Opinion
3 min read

Ducks Eye Redemption in St. Paul Showdown with Wild

As the Anaheim Ducks prepare to face off against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center, fans are eager for a glimpse of what could unfold on the ice. The Ducks, coming off a mixed bag of recent performances, are looking to assert their dominance and come back strong.


Jan 27, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Jon Merrill (4) and Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg (33) compete for the puck during the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

In their last encounter with the Vancouver Canucks on March 4th, the Ducks fell short by just one point in a game that ended 2-1. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways; notably, Anaheim's goaltender displayed an impressive save percentage of 100 percent on even-strength shots and managed to keep powerplay shots at bay. However, it was clear that faceoffs were a significant issue for the Ducks as they only won 37 percent of them.


On March 2nd against the New Jersey Devils, however, Anaheim showcased their offensive prowess with a striking victory scoring four goals from just twenty-three shots – an impressive shooting percentage of 17 percent. This time around they improved their faceoff win percentage to 46 percent but still showed room for improvement.


Jan 27, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) skates with the puck as Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) defends during the third period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The most notable performance came on February 28th against San Jose Sharks where Anaheim emerged victorious with six points to four. Their aggressive play was evident as they scored six goals from thirty shots – an enviable shooting percentage of twenty percent – and also excelled in special teams play by netting two powerplay goals.


Against Minnesota Wild's solid defense and home-ice advantage at Xcel Energy Center, it will be crucial for ANA to leverage these strengths while addressing weaknesses like faceoff performance and maintaining discipline to avoid penalties which have been a thorn in past games.


Jan 27, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg (33) passes as Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5) defends during the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The upcoming game is set for March 15th at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul where fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ or tune into BSN/BSWIX/BSW networks depending on their location. With both teams bringing unique strengths to the rink, it promises to be an engaging battle that no hockey enthusiast would want to miss out on!

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