If there’s a franchise organization that should have made the tough decision earlier n the season than they did, it is the Anaheim Ducks.
Since firing head coach Randy Carlyle far too late in the campaign, the Ducks have been at least competitive.
Daniel Sprong had a goal for the Ducks – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
On February 10, they 21-26-9 and in the depths of a 2-15-5 stretch.
Since then, they have gone 14-11-1 and granted some injured players returned but the entire roster played better.
On Friday night, the Ducks finished the campaign with a 5-2 win over the hapless Los Angeles Kings in Anaheim.
John Gibson made 44 saves to get the win.
“Looking at the big picture, we wanted to make sure we were playing the right way and playing our systems and playing as a team,” Gibson said.
Michael Amadio and Carl Grundstrom scored for the Kings.
“I think I am just playing a little more loose,” Amadio said. “Just trying to go out there and do what I can and make plays with the puck.”
LA dropped to 30-42-9.
“Regardless of wherever everyone is in the standings, you know it’s always going to be an emotional battle,” Kings defenseman Alec Martinez said. “It’s always going to be a revved-up environment. That’s what it was tonight.”
Daniel Sprong, Korbinian Holzer, Sam Steel (shorthanded), Jakob Silfverberg, and Carter Rowney all scored for the Ducks who ended their season on a 5-1-1 record.
“It’s very unfortunate that we’re not playing those extra games, the ones that are very meaningful, but there’s a lot to build on this season,” Rowney said. “It was nice to get my feet wet with this organization and go into the summer with something to build on.”
The Ducks won three straight to close out the campaign strong.
“It’s going to be a long summer, but I think next year when we come back, we’ll know the feeling of not being in the playoffs and I think everybody will come back next year motivated and ready to go,” Gibson added after the win.
[WATCH: All Kings vs. Ducks highlights]
Jack Campbell made 28 saves in the loss.
“I thought the first period was good. I thought they got a little bit of momentum in the second, but it wasn’t that they outplayed us, the game was pretty even,” LA head coach Willie Desjardins said after the loss.
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