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Ducks Set to Soar or Stall at Bell Centre: A Battle of Trends and Puck Possession

As the Anaheim Ducks prepare to face off against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, fans are eager to see if their team can continue their recent performance trend. The Ducks have shown a mixed bag in their past few games, with a notable victory against the Detroit Red Wings where they scored four goals on 22 shots, showcasing an impressive shooting percentage of eighteen percent. However, this was followed by a disappointing shutout loss to the Calgary Flames despite firing 25 shots on goal.


Nov 22, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) skates with the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) in the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

One area where Anaheim has excelled is faceoff win percentage. In their game against Seattle Kraken, they won sixty-two percent of faceoffs but still fell short in scoring, netting only two goals from thirty-four shots. This indicates that while puck possession from faceoffs is a strength for the Ducks, converting these opportunities into points remains an area for improvement.


The powerplay unit has had its ups and downs; they managed one goal from eight powerplay shots against Seattle but failed to capitalize on any of their four chances during the game with Calgary. Special teams will be crucial in Montreal as taking advantage of these moments can shift momentum and potentially determine the outcome.


Nov 22, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) and left wing Michael Pezzetta (55) celebrate after a goal as Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) reacts in the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, goaltending has been solid with save percentages holding strong at one hundred percent across different strengths (evenstrength and shorthanded) in both wins and losses. However, maintaining this level of performance will be key against a Canadiens team ready to challenge them on home ice.


As we look ahead to Valentine's Day clash at Bell Centre, it's clear that consistency will be key for Anaheim Ducks. Fans should watch closely how well the team can leverage its faceoff dominance into effective offensive plays while ensuring that special teams step up when called upon.


Nov 22, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) and Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) battle for the puck in the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The game is scheduled for February 14th at Bell Centre in Montreal and fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ nationally or BSSC channel 693 and BSSD channel 694 locally.

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