Slowly and methodically, the Ducks’ power play is making its way up from the NHL’s basement.
Of course, it’s probably a stretch to use the word “climbing.”
Their power play was ranked 31st overall on Nov. 3 and 29th on Dec. 17. After going 1 for 3 against Arizona in a 5-2 win on Tuesday, the Ducks were 28th overall (16.55%), ahead of the New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens, heading into Wednesday’s games.
The key moment against the Coyotes, in the second period, revolved around defenseman Juuso Valimaki’s five-minute major and game misconduct for slashing the Ducks’ Max Jones – for which Valimaki on Wednesday was fined $4,189.19, the maximum allowable under the NHL collective bargaining agreement. Troy Terry scored on the delayed penalty and Cam Fowler converted on the power play, turning a 1-0 game into a 3-0 cushion for the Ducks.
“Somebody takes a penalty like that on one of our guys, it’s up to us as a power play to make them pay for that,” Fowler told reporters afterward. “It kind of rallied our guys. Sometimes something like that can change the momentum of the game.”
Fowler scored twice and added an assist, and it was the sixth time in his career he has had a three-point performance in a game. The last time Fowler scored twice in a game was on his way to a hat trick against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 4, 2018 at Honda Center.
The Ducks survived a third-period push by the Coyotes – and their own unforced errors – to win their sixth road game of the season.
“The thing we didn’t do tonight is we usually find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot with a mental mistake,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said to the media in Arizona. “At least we were very far ahead when we had one of those.”
ALL ABOUT BEDARD
Get ready to read and hear all about 17-year-old Connor Bedard of the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats in the final half of the season. The hockey prodigy is the consensus No. 1 on draft boards around the globe and viewed as a generational prospect.
Leave it to Hall of Famer and Ducks legend Teemu Selanne to put his stamp on the conversation. In fact, the Ducks should have the irrepressible Selanne represent them at the draft lottery this spring.
Selanne posted this clever video on his Twitter feed shortly after the Ducks-Coyotes game.
I think Connor Bedard would fit perfectly in this @AnaheimDucks dressing room Welcome to Southern California! pic.twitter.com/cI6FZsArAG
— Teemu Selanne (@TeemuSel8nne) January 25, 2023
ICE CHIPS
The Ducks complete their six-game trip Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. They have only one home game – against Arizona on Saturday – until Feb. 10.
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Wednesday’s practice at Ball Arena in Denver was an optional session, but defenseman John Klingberg did get on the ice, according to the Ducks. Klingberg missed the game against the Coyotes because of an illness. Klingberg has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 40 games and is minus 26.
Incidentally, the league leader in plus/minus happens to be former Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm of the Boston Bruins (plus 34), heading into Wednesday night’s games.
DUCKS AT COLORADO
When: Thursday, 6 p.m.
Where: Ball Arena, Denver
TV: Bally Sports West