Two weeks into the NHL season, there is one team left in the Western Conference with a regulation loss, and to nobody's surprise, it is the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks can attribute their 7-0-2 start to the strength of their defense and goaltending. Anaheim currently ranks 3rd in the NHL in goals allowed per game (1.89) and 9th in penalty killing (88 percent). G Jean-Sebastien Giguere has been masterful in net, recording six victories, a 1.81 goals-against average (4th in the league) and a .940 save percentage (4th in the league).
If there is anything surprising about the Ducks' fast start, it is that their offense has been average at best, only scoring 3.22 goals per game. Teemu Selanne and Chris Pronger have only scored one goal a piece so far, while D Scott Niedermayer and RW Corey Perry lead the team with only 8 points.
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With Pronger and Niedermayer leading the defensive corps and Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov in net, the Ducks have one of the most formidable defenses in the NHL. It is only a matter of time before Selanne and Pronger start lighting the lamp, and when they do the Ducks could be absolutely devastating. Everybody in the NHL is talking about Buffalo as the team to beat, but NHL betting fans should not wager against the Ducks.
Burnin' Down The House
Colorado C Joe Sakic scored his 1,500th career point on an assist in Colorado's 5-3 loss to the Capitals on Wednesday. … Toronto C Mats Sundin has scored 19 goals in his past 22 games. … Pittsburgh rookie phenom Evgeni Malkin has scored a goal in his first four NHL games and is one of only four players to accomplish that feat. … Buffalo (9-0-0) and Anaheim (7-0-2) are off to the best starts in team history.
Cold As Ice
Los Angeles Kings G Dan Cloutier is 1-5-0 this season with a .881 save percentage. … Two of the league's best defensemen- Boston's Zdeno Chara and Los Angeles' Rob Blake-currently have the worst plus/minus ratio in the NHL at minus-6.
Significant Transactions
Colorado traded F Eric Boguniecki to the New York Islanders for D Ryan Caldwell. … G Mike Morrison, who started the year 0-3 with a league-worst 6.13 GAA, was waived by Phoenix.
Injury Report
Philadelphia C Peter Forsberg will be out of action for at least a week after spraining his wrist. … Colorado D Bryan Berard underwent back surgery to repair a herniated disc and could be out for the season. … Pittsburgh LW Ryan Moore will be out 4-6 weeks after breaking his right forearm.
WagerWeb.com Betting Odds Updates
The Ducks started the season as +1200 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, which put them among the top 8 contenders. With their hot start, the Ducks should now be considered one of the top three favorites to win the Cup.
