The Anaheim Ducks finished the long climb from obscurity in the Pacific Division to start the season Sunday night with a 2-0 win over Washington.
The win gave the Ducks the Pacific crown.
Frederik Andersen made 24 saves for the shutout.
Frederik Andersen stopped 24 shots in win Sunday to secure Pacific title – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“Freddie was tremendous,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “That could’ve been as good as I’ve ever seen him. His movements, he was square to the puck, there was no extra movements in his game. He certainly was sending a message to us that I know he hasn’t played for a little bit but he’s ready for the playoffs, as well.”
On a night where no was rested for the playoffs, the Ducks finished off their rally from the basement of the Pacific Division.
“There was no question,” forward Corey Perry said. “We were never asked.”
It is the Ducks’ fourth straight title in the Pacific.
“We kind of had to scratch and claw to get this division,” defenseman Cam Fowler said. “Any time you’re able to win the division it’s a heck of an accomplishment. With what we’ve gone through this year and kind of the ups and downs that we’ve had, this one has a little more meaning to me. It certainly means a lot to us to be able to win this one.”
Perry and Nick Ritchie were the Ducks goal scorers, both coming in the second period.
Andersen’s shutout secured the William M. Jennings Trophy for the goalie tandem of Andersen and John Gibson; a first for the Ducks as a franchise.
“When we weren’t scoring goals at the beginning of the year, and we said, ‘Hey, listen, we’d better be good defensively or we’re not going to win any games,’ they jumped right on board because they’d rather win games than score goals,” Boudreau said.
The Ducks get the Nashville Predators in the first round of the playoffs.
“They’re a very good team,” Perry said of the Predators. “They’ve got some great defensemen and got some firepower up front, so you’ve got to be aware of them. It’s going to be a good series and we’re excited for it to begin.”
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