GLENDALE, Ariz._The preliminaries are over for the Anaheim Ducks. Now, it's time for the fun.
An 82-game regular-season schedule that began with a dispiriting number of injuries to key players ended on an optimistic note for the Ducks on Saturday.
They didn't win a sixth straight Pacific division title but their 3-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes preserved their chance to finish as high as second and have home-ice advantage when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin this week, a remarkable feat considering how depleted their lineup was early this season.
"Looking at where we came from it is pretty amazing. It's a good feeling," said goaltender Ryan Miller, who stopped 31 shots to claim second place in all-time wins among U.S.- born goalies with 370, four behind John Vanbiesbrouck.
"I was definitely very happy because my goal coming here was to be part of something and contribute and it's worked out so far. The next big step is to win a playoff round and keep it moving."
In an odd situation, the Ducks didn't know their final placement or their playoff opponent when they left Gila River Arena to return to Southern California. The outcome of the Kings' game against Dallas at Staples Center and the San Jose Sharks' game against Minnesota at the Shark Tank will determine the final standings, and those games began about 90 minutes after the Ducks took on the Coyotes.
They cared more about being in the playoffs than who they will face, and they justifiably were proud of their success in staying close to the playoff pack until their injured players returned and fueled a closing 10-1-1 surge.
"It's kind of crazy to think that way, where we've come from," coach Randy Carlyle said of the possibility the team would finish second. "But we had a plan and we tried to execute a plan.
"I'm not standing here and saying it was perfect by any means. They had lots of speed bumps along the way but it's about trying to garner points and move up the standings. We knew we were going to be challenged right from Day One. We've got our group together here over the last six weeks and we've played good enough hockey to gain points."
They finished at 44-25-13 for 101 points, the fifth straight season they've reached or topped 100. They're the only team in the NHL with an active five-season 100-point streak. "We knew there was still stuff on the line and we needed to play our game," said center Adam Henrique, whose acquisition from New Jersey on Nov. 30 kept the Ducks going when injuries depleted them up the middle. "I think we did a great job doing that tonight."
Henrique scored their first goal on Saturday with a second-effort swipe on the power play at 10:54 of the first period, and winger Rickard Rakell reached a career-best 34 goals when he converted a fine feed from Ryan Getzlaf for a 2-0 lead at 16:17 of the second period. Getzlaf was limited to 56 games this season but recorded 61 points, including 50 assists. Hampus Lindholm clinched it with an empty-net goal at 19:56 of the third period.
Defenseman Cam Fowler, their power-play quarterback, missed the game because of a shoulder injury and goaltender John Gibson didn't play, either, but Miller, who signed with the Ducks as a free agent last summer, has been solid and earned wins in back-to-back games. "Hopefully we're trending up and continue to trend up because there are some areas of our game that we need to definitely improve on," Rakell said. "In order for us to have long-term success in the playoffs we're going to have to make sure that we're at the top of our game in all areas."
That they didn't know who they will face didn't seem to bother the Ducks. They're more focused on themselves and continuing to play complete games, instead of lapsing into the bad habits that tripped them up earlier this season. Getting into the playoffs was their sole focus for a while, and it had to be. Now, they can try for more.
"Just accomplishing the goal. Have to get in first, and that's kind of what we were harping on," Miller said. "I don't think we have a preference. I don't know that you need to have a preference. Every team that makes it has had long stretches of good hockey."
That includes the Ducks, whose game is peaking at the right time. "I think it's in a good spot, just getting to our grind game and simplifying it and just playing for a full 60 minutes," Henrique said, knowing that formula will serve them well no matter who they face.
