Anaheim Ducks Entering Make Or Break Stretch

Oct 22, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau talks with his team during a timeout during the third period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

After what can only be described as an abysmal start to the season, it seemed like the Anaheim Ducks would be unable to reach the benchmark success of last season. Top players Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry started off like slugs although in Getzlaf’s defense, he did have to undergo an appendicitis surgery and there’s no doubt that affected him early on. Frederik Andersen started off the season with an 0-8 win/loss record, however you could make the Andersen was the teams best player the first month of the season. During that 8 start stretch, Andersen allowed more than 2 goals only twice and posting a .933 SV%. No doubt, the teams biggest weakness has been the lack of offensive production.

However, given the teams construction and past success, few thought that this early season slip-up would turn into a season long slump. But, as we enter the new year, it seems that the Ducks have got to find answers and are inching closer to running out of the time required to do so. This need for desperation has not been felt in Anaheim for quite some time, at least since Bruce Boudreau took reigns behind the bench.

Unlike recent seasons though, the Ducks can just never seem to break through the ice that is the .500 mark. In their last 10 contests the Ducks are an underwhelming 4-4-2, which when taken into consideration with the way the beginning of the season went, is actually an improvement. It’s certainly not enough to get into the Western Conference playoffs, but it’s a start.

With all of this downer news, there are some things to be hopeful for when the Ducks ring in 2016. For one, they’ll have the luxury of playing at home for most of January. In fact, out of the 12 games slated for the Ducks in January, 8 of them will come in the friendly confines of the Honda Center. This extended home-stand may help struggling players to find their scoring touch while the familiarity of home-cooking could help to stop the wounds of the first few months of the regular season.

A second reason the Ducks have to be thankful is that they play in the Pacific Division. Typically a strong division, the Pacific has been anything but in 2015. Aside from the Kings who have been dominating everything they’ve faced, the Pacific has been nothing more than average. To make things a little more clear, the Kings lead the Pacific with just 42 points. In comparison, that point total would be good enough to tie for 4th place in the Central. Actually, that 42 point total is the lowest of all division leaders.

November 27, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) moves the puck against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) during the overtime period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

While the Ducks have had to scratch and claw their way to amass a measly 30 points, they only sit 5 points back of second place in the Pacific. Not to mention the Sharks and Canucks, both of which the Ducks are chasing, have gone 2-6-2 and 4-5-1 respectively in their last 10 games. With that being said, I think it’s safe to say that anyone counting the Ducks out need not worry about such misguided rhetoric. The fact remains that the Ducks have one of the more battle-hardened teams in the West and need only a few small win streaks to re-enter the conversation of playoff contenders.

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So what about the make or break stretch? Well, while I said the Ducks shouldn’t necessarily be in panic mode, the time is now for them to figure things out. There’s that decades old saying in hockey that points are much easier to come by in the beginning of the season rather than the end. This is especially true of a division that is struggling to feature only 2 teams that are above a .500 winning percentage. So as the calendar begins to enter the early months of 2016, every Pacific division team should feel that they have a shot at the playoffs and as such each game will be of significant importance.

Enter that January home-stand that I previously mentioned. If the Ducks can somehow turn things around, they will be right where they need to be with the awful play of October and November in their rear view mirror. Maybe Frederik Andersen can steal a game or two at home and the Ducks can manage a 5 game win streak. Well, that would be 10 valuable points that would vault the Ducks right back into playoff contention in the Pacific. It’s now or never for the quack attack.

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