And they not only saved their season, but somewhat shockingly caught the rival Los Angeles Kings and won the division.The Ducks will face the Nashville Predators in the first round of the playoffs, leaving the second-place Los Angeles Kings to play the San Jose Sharks.Starting with a 4-2 win over Philadelphia on December 27, the Ducks closed the season 34-10-5.The Anaheim Ducks secured the Pacific Division title after a 2-0 win over the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Capitals coach Barry Trotz rested several regulars, including 50-goal scorer Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
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Corey Perry and Nick Ritchie scored second-period goals, Frederik Andersen stopped 24 shots, and the Ducks defeated the Capitals 2-0 Sunday night to capture the Pacific Division championship. If the Islanders lose in any fashion they would remain the first wild card in the East and play the Atlantic Division champion Florida Panthers, while the Rangers would play the Penguins in the first round for the second straight season.
The Capitals also sat out goaltender Braden Holtby after he equaled Martin Brodeur’s single-season wins record.
The party will include face painting, a playoff-themed photo opportunity; “Paint It Orange” sand sculpture; DJ Jojo; and appearances by team mascot Wild Wing, the Power Players, who sweep the ice during stoppages in play and support the event presentation in other ways; and Ducks alumni.
With Gibson and banged-up center Ryan Kesler sent back to California after a win Saturday at the Colorado Avalanche, one more win was all the Ducks needed to complete their season-long comeback and they didn’t let the opportunity pass.
Game 3 is Tuesday, April 19 at 8:30 p.m.in the Bridgestone Arena, then 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m.
“I feel fine”, Trotz said about his team as it enters the playoffs. I saw it last night. “Should be one heck of a series”.The New York Islanders missed the chance to move above the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division following a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
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“Not our best game, but we got the win”. He is day-to-day. Washington recalled F Zach Sill from Hershey of the AHL, and he was in the lineup. Had the Kings beaten the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night, Anaheim would have had nothing to play for, just like the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals. Washington became the first team since the 1976-77 Montreal Canadians to go through the regular season without consecutive regulation losses.
