First place and deadline trades: week 19 recap for the Anaheim Ducks

In week 19 of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Anaheim Ducks went 3-1 with victories over the Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, and Montreal Canadiens. The only blemish from their impressive homestand, was getting absolutely steamrolled by the Colorado Avalanche. Since a mid-season slide that nearly sunk their season, the Ducks have rebounded by winning 14 of their past 17 games, which has catapulted them into first place in the Pacific Division, again. With 73 points, the Ducks are just one point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and five points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, for the division lead. Thanks to their torrid pace, the Ducks now have a 94.8% chance of making the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.

As a reward for staying in the playoff hunt, GM Pat Verbeek made a surprise deadline addition, by adding veteran defenseman John Carlson to the Ducks blue line. While Carlson's arrival will no doubt make the Ducks a more competitive team, one of the young Ducks defenders will have to shuffled around the lineup. The Ducks also had to say goodbye to Ryan Strome, as the veteran's nearly four-year tenure with Anaheim, ended with a trade to the Calgary Flames.

Three stars of the week

Third star: Ryan Strome

Between a combination of injuries, illness, and healthy scratches, Strome went over a month without playing in a game for the Ducks. However, Strome was finally able to back on the ice, in the game against the Islanders, and skated on third line with longtime linemate, Frank Vatrano. Strome registered his last point with the Ducks, by having the primary assist on Ryan Poehling's goal, to put the Ducks up 4-1.

Second star: Chris Kreider

Kreider has thrived playing on the top line for the Ducks, while registering six points for the week (one goal, five assists). With Troy Terry still listed as day-to-day and Mikael Granlund on injured reserve, Kreider is not in jeopardy of losing his position at the top of the Ducks lineup. In typical Kreider fashion, he has been a menace at top of the crease of opposing goalies. His redirect off of a Jacob Trouba point shot, with the Dostal pulled for the extra attacker, tied the game against the Canadiens.

First star: Cutter Gauthier

Gauthier has been on an absolute heater, as he scored six goals in the four Ducks games this week. The chemistry between him and Leo Carlsson has been electric to watch, and they have been almost automatic when given a scoring opportunity.

Gauthier leads the Ducks in goals and points, with 32 and 57, respectively. Gauthier is also 13th in goal scoring in the NHL and is second in shots with 236. Gauthier also won 63 percent of his faceoffs this week, and was taking draws in the place of Carlsson, in high leverage moments. Who knows how high Gauthier's ceiling is at this point, as he seems to be getting better every week.

Biggest concern

Shootouts

The NHL made a point to highlight how the Ducks have gone 8-0 in shootouts this season.

And while winning is the most important outcome of any game, a reliance on shootout wins can be detrimental to the Ducks future. The Ducks were outplayed by the Canadiens in overtime and looked like a team that was trying to get to a shootout, as Ryan Poehling, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas played roughly the last two minutes of the overtime. Without those extra eight points from shootout wins, the Ducks would be on the outside of the playoff race. Perhaps more importantly though, there are no shootouts in playoffs, it is straight up five on five until someone wins. The Ducks must find the ability to win games at even strength and not rely on a skills competition, to secure a win, or their playoff run will be cut short.

What's next?

The Ducks will conclude their homestand with a game against the St. Lous Blues on Sunday night and even though he is still listed as day-to-day with an injury, John Carlson may make his first appearance in an Anaheim sweater. The Ducks will then head out on a Canadian road trip with games against the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and cap off the week against the Senators in Ottawa. Here's to hoping the good vibes keep rolling and the Ducks hold down their playoff position.