The Anaheim Ducks lost their last game to the Buffalo Sabres, and in the process, increased their losing streak to nine games in a row. When the Ducks cannot find the means or motivation to beat a team of perennial playoff absentees, like the Sabres (even though they have been on fire lately), you know the season might have gone off the rails.
Just a couple weeks ago, we pondered whether Anaheim should have been in panic mode. The Ducks had just lost their third game in a row, but the warning lights were starting to blink on the dashboard, as the team had spent much of December playing .500 hockey.
Steering into worst case scenario territory
With just a little over half of the season already completed, the Ducks find themselves in a far different position now, than at the quarter season mark.
Schedule | Wins | Losses | Overtime Losses | Goals for per game | Goals against per game | Power play% | Penalty kill% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Start of season to 11/22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 3.59 | 3.14 | 20.3 | 75.0 |
11/26 till now | 7 | 14 | 2 | 2.91 | 4.30 | 13.4 | 79.5 |
What was once one of the most potent offenses in the entire NHL, the Ducks have crashed all the way down to 24th. And while the rush style attack offense the Ducks deployed early in the season was successful, that style left the defense and goalies exposed. Lucas Dostal has not been the same since an injury, Petr Mrazek has not shown that he is a capable backup, and Ville Husso is not much better. Coupled with maddeningly poor defensive breakdowns and badly timed line changes, the Ducks cannot outscore their problems like they did in the earlier parts of the season.
UNREAL. NO NOTES. pic.twitter.com/OMgun673wA
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 11, 2026
The Ducks have gone from first in the Pacific Division to sixth, sit three points back of the final wild card spot, and are in 12th place in the entire Western Conference. A putrid -18 goals differential only helps to amplify how bad the Ducks have been since the quarter season mark. The penalty kill has gone from below-average to just middle of the pack, but the Ducks have had a lot more practice on the PK over their losing streak.
Unsung Hero
Troy Terry
One of the few bright spots in the first half, Terry is second on the Ducks in scoring with 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists).
🚨 Killer 🚨
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 7, 2026
Terry finds him on the power play! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/QemEv8pVOe
Even though he has missed the last two games due to an injury, Terry brings a solid and dependable two-way game on the ice. Terry can play on the top line with Leo Carlsson or shuffled down to the third line, to give provide an extra scoring threat and matchup challenge. Terry is nearly at a point per game pace with 0.98 and should set a career high in points, by the end of the season (barring good health).
Scapegoat
Drew Helleson
From playing in an elevated role on the top defensive pairing with Jackson LaCombe to begin the season, Helleson's game has rapidly devolved as the season has progressed. When not being healthy scratched, Helleson has found himself playing on third pair, lately with Pavel Mintyukov.
In 39 games this season, Helleson has nine points (two goals, seven assists) and has a team worse -12. While plus/minus is not a perfect stat, as it's a very noisy stat, there is something to be said for being the worse on a team that has struggled in the defensive zone. Helleson has an expected goals against per 60 of 2.77, while only providing 0.2 goals per 60 of offense. Mintyukov has worse defensive metrics but provides double the amount of offense at 0.51 goals per 60. With the younger and more effective Ian Moore vying for more ice time, maybe the Ducks should consider moving on from Helleson.
Management and coaching
The sense of vindication for GM Pat Verbeek after bringing in veterans Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, has begun to wan. With a mandate of making the playoffs this season and the Ducks careening off a cliff, Verbeek is in a tough spot. An addition to lineup could theoretically give the team a spark, but the Ducks are no longer in a playoff position to justify such a move. But after the good vibes of the first couple months, another lost season would sting even more.
Head Coach Joel Quenneville has been putting the lineups in a blender, trying to coax some offense out of the team. Every game has brought new combinations, but the results have still yielded much of the same; stagnation. The rush style attack is no longer catching teams off guard and opponents are clogging up the neutral zone, forcing the Ducks out of their comfort zone. Carlsson has especially not looked like early season version of himself and neither has his counterpart, Mason McTavish. With the top two centers struggling, adjustments have to be made, to get the Ducks cornerstones rolling again, as the offense flows through them.
Get the season back on the road
The Ducks roster and coaching staff is more than capable of getting the season back under control. While there is definite ground to make up in the standings, the Ducks are not too far back of the pack. But time is no longer on their side. The upcoming Olympic break is about a month away and will provide a clearer picture as to where the Ducks season is headed.