In search of another quality win upon which to hang their hats, the Ducks will square off with one of the best teams they’ve beaten thus far, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in Thursday’s final matchup between the two clubs this season.
Tampa Bay is the NHL’s most prolific team on a per-game basis while the Ducks’ offense has been the league’s most feckless by virtually any measure, including its average output. Despite the massive 1.23-goal gap between the two teams –– Tampa also has the No. 5-ranked power play while the Ducks sit 31st –– the Ducks won 4-1 in their prior meeting.
Although the Ducks beat the Lightning by three goals on Jan. 5, they have, more recently, been battered on their season-long road trip. The Ducks sandwiched the only win on a journey that began with two lopsided losses between a pair of shutouts by their opponents.
They got leading scorer Troy Terry, whose line dominated the win over the Lightning at Honda Center, back in Washington on Tuesday but he was unable to avert a shutout loss to the Capitals.
Coach Greg Cronin had remarked that the Ducks’ duo of Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome had not looked the same sans Terry, and after a game to get his feet under him, the Ducks may need a repeat performance to again get past a formidable foe.
“Just talking personally with our line, I thought we had some good looks that could have potentially made that a different game,” Terry told reporters. “It’s just one of those games, and, for our line, we’re just trying to build on it.”
Terry also said he felt a “disjointed” first period put the Ducks “in a hole” on Tuesday as they fell behind Washington 2-0, erasing what little margin for error they had entering a clash with the NHL’s top team by points percentage.
In a showdown of Strome brothers, neither the Ducks’ Ryan nor the Capitals’ Dylan notched a point, though Dylan did register two shots on goal.
The Ducks have now been outscored 17-5 on a road trip that will conclude in Florida against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers on Saturday.
Whether that ending sets up to be merciful or merry might depend on the Ducks’ ability Thursday to contain perennial Art Ross contender Nikita Kucherov, who is riding a six-game scoring streak over which he has nine points. Forward Nick Paul is on a five-game tear (five points) and top defenseman Victor Hedman has a four-gamer (five points) cooking as well.
Tampa Bay went 3-0-1 between losses to the Ducks and Boston Bruins, with the latter being their most recent outing, Tuesday’s 6-2 spanking. Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and newcomer Jake Guentzel each average over a point per contest for the Bolts.