Ducks @ Senators RECAP: One Step Closer to Hughes

The Anaheim Ducks played the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, and it went about how you would have expected if you’ve watched any games since mid-December. The team couldn’t protect the areas in front of John Gibson and the Ottawa Senators left the building with a 4-0 win.

The one noticeable positive from the game was that Anaheim was able to put 45 shots on Anders Nilsson, a season-high shot total from the team. So that’s nice, I guess.

John Gibson left the game after the 2nd period after he was run into by Jaycob Megna on Matt Duchene’s goal late in the period that gave the Senators a 2-0 lead. The Ducks continued to push and direct shots toward Nilsson, but very few were really of dangerous quality, and the Senators’ goaltender had few problems earning himself a 45-save shutout.

This marks the 18th Ducks loss in their last 20 contests, and still, the team remains the same. The shuffling of roster players and return to health has seemed to do absolutely nothing for the Ducks. So where do we go from here?

Best & Worst

Best

One Step Closer to the Draft Lottery - It’s the only silver lining left this season for Ducks fans, the way the last two months have gone. Seeing the odds increase day by day to land either Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko in this year’s entry draft seems to be the only hope that Ducks fans are clinging to now, and rightfully so.

Worst

Everything Else - I’ll be honest, I try my absolute best to laugh off these games, find the silver linings, and look to the future, but as a fan of the team, it is so damn hard to watch them play as they have been every game. I still cheer for every Ducks goal and I still shake my head at every goal against; it’s just part of my fanhood, I suppose. I see how many Ducks fans are all aboard the “tank” and just want to see the Ducks give themselves the best chance at a top-2 draft pick, but I really just want to see the team win for a change. I miss winning, and I miss seeing the team clicking and scoring goals.

3 Stars of the Game

3. Matt Duchene - Duchene scored twice and knows he may be leaving the Ottawa Senators in a couple weeks when the trade deadline approaches, so well done to him for doing all he can to increase his own value in the eyes of other’s competing teams before that time comes.

2. The Final Buzzer - The sweet sound of the final buzzer that put an end to another miserable game for the Anaheim Ducks. What would we do without you?

1. My Work - I’ll be honest. My work schedule caused me to miss watching the first two periods of the game and be restricted to the radio coverage, and I’m forever grateful for it. Thank you work, for saving me from 2 hours of sadness and instead only subjecting me to actually watching 45 minutes of sadness.