Ducks Keep Rolling with Smart, Structured Win Over Kraken in Playoff Push
For the Anaheim Ducks, Friday night in Seattle wasn’t just another stop on their five-game road trip - it was a statement. In a tight playoff race, every point matters, and Anaheim showed once again that they’re learning how to win the hard way. With a 3-2 victory over the Kraken, the Ducks extended their winning streak to six games, and more importantly, continued to grow into a team that knows how to manage games when the margins are razor-thin.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t the Ducks at full strength. Troy Terry remained out with an upper-body injury and didn’t join the team on the trip.
Mason McTavish, who looked good during warmups in Colorado earlier in the week, was a late scratch and returned to Anaheim. That’s two of their most dynamic forwards unavailable - and yet, the Ducks are finding ways to win by playing smart, structured hockey.
Dostal Solid Again, Ducks Keep It Tight
Lukas Dostal got the nod in net for the sixth time in seven games, and once again, he delivered. The 23-year-old stopped 20 of 22 shots and made timely saves when the Kraken pushed late.
Anaheim’s play in front of him was noticeably more conservative - and that’s not a bad thing. With a depleted lineup, the Ducks have leaned into a lower-event style, focusing on limiting odd-man rushes and second-chance opportunities.
It’s not flashy, but it’s effective.
Through two periods, Anaheim kept Seattle largely to the outside, breaking up plays in the neutral zone and exiting their own end with purpose. Even when the Kraken made a final push in the third, the Ducks didn’t panic.
They clogged lanes, collapsed when needed, and made sure Dostal saw pucks cleanly. That’s the kind of composure that wins games in March and April - and Anaheim’s finding it in January.
Forecheck Doing the Dirty Work
Without their top-end offensive firepower, Anaheim’s forecheck has become their engine. It’s not about speed - guys like Alex Killorn, Mikael Granlund, and Ryan Strome aren’t going to blow by defenders - but it is about smarts. They’re taking smart angles, forcing defensemen into bad decisions, and creating turnovers in places where the Ducks can capitalize.
The forwards are doing their part, but the defensemen are reading the play well, too. Pinches are timed with precision, based on how deep the F1 and F2 are and where the F3 is positioned. That kind of coordination is a sign of a team buying into the system - and trusting each other.
Power Play Simplified, But Effective
Anaheim only had two power plays on the night - one of which came after a brief 4-on-4 - but they made it count. Chris Kreider, playing the bumper role, floated higher in the zone than usual, giving the point men more options and creating space down low. That adjustment paid off when Kreider crashed down and buried a rebound for the Ducks’ third goal.
With so many key players out, the Ducks have stripped their power play down to the basics - clean puck movement, net-front presence, and quick decisions. It’s not overly creative, but it’s working. And with a foundation like that, there’s room to build once the roster gets healthy again.
Penalty Kill Tightens Up
One area that had been a soft spot for Anaheim earlier this season was the far-side forward on their diamond penalty kill. Too often, that player was getting caught cheating or losing track of backdoor threats.
But lately, the Ducks have cleaned it up. The awareness on the flanks is sharper, and that’s freed up the net-front defenseman to focus on eliminating the bumper option.
The result? A tighter, more cohesive PK that’s not giving up the kind of high-danger looks it once did.
Cutter Gauthier Stepping Up
If there’s one player who’s really taken a step forward during this stretch, it’s Cutter Gauthier. The 21-year-old winger has been asked to carry more of the load, skating alongside Jeff Viel - a gritty puck hound - and Ryan Poehling, a defensively responsible center with speed. That combo has forced Gauthier to be the driver, and he’s embracing the role.
Against Seattle, Gauthier fired seven shots on goal and had nine total attempts. His line accounted for 12 of Anaheim’s 31 shots - nearly 40% - and he was a force on the forecheck.
He’s reading plays better, disrupting passing lanes, and turning defense into offense. That kind of growth in his game is exactly what Anaheim hoped for when they brought him in.
What’s Next
The Ducks now head to Alberta for the Canadian leg of their road trip, where they’ll face the Calgary Flames. With momentum on their side and a clearer identity forming, Anaheim is starting to look like a team that could make noise down the stretch - even if they’re not yet at full strength.
If this version of the Ducks - disciplined, defensively sound, and opportunistic - sticks around, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone chasing a playoff spot.