Tuesday night’s hard-fought 6-4 win over the Seattle Kraken marked the third straight for the Anaheim Ducks, and the third game in a row where the team scored five or more goals.
The Ducks have been hit-or-miss this season and entered their current win streak with an 18-23-6 record. Reports of a poor locker room culture, consistent healthy scratches of their young players, and injuries to their best performers have all plagued the team this season, leading to less-than-ideal outcomes. However, as of late, something finally seems to be clicking on the ice — what’s working?
Across their last three games, the Ducks have only taken 26 penalty minutes and have been keeping themselves noticeably disciplined. A cleaner style of play and less time in the box has allowed the team to maintain control of the puck and keep their best players on the ice. Their penalty kill has also been impressive lately. In their recent wins, the Ducks only allowed one power-play goal for the opposing team thanks to a consistent first penalty kill unit of Jansen Harkins, Alex Killorn, Brian Dumoulin, and Radko Gudas. These heavy hitters are able to clear the puck, check hard, and keep other teams’ offenses at bay, even with the man advantage. If the Ducks can continue to stay disciplined and composed as they have been, continuing their hot streak will come easily.
Anaheim has been taking – and keeping – control of the puck much more often as of late. In their most recent game against the Seattle Kraken, the Ducks won the faceoff 40% of the time and boasted just 11 giveaways. Having 23 shots on goal, with six of those being converted, aided in their win. The team produced an even more dominant performance over the Nashville Predators, where they won the faceoff 53.3% of the time and had the game’s only power-play goal. They totaled 35 shots on goal in that game, with five of them going in. The Ducks played fairly evenly against the Pittsburgh Penguins to start their win streak, tallying 34 shots on goal to Pittsburgh’s 42 and capitalizing on 11 takeaways. They were noticeably in control and in their offensive zone a majority of the game and were able to use that to their advantage to take the decisive 5-1 win. The team is now 20-0-2 when scoring three or more goals, making those offensive opportunities all the more important.
The Ducks’ defense has a major size advantage, with six out of seven defenders standing at six feet and 200 pounds or higher. Players like Gudas, Dumoulin, and Jacob Trouba are highly physical and check often, which has become a major advantage for the team. They tallied 49 hits across their last three games – physicality seems to be their modus operandi.
The team’s goaltending tandem is another notable advantage for the Ducks. John Gibson and Lukas Dostal tend to alternate their starts, as they are both solid in net. Even when the team falls short offensively, their netminding stands strong and keeps other teams’ offensive looks from crossing the goal line. Dostal has a .908 save percentage (SV%) so far this season, while Gibson boasts a SV% of .914. The pair stopped a collective 98 shots on goal from the opposition to aid the Ducks’ wins and keep their performance hot.
Perhaps the most notable element of the Ducks’ stellar offensive performance is the fact that players are finally finding their groove and using their puck skills successfully. Perhaps the most prolific star on the team lately is forward Mason McTavish. McTavish has scored in all three of the Ducks’ wins, with all of them being multi-point games for him. He has found the back of the net five times and is looking visibly more confident both on and off the ice. Harkins, a newer member of the Ducks’ squad, recorded a multi-point night against the Predators, tallying one goal and one assist. A line of Frank Vatrano-Ryan Strome-Troy Terry has been showing up night after night and producing consistently. The second-line trio totaled nine points in three games and is finding much-needed offensive chemistry. Veteran forward Alex Killorn also added a two-goal game under his belt recently, only adding to the team’s increasing offensive abilities.
Keeping the rest of the season in line with the team’s current performance will boost morale both in the locker room and among fans. The Ducks currently stand a mere eight points out of a wild card playoff spot, so with a little luck and a whole lot of top-tier hockey, they could even find themselves in a position that hasn’t been seen in years. While the Ducks fell to the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, they continue their hunt for a win tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.
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Top NHL analyst Stephan Roget of 'Canucks Army' believes the Canucks could definitely offer sheet Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi, but they likely won't. Offer sheets remain one of the less common NHL deals, so a midsummer offer sheet from the Vancouver Canucks would remain highly unlikely. The player must be a restricted free agent (RFA) to be offer-sheet eligible, and come mid-July, there are not many remaining who are. Two of them are strong possibilities for whom the Canucks would consider making an offer sheet: Anaheim Ducks' Mason McTavish and Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi. And offer sheets are a two-part process. Your team has to first make an offer. And then there has to be acceptance of a player before his current team is in a position to counter. That is uncertainty enough. Any offer sheet from the Canucks would have to be at least $11.7 million per year The Canucks would only be able to give Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi at the absolute highest compensation level, above $11.7 million annually. That would cost four protected first-rounders across five drafts to the Canucks. While both Rossi and McTavish would certainly appreciate an offer of this nature, whether either is truly worth this kind of investment of this size, especially for Vancouver, a club not comfortably in a playoff position, is questionable. 'As it stands, the Canucks are still eligible to make offer sheets to McTavish and Rossi - but only certain offer sheets. 'Whether it's realistic to expect a mid-summer offer sheet from the Canucks, is no'. - Stephan Roget Bottom line: While theoretically, a Canucks summer offer sheet is conceivable, too high a price, in cap space and future equity, makes it extremely unlikely, per NHL analyst Stephan Roget of 'Canucks Army.'
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East ahead of Friday night's bout with the San Francisco Giants, but they are still one of the most vulnerable teams in baseball. New York has a laundry list of pitchers on the IL, including Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), and Max Kranick (flexor). However, it did acquire southpaw hurler Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The veteran is 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA over 45 appearances this season, including 18 holds and one save. While the Mets could stand to add more healthy arms, they probably won't get a certain prominent hurler on the Miami Marlins, via The New York Post's Mike Puma. "The Mets are among the teams that have checked in on Sandy Alcantara," he reported on Friday. "The asking price is steep. The Mets haven’t ruled out adding a starting pitcher, but view it as a tough add given the market." Alcantara is 5-9 with a 6.66 ERA over 20 starts this season. The 29-year-old won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022 after going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 32 starts. His current contract extension has a $21 million club option for 2027, and he's scheduled to make $17.3 million in both 2025 and 2026. Right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will start for New York against San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.