Ducks in Free Fall as Losses Mount

To say the Ducks’ last nine games have been brutal would be an understatement. Anaheim has been outscored 45-22 over that stretch, which has resulted in the obvious: The Ducks haven’t been able to pick up a win. What’s even worse, at least vibe-wise, is that Anaheim has yet to claim a victory in 2026. One must venture back to Dec. 20, 2025, for the team’s last win, a narrow 4-3 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

There’s a lot of blame to go around for why this has occurred. For one, allowing an average of five goals a game is never a recipe for success, and the responsibility for that unfortunate statistic ultimately falls at the feet of the defensive effort and goalie Lukas Dostal. While the Team Czechia netminder has flashed the brilliance Ducks fans have become accustomed to over the past several seasons, the results just haven’t been there so far. Through 29 games, Dostal has posted a .887 save percentage and a 3.25 goals-against average — both marks significantly worse than he posted last season. That’s just not going to cut it, especially if the Ducks wish to make the postseason.

But the offense has also dried up. Leading scorer and burgeoning star Leo Carlsson has just one point over his last five games. Cutter Gauthier isn’t much better — he has just two. The same can be said of Bennett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund, who each have three points apiece over the last five for Anaheim. Just like with Dostal, that’s not enough.

Can the Ducks Break the Playoff Drought?

So, can Anaheim break through the fog and emerge as a playoff team when everything is said and done? The short answer is yes, but it’s going to take a Herculean effort for the Ducks to climb out of the pit they’ve dug themselves into. Should Dostal turn it around and the scorers actually score, Anaheim will be in good shape. In a Pacific Division that’s tumultuous and lacks a clear leader, there’s always room for somebody to rise up and surprise the world.

The Ducks will attempt to break the skid Jan. 13 in a home matchup against the Dallas Stars, one of the Central Division’s powerhouses. They will then play the rival Kings on Jan. 16 and 17 before hosting the New York Rangers on Jan. 19.