Best/Worst: Setting the Pace in the Pacific

Best: An Overtime Victory

The Ducks won only their third game in franchise history while at an even 3 vs 3. Ondrej Kase had himself a game and made his one overtime shift count. It’s been a long time coming for us Ducks fans. One interesting note is that Carlyle started the session with Vatanen lining up as a forward for the opening draw. This could give the first shift a lot more speed.

Worst: Special Teams

Anaheim’s now 4^th ranked power play was no match for Arizona’s 28^th slotted penalty kill. The team went 0 for 3 and created only a few chances. It’s obvious how much the team misses the captain Ryan Getzlaf in this situation. Even though fans might not always appreciate his pass-first mentality, Getzlaf is highly successful at creating chances for his line mates. To make matters worse, Anaheim’s PK also gave up a goal in only two chances against.

Best: Depth Scoring

For the second game in a row the big story was depth scoring. Joseph Cramarossa opened the scoring after a puck deflected off him in the crease. Next, Chris Wagner rewarded the fourth line’s hard work with a seeing eye shot past the struggling Mike Smith. Then OT hero Ondrej Kase sent fans home happy after taking advantage of some bold goaltending play. In fact, the entire third line has been on a tear in the last few games. Kase especially has never looked more comfortable. If the Ducks can continue to get production from all of their lines, they have a good chance of staying at the top of the Pacific Division standings.

Worst: Mike Smith

”Ouch town population you bro”- Pepper. The veteran goaltender stopped 32 of 35 Anaheim shots and, to his credit, made some miraculous saves. The only issue was that two of the goals he gave up he’d probably like to have back. Anaheim’s OT winner came off of a strange turnover after Smith somehow froze with the puck on his stick in the crease. With the current state of the Coyotes, Smith needs to be perfect. But tonight, he was far from it.

Three Stars:

3. Hampus Lindholm

2. Cam Fowler

1. Ondrej Kase