The Anaheim Ducks continue to pass the eye test despite going 2-2 on the four-game road trip. This includes a 4-2 loss in an afternoon affair with the Boston Bruins on Monday.

Boston and Anaheim faced off with matching 4-1 records. The Bruins, fresh off a run to the Stanley Cup Final, haven't missed a beat in the early going this season. Led by four goals from David Pastrnak, Boston doubled up the Ducks in spite of the latter's' best efforts.

The Ducks threw plenty of rubber at Jaroslav Halak with a bulk of it coming in the second period. Anaheim played its best period of hockey this season in the middle frame, outshooting the home team 16-6 and 32-23 for the game. The Ducks controlled much of the 5v5 play and did so in overwhelming fashion, with 70% shot attempts and 76% of the scoring chances in the 2nd period alone. All of the pressure culminated with Rickard Rakell's second goal of the season to cut Boston's lead in half.

If the Ducks can string more periods like that together we'd have ourselves a legit playoff team to watch.

I bet you're asking yourself, "How the heck did they lose the game then?"

Well, for one... Pastrnak had himself a day. The third four-goal game by a player in little over a week.

And second, the game changed on special teams. Anaheim finished 0-for-4. Three of them came in the second period. On the flipside, Bostin scored on two of their three man-advantages. The Ducks are one of four teams remaining without a power-play goal.

Anaheim is 4-2 this season and continues to play well despite struggling to score goals or have any success on the power play. Yet, somehow there is no sense of uneasiness of anxiousness surrounding the team. They continue to exceed expectations and the early success provides a springboard for continued progress.

The Ducks will be thoroughly tested in their next three games at Honda Center. They'll play host to Buffalo, Calgary, and Carolina. The Sabres and Canes have won five of their first six games and the Flames are still considered a contender in the Pacific Division.

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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