The Anaheim Ducks have put themselves in position to play meaningful games in the season’s second half and possibly join the hunt for a playoff spot.
They can take another step toward that goal when they go for a season-high fourth straight win Thursday night in Calgary against the Flames.
Anaheim entered Wednesday seven points behind the Flames for the final wild-card spot from the Western Conference.
The Ducks, who have not made the postseason since 2018, are still last in the NHL in scoring at 2.54 goals a game. But they’ve combined for 16 during their three-game winning streak.
“We’re getting quality chances, and they’re going in,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “I said earlier in the year, when scorers get chances, and they’re snake-bitten earlier, eventually it’s going to turn.”
Mason McTavish has been the hottest player for Anaheim, registering six goals and an assist in his previous four games.
“It’s just kind of been going in for me recently,” said McTavish, who turns 22 on Thursday. “It’s good getting those bounces, so hopefully I’ve just got to keep it up. I feel like guys are looking for me a lot, and it’s a good run so far.”
Cronin said McTavish’s success has been a result of him skating harder and faster.
“Because he’s skating, he’s winning a lot of loose-puck battles,” Cronin said. “He’s got good instincts, so when we do come up with pucks, he’s putting himself in good shooting areas as well.”
McTavish hasn’t been alone in his contributions.
Troy Terry is also riding a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists), and linemates Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano each have four points in the past four games.
“At times, we’ve had three or four guys at a time that have been confident,” Strome said. “But I think right now, you’re seeing 10 to 12 guys every night with the forward group feeling really confident with the puck and making really good plays.”
The Flames have allowed the Ducks to creep within seven points by losing their past two games, most recently a 3-1 defeat against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday to open a three-game homestand.
“There’s a reason they’re at the top of the standings,” Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson said of Washington. “They find ways to win. It’s a great learning experience for us to just create a little bit more.”
Calgary has scored just three total goals in its past two losses. Those came on the heels of a three-game winning streak in which the Flames combined for 13 goals.
“We just have to find a way to put some in the back of the net,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said. “That’s been a bit of a challenge for us, for sure. I know we have guys that are capable of doing that.”
Huska said the Flames are also perfectly comfortable playing in tight, low-scoring games.
“We’re not going to score a ton of goals, that’s the way we are,” he said. “But having said that, you have to find a way to bear down and bury when you get your chances.”
–Field Level Media
