in scoring, with 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists). While he probably won't win the Calder Trophy, Sennecke should definitely be in the running now.

Second star: Ryan Poehling

Poehling has held down the role of third line center, for a majority of the season, but has been moved higher into the lineup when necessary. While not known for flashy moves, Poehling does possess deceptive speed and can chip in offensively. Averaging18:32 of ice time this week, Poehling only notched one goal, but that goal against the Winnipeg Jets was a one on three masterpiece.

First star: Leo Carlsson

After missing playing for Team Sweden in the Olympics due to an injury, Carlsson returned to the ice this week and tied with Sennecke for the Ducks lead in scoring. With two goals and two assists, averaging 18:48 in ice time, and reclaiming the first line center role, Carlsson looked like his old pre-injury self.

Biggest Concern(s)

Injuries and lineup decisions

Just when the Ducks were on the cusp on getting a fully healthy lineup, something they have not had in weeks, Troy Terry was announced as day-to-day with an upper body injury. With Mikael Granlund still day-to-day with an Olympics injury, the Ducks lineup remains in flux. In the game against the Jets, Ian Moore had to move over to forward, while Drew Helleson was inserted onto the third pair with Pavel Mintyukov. Moore is better suited to play on defense and skating as winger cannot be helping his development. Ryan Strome has not seen game action since January 26th, but he would be better suited as a winger over Moore. While it may be nitpicking after the Ducks did win their only two games of the week, inserting Strome would allow Moore to move back to his natural position and allow teams to get another look at Strome, before the trade deadline next Friday.

What's next?

The Ducks continue their homestand in the upcoming week, which kicks off with a matchup against the Calgary Flames on Sunday night. The Ducks then host the Central Division leading Colorado Avalanche and the playoff contending New York Islanders on back to back nights. The Ducks close out the week against another playoff team, in the Montreal Canadiens. Hopefully, the injured skaters return to the Ducks lineup at some point, and we can finally see what the team looks like at full power.