GAMER: Ducks Offense Explodes in 6-2 Win Over Bruins

If you hadn't seen a single game of this Anaheim Ducks season thus far before tonight, you'd probably think using the term "struggling offense" in relation to the Ducks is a joke.

The Ducks once again gave up the first goal of the game inside the first minute of action, but then scored back and scored often en route to putting six pucks over the goal line for a massive 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

As mentioned, Anaheim surrendered the first goal of the game just 40 seconds after the puck first hit the ice when an uncleared puck from Rickard Rakell quickly turned back to the point for a perfect slap shot from Zach Trotman.

Anaheim responded twice before the period would end with tallies from Corey Perry and Shea Theodore. Theodore's goal came on the power play. Anaheim finished 1-for-4 with the extra man on the evening.

Duck newcomer David Perron contributed his fourth and fifth points in a Ducks sweater, first with the primary assist on Perry's game-tying goal and then scoring his second goal later in the middle period. After managing just 16 points in 43 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, Perron now has five points in just four games in Anaheim.

It was also a night for the former-Vancouver Canucks players. Defenseman Kevin Bieksa notched his second goal of the season, a laser-guided rocket of a slapshot from the point that beat Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask clean over his left pad before bouncing in off the post. Ryan Kesler would add the fifth goal of the evening, an empty netter to cap off a superb show of strength from captain Ryan Getzlaf. Mike Santorelli would send what few Bruins faithful still in the building packing with just 32 seconds left in the contest as he battled a loose puck behind Rask over the goal line.

Zdeno Chara scored the second goal for the Bruins on a long wrist shot in the early stages of the third period.

The Ducks set a new season high for goals in a game tonight. They had scored five in a game just two other times this season. The Ducks have now won a whopping 30 straight games when scoring four goals or more.

Perhaps lost amid the offensive explosion and the elation over the result is the fact that the Ducks did it by yet again being spectacular defensively. Despite giving up an uncharacteristic 34 shots on goal, the Ducks neutralized the league's second-best power play and limited them to only nine shots on four opportunities.

Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen was sensational yet again, stopping 32 of 34 shots he faced, including denying breakaways from David Pastrnak and Joonas Kemppainen. Tuuka Rask is the goaltender of record for the Bruins, stopping 19 of 22 shots he faced, but allowed what ultimately held up to be David Perron's game-winning goal. Starter Jonas Gustavsson stopped 14 of 16, but was replaced after the first period due to a health issue. He was transported to a local hospital while the game was in progress.

The Ducks were also thrilled to welcome defenseman Simon Despres back into the lineup after missing 42 games with a concussion. Despres logged 20:37 of ice time, finishing with two penalty minutes, four hits, and a -1 shot attempt differential at 5-on-5.

The NHL now heads into its annual All-Star Break with the festivities beginning Friday, January 29th in Nashville. Anaheim will be represented at the event by goaltender John Gibson and forward Corey Perry. The Ducks will now head home and will next be in action on Tuesday, February 2nd against the San Jose Sharks. That game kicks off a stretch where the Ducks will face the Sharks, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Arizona Coyotes in a mere four days.