Ducks rediscovering scoring touch at historic rate
If the Anaheim Ducks keep this up, their resurgence will be one for the record books.
The Ducks erupted for eight goals in a blowout victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, continuing a remarkable transformation.
Wow, quite a graphic on #Ducks telecast re improved offense. And lo and behold, Perreault rookie-year #Sabres 2nd! pic.twitter.com/uceK9E7mOl
— Mike Harrington (@BNHarrington) March 31, 2016
The Ducks' 3.44 goals per game in the second half of the season would stand as the best scoring rate in the NHL if they'd been this good beginning on opening night.
Despite the boost, Anaheim is ranked 16th in the league with 2.64 goals per game through 76 contests, which tells you just how goal-starved the Ducks were in the first half.
So what changed?
While it certainly helped that Ryan Getzlaf rebounded after a woeful start, Anaheim's secondary scoring has made the difference.
Rickard Rakell, the Ducks' 22-year-old first-round pick from 2011, ranks second on the club with 20 goals. Ryan Kesler was virtually invisible early in the season, but a four-point night Wednesday gave him 18 goals this season, and 12 points in his last eight games.
Jakob Silfverberg, who signed a four-year contract extension last August, scored twice against the Flames and now has 18 goals this season. Half of them have come in the last nine games.
Then there's Jamie McGinn, who's quietly been one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in the league with eight goals and 15 points in 12 games since Anaheim picked him up from the Buffalo Sabres.
A glance at the analytics bodes well for the Ducks, and might further explain how they've rediscovered their scoring touch.
Anaheim is ranked fourth in the NHL in even-strength Corsi For percentage, driving puck possession at a rate of 52.78 through 76 games. That means the Ducks have been generating a high number of shot attempts all season - even before their revival - and are now being rewarded.
The Ducks' supposed demise was clearly a mirage, and their scoring surge has vaulted them over the Los Angeles Kings into first place in the Pacific Division with six games left in the regular season.
(Analytics courtesy: Corsica.hockey)