Ducks’ offense shows signs of life
DUCKS 3 COLORADO 1
Goals have been hard to come by for the Ducks. Seeing the puck go in the net Sunday night provided some much-needed relief.
Jakob Silfverberg and Rickard Rakell each scored his first goal of the season, and the Ducks held on for a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Hampus Lindholm added an empty-net goal for the Ducks, who had not scored more than two goals in their first five games.
“Any time players like that can pick up a point or score a goal, it is just a massive weight lifted off their shoulders. And they carry it because they care,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said.
John Gibson provided another strong start in net, making 32 saves to improve to 2-0-2 in his last four starts. But it was signs of life on offense that had Anaheim buzzing to wrap up a fourgame homestand.
The Ducks jumped to a lead in the first 58 seconds. Silfverberg scored on a wrist shot through traffic off a faceoff win by Adam Henrique, giving Anaheim its first lead in the first period this season.
Rakell made it 2-0 at 9:05 of the second, beating Philipp Grubauer to the glove side off a centering pass from Ryan Getzlaf.
Eakins believes putting Rakell, who has scored 33 goals combined the past two seasons following consecutive 30-goal campaigns, alongside the Ducks captain should help the 27-year-old winger rediscover his offense.
“Rather than Raks looking to be the playmaker, he can look to let Ryan do that. Ryan’s been excellent at that his whole career, and Ricky can get back in the business of finishing,” Eakins said.
Mikko Rantanen scored in a career-best fifth straight game and Grubauer made 12 saves for the Avalanche. Colorado had been averaging 3.4 goals.
Rantanen broke through at 14:46 of the third, scoring on a rebound. Lindholm scored with 1:40 remaining.
Rantanen has five goals and two assists in his last five games.
“We definitely haven’t hit our stride,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I think as a four-line team we still have some work to do.”