How Can the Ducks Make Their Final Playoff Push?

With 19 games remaining in the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks are seven points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They have every reason to kick things into high gear and make a final and critical playoff push, as these are the best odds the team has had in years, but it won’t be a walk in the park. How can the team secure critical points in the remaining few games to solidify a postseason berth?

Frank Vatrano and Others Stay Hot

While the Ducks don’t have one high-powered offensive weapon in their forward group, they do have a handful of consistent performers who show up each night and can find the back of the net. Frank Vatrano, the team’s leading goal scorer, has 18 goals on the season. Vatrano has a keen ability to find open lanes and set up plays. His powerful shots help him score consistently, and he is not afraid to use his body and power to check and defend the puck.

Troy Terry and Mason McTavish are also key to the Ducks’ offensive game. Terry, with 17 goals this season, finds his strength in playmaking. He has 28 assists and has found his place alongside Vatrano and Ryan Strome on one of the Ducks’ top-performing lines. McTavish struggled offensively at the beginning of the season and was dubbed a “third-line guy” by head coach Greg Cronin. He took the comment to heart with two multi-goal games in a row and now has 16 on the season. He has found his groove, playing fast, staying aggressive, and using his quick shot to find the back of the net.

A handful of players have been hit-or-miss, but when they find their offensive game, they do it in a big way. Cutter Gauthier, Strome, and Jackson Lacombe, with a bit of focus and a touch of luck, can help the team score critical goals as they chase the playoffs. Last season with Boston College, Gauthier tallied an astounding 65 points in 41 games. This is a far cry from his current 29-point performance with the Ducks. However, with time, development, and confidence-building, he could be a much-needed offensive weapon for his team. If he can hone his skills in the next handful of games and go on a scoring streak, he will be a force down the stretch.

Strome is another reliable playmaker. He has notched 26 assists this season, many of them for his linemates. Strome is known to score in critical moments and has a handful of game-winners under his belt. Lacombe is easily the highest-performing defenseman on the Ducks. With 33 points in 54 games, his offensive ability is impressive, as are his 91 blocked shots, which speak to his defensive ability. If he continues this level of elite play, he will become a critical factor in the Ducks’ success.

Improving the Ducks’ Power Play

The Ducks are ranked 31st in the league on the man-advantage, with a 12.3% success rate or 20 goals. Terry, McTavish, and Vatrano lead the team in power-play goals, so the team will have to do their best to keep them on the ice in those situations. The Ducks’ defensemen need to step up here, as well.

Keeping the puck in the offensive zone is critical, and the defensive core has not been building a strong enough wall of protection. The typical first power-play unit consists of Strome, Terry, Vatrano, McTavish, and Trevor Zegras. Swapping out Zegras, who has not been a big offensive threat this season, for a strong defenseman like Lacombe could be a better move for the Ducks.

Playing Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger

Defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger have been in and out of the lineup, fighting for one open defensive spot in head coach Greg Cronin’s revolving door of defensive pairs this season, despite performing well when they are in the lineup. Behind Lacombe, Mintyukov and Zellweger are the highest-scoring defensemen on the team, with five and four goals, respectively.

While scoring is not their primary job, every goal will be crucial as the Ducks vie for a playoff spot. When Mintyukov is in the lineup, he averages 18:25 of ice time and uses his size and strength to block shots and check reliably. Zellweger, meanwhile, averages 18:50 of ice time and has a noticeable impact when he’s on the ice.