The Anaheim Ducks got off to a dreadful start this season and looked for all the world to be an also-ran 9n the NHL.
But, they have rallied and now find themselves in the third slot in the Pacific Division on the strength of a 6-3 thumping of the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday.
The Ducks broke out to a 4-0 lead through the second period before easing off the gas and letting the Hawks back in the game.
John Gibson was superb in the Ducks’ net and made 37 saves to get the win as they improved to 33-21-12.
Jakob Silfverberg broke out of a slump with two goals and Corey Perry struck for two goals himself in the win.
“We had to have energy and we showed we had it early,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “It was nice to see we got contributions spread throughout the lineup.”
Ryan Getzlaf had three assists on the night.
“We’ve had a few guys, me included, that haven’t been able to find the back of the net consistently. Hopefully, this gets me going. We need everyone, especially at this time of the year,” Silfverberg said after snapping his own goal drought.
Rickard Rakell and Marcus Pettersson (first NHL goal) added single markers for Anaheim.
The Ducks led 2-0 after the first period and then added two more in the middle frame before Chicago got on the board.
“It’s huge,” Perry said. “When you get an early power play, you want to move the puck around, everyone to feel it, and I thought we did a great job of that. … Those are the things that show that you’re ready to play a hockey game, and we were ready at the start.”
Chicago got two goals from Nick Schmaltz and one goal from Vinnie Hinostroza Tomas Jurco.
“We had a good stretch for about 10 minutes in the second period,” Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said. “Other than that, whether it was gap or puck possession, or puck management from the back end, I think as a group, it’s not good enough. I think the other team is in the playoff mode.”
And that statement may be all you need to know about the Blackhawks for the final 16 games of the season.
[WATCH: All Blackhawks vs. Ducks highlights]
Anton Forsberg got the start but was victimized by his defense standing around admiring the Ducks’ efforts down low; he made 19 saves and surrendered four goals.
J-F Berube relieved Forsberg and made six saves and yielded two goals.
“We have some good stretches where we play pretty good, but then [there’s] a little breakdown or something that’s in the back of the net. It seems like every little mistake we make is costing us,” Duncan Keith said after the loss.
The Blackhawks dropped to 28-30-8.
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