Previewing the Kraken Series and Recapping Latest Game Results
Collecting points in two straight games, the Ducks can build some late-season momentum tonight as they open back-to-back games against the struggling Kraken.
Welcome to the THW Anaheim Ducks Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Ducks writers.
In today’s edition, we preview this week’s back-to-back with the Seattle Kraken, review at the latest game results, plus, a look at some positive signs for the Ducks’ rebuild.
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Previewing Ducks’ Back-to-Back Set with Faltering Kraken
March 26, 2024 by Jordan Reinhardt
The Anaheim Ducks seek their third straight game with a point when they take on the slumping Seattle Kraken tonight at Climate Pledge Arena. It will be the first of two straight games for the Ducks in Seattle, with both teams looking to shake a month-long slump and right the ship as they head into the final stanza of the 2023-24 season. The Kraken are coming off an embarrassing 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, while the Ducks are coming off a close, heartbreaking loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning (March 24) in one of the better games they have played the whole month of March.
Given the struggles of both teams, it should be an even contest. Let’s preview the back-to-back set by looking at personnel, storylines, and tactics.
4 Positive Signs for Anaheim Ducks’ Rebuild
March 25, 2024 by Charlie Hiller
As March turns into April, playoff races are at the forefront of the NHL discussions. For the sixth straight season, these conversations won’t include the Anaheim Ducks. With a 24-43-4 record, their point total is only a marginal improvement from last season, when they finished with 23 wins and a league-low 58 points.
Last season was a disaster for the Ducks. While expectations weren’t high, their defense-optional system under lame-duck head coach Dallas Eakins led to a horrific negative 128-goal differential. With an offense ill-equipped to keep up with the 4.09 goals per game allowed, Anaheim was borderline unwatchable a year ago. If they can only improve upon the worst season in franchise history by a few wins, has this five-year rebuild devolved into spinning tires in a pit of gravel?
Ducks Hang Tough But Drop Overtime Thriller to Lightning
March 25, 2024 by Jordan Reinhardt
Against a surging Tampa Bay Lightning squad that was down Brayden Point, Viktor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Anaheim Ducks had a chance to collect back-to-back wins for the first time since they did so against the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils on Feb. 29 and March 1, respectively. The Ducks hung tough and gave the Lightning fits, but couldn’t complete the job and fell in quick and heartbreaking fashion in overtime.
Notable in this game was the presence of Leo Carlsson, who suited up and turned out to be no worse for wear following a dangerous-looking knee-on-knee collision against the Chicago Blackhawks (March 22). That’s a huge break for the Ducks. What looked like a potential season-ending and offseason-altering injury was not so, and hockey gods willing, Ducks fans will get to watch Carlsson, and several other youngsters, be featured pieces of the offense over the final 11 games of the season.
For now, let’s look at the takeaways from the overtime loss, the Ducks’ second straight game with a point.
Ducks Snap Losing Streak with 4-0 Shutout of Blackhawks
March 22, 2024 by Jordan Reinhardt
What a difference a week and a few days can make. After taking a beating from the Chicago Blackhawks back on March 12, all it took was some time, different color uniforms, and a locale change from the Chicago winters to the California sunshine for the Anaheim Ducks to give it right back last night to the tune of a 4-0 victory.
From the drop of the puck, the Ducks had jump, were disciplined, and took advantage of their opportunities. This is an increasingly rare combination of factors, but they had them all last night in an overall feel-good win to snap their seven-game losing streak. Let’s look at the biggest takeaways.