Things are trending upward in Anaheim, and not just because of the Ducks’ five-game heater. There’s a new Olympian on the roster, some familiar faces are back in the lineup, and even with a few key injuries lingering, this team is finding ways to win-and win consistently. Let’s break it all down.
Jackson LaCombe Named to Team USA
Jackson LaCombe is heading to the Olympics. The 25-year-old Ducks defenseman was officially named to Team USA’s roster for the upcoming Winter Games, replacing Florida Panthers blueliner Seth Jones, who was placed on injured reserve and will miss the tournament.
This marks LaCombe’s first Olympic appearance, but he’s no stranger to international play-he’s previously suited up for Team USA at both the World Junior Championship and the Men’s World Championship. Now, he’ll take the ice on the sport’s biggest global stage, and based on his recent play, he’s earned it.
LaCombe has grown into a reliable two-way presence for Anaheim. After a modest rookie campaign, he broke out last season with 43 points in 75 games and has only built on that momentum.
This year, he’s wearing an “A” on his sweater and producing at a near point-per-game pace, with 31 points through 50 contests. He’s on track to eclipse the 50-point mark for the first time in his career, and the Ducks rewarded his upward trajectory with a long-term, eight-year contract extension earlier this season.
“It always was [a dream],” LaCombe said of the Olympic nod. “Obviously, you watch the Miracle movie.
You see all the teams that played before. Any time you get to represent Team USA, it’s obviously a dream come true and special.”
Head coach Joel Quenneville echoed the sentiment, praising LaCombe’s recent play and his presence in the locker room. “He’s been really good in this last little stretch here,” Quenneville said.
“Everybody roots for him. He’s a very likeable kid...
That’s a big opportunity.”
LaCombe becomes the sixth Duck heading to the Olympics, and he’ll look to help Team USA chase gold when the tournament kicks off on February 11.
Injury Roundup: Carlsson, Terry, McTavish
While the Ducks are riding high in the standings, the injury report tells a different story. The team has had to navigate a revolving door of absences, with Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Mason McTavish all sidelined.
Let’s start with McTavish. The good news here is that he’s considered day-to-day after missing Wednesday’s game against the Avalanche. Jansen Harkins drew into the lineup in his place, but McTavish’s status suggests a return could be near.
Carlsson’s situation is a bit more complex. He’s expected to miss three to five weeks after undergoing a procedure to treat a lesion on his thigh.
Not only does that take him out of the Ducks’ lineup for the foreseeable future, but it also puts his Olympic availability in serious doubt. With the tournament just two weeks away, he’d need a quick recovery to be game-ready in time.
Terry, meanwhile, was placed on injured reserve retroactive to January 6 with an upper-body injury. He’s already cleared the mandatory seven-day IR period, meaning he can return once he’s healthy.
He didn’t dress for the Colorado game but is traveling with the team on their current five-game road swing. That’s a promising sign.
Five Straight and Climbing
Despite the injuries, Anaheim is rolling. The Ducks have rattled off five straight wins, clawing their way back into playoff position-now sitting third in the Pacific Division.
And these aren’t fluke wins, either. They’ve taken down contenders like the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers in regulation, edged out the Kings in both overtime and a shootout, and most recently outlasted the Avalanche in another shootout thriller, 2-1.
What’s driving this streak? It starts in net.
Lukas Dostal has been sensational, turning aside high-danger chances and making the kind of saves that shift momentum. He’s been a wall, and the Ducks are feeding off his confidence.
Offensively, Anaheim is getting contributions up and down the lineup. The scoring isn’t just coming from the top six-it’s a full-team effort.
Young guns like Beckett Sennecke and Cutter Gauthier are stepping up in a big way. Sennecke has four points over the last five games, while Gauthier lit up the Rangers with a two-goal night, pushing his season total to 22.
Even depth additions are making an impact. Jeffrey Viel, who’s only scored five goals in his NHL career, already has two with the Ducks. When your bottom-six guys are finding the net, you know the locker room is buzzing.
This team has rediscovered its identity-fast, aggressive, and opportunistic. And with the Olympic break looming, the Ducks are looking to keep the pedal down. They’ll aim for their sixth straight win Friday night against the Seattle Kraken before wrapping up their road trip with visits to Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
The Ducks are far from full strength, but they’ve found a way to win. And if this stretch is any indication, they’re not just surviving-they’re thriving.