Pacific Division Rundown: Ducks Soaring, Canucks Spiraling, and a Whole Lot in Between
Just when it looked like the Anaheim Ducks were headed into a midseason tailspin, they’ve flipped the script in a big way. A team that had dropped nine of ten has suddenly rattled off five straight wins and climbed into third place in the Pacific Division. That’s the kind of turnaround that doesn’t just change standings-it changes locker room energy and playoff outlooks.
Let’s break down how all eight teams in the Pacific fared this past week, and what lies ahead as we inch closer to the Olympic break.
Anaheim Ducks: From Cold to Red-Hot
Let’s start with the Ducks, because frankly, they’ve earned it. Anaheim followed up a gritty home-and-home sweep of the Kings-3-2 in a shootout on Friday, 2-1 in overtime on Saturday-with a pair of statement wins: a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers and a 2-1 shootout win against the Colorado Avalanche.
This team is finding ways to win in tight games, and that’s a sign of maturity. At 26-21-3 with 55 points, the Ducks have vaulted into third place in the division. They’re not just surviving-they're thriving.
But the road ahead is no cakewalk. They’ll be tested with a four-game road swing before the Olympic break, starting with the Kraken on Friday, then heading to Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. If they can keep this momentum rolling, Anaheim could solidify themselves as more than just a feel-good story-they could be a real playoff threat.
Calgary Flames: Stuck in Neutral
The Flames had one of those weeks that leaves fans shrugging. A 1-1-1 showing doesn’t do much to move the needle. They handled the Islanders 4-2, but followed that up with a 2-1 loss to the Devils and a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of the Penguins.
Calgary’s sitting near the bottom of the league with 47 points-only eight ahead of the Canucks, who have been in freefall. The Flames get two games at home this week, hosting the Capitals on Friday and the Ducks on Sunday. If they want to claw their way back into the playoff picture, they’ll need to find consistency-and fast.
Edmonton Oilers: Defensive Dominance and Home Cooking
Edmonton bounced back from a 1-0 loss to the Islanders with back-to-back shutouts-6-0 over the Canucks and 5-0 over the Blues. That’s how you respond. Even in a 2-1 loss to the Devils, the Oilers showed signs of life late, though Jake Allen slammed the door shut.
With 58 points, Edmonton holds second place in the Pacific, and they’ve just kicked off an eight-game homestand. This week, they’ll host the Penguins on Thursday, the Capitals on Saturday, and the Ducks on Monday. If they keep defending like this, Rogers Place could become a fortress.
Los Angeles Kings: Hanging On
It’s been a frustrating stretch for the Kings. They dropped both games in a back-to-back against the Ducks-3-2 in a shootout and 2-1 in overtime-which made it six losses in seven games, though four of those came in OT or shootouts. There’s a silver lining in the points, but the trend isn’t great.
They did manage to stop the bleeding with a 4-3 win over the Rangers on Tuesday, which keeps them tied for the final wild card spot. Now they hit the road: St.
Louis on Saturday, then Columbus and Detroit on back-to-back nights. If they want to stay in the mix, they’ll need to tighten things up defensively and start closing out close games.
San Jose Sharks: Flash of Fire, Then Back to Earth
The Sharks’ week was a mixed bag. They dropped a 4-2 game to Detroit, then stunned the reigning champs with a 4-1 win that featured a rare goalie fight-something we haven’t seen since the Talbot-Smith dust-up in the Battle of Alberta pre-pandemic. But the good vibes didn’t last, as they fell 4-1 to the Lightning the next day.
With 53 points, they’re in a three-way tie for the final wild card spot alongside the Kings and Kraken. They’ve got just two games this week: hosting the Rangers on Friday, then heading to Vancouver on Tuesday to begin a five-game road trip. If they can find a way to bottle that energy from the win over the champs, they’ll be dangerous.
Seattle Kraken: Looking for Traction
Seattle’s been in a bit of a slide lately, dropping six of their last eight. Last week didn’t help. They were outscored 12-6 in back-to-back losses to Utah and Pittsburgh, but they did bounce back with a 4-1 win over the Islanders on Wednesday.
Despite the struggles, they’re still holding a wild card spot, thanks to tiebreakers over the Sharks and Kings. Monday’s game against Pittsburgh kicked off a six-game homestand, and they’ll look to take advantage of the home ice with games against Anaheim on Friday, New Jersey on Sunday, and Washington on Tuesday.
Vancouver Canucks: Searching for Rock Bottom
It’s been a brutal stretch for the Canucks, who had lost 11 straight before finally snapping the streak with a 4-3 win over the Capitals. But before that, they got steamrolled by the Oilers 6-0-all six goals coming in the second period-and then fell 4-3 to the Islanders.
With just 37 points, Vancouver sits dead last in the league. And it’s not particularly close.
They’ll stay home this week, hosting the Devils on Friday, the Penguins on Sunday, and the Sharks on Tuesday. If there’s any hope of salvaging the season, it starts with stringing together some wins in front of their home crowd.
Vegas Golden Knights: Still the Team to Beat
The Golden Knights remain perched atop the Pacific Division with 60 points and two games in hand over Edmonton. They extended their winning streak to seven with a 7-2 blowout of the Predators, but saw it snapped in a 2-1 loss to the Flyers.
Now they’re hitting the road for a four-game Eastern swing, facing Boston on Thursday, Toronto on Friday, Ottawa on Sunday, and Montréal on Tuesday. It’s a tough stretch, but Vegas has shown all season they can handle the grind. With depth, scoring, and goaltending all clicking, they’re still the class of the division.
Final Word
The Pacific Division is as unpredictable as ever. The Ducks are flying high, the Oilers are locking things down, and the Golden Knights continue to set the pace. Meanwhile, the Kings, Sharks, and Kraken are locked in a wild card logjam, and the Canucks are trying to avoid a total collapse.
With the Olympic break looming, every point is magnified. Buckle up-it’s about to get even more interesting.