Can the Anaheim Ducks keep rolling after their hot start to the new season?

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-flyers/QySGG7oT/"]Philadelphia Flyers[/a]’ offer sheet resulted in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carlsson-leo/ryQdsEH4/"]Leo Carlsson[/a] carrying an $18 million cap hit on the Ducks' books, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauthier-cutter/Aua8QuVu/"]Cutter Gauthier[/a] signed a contract with an average annual value of $13.5 million.[/p][p]Both of their new deals landed them in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/the-10-highest-paid-nhl-players-heading-into-the-2026-2027-season/OQeq4SoL/"]the top 10 highest-paid players this season[/a].[/p][p]Pat Verbeek knew at the end of last season that he needed to preserve sufficient cap space, just in case. As a result, several players gradually left Anaheim, including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carlson-john/WWRX2pFj/"]John Carlson[/a] (trade of his signing rights), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zellweger-olen/6P448ubM/"]Olen Zellweger[/a] (trade), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mctavish-mason/hjKrvCY9/"]Mason McTavish[/a] (trade), captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gudas-radko/x0sTXXa7/"]Radko Gudas[/a] (UFA), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnston-ross/rThJyAvH/"]Ross Johnston[/a] (UFA), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mrazek-petr/86WIxRLk/"]Petr Mrazek[/a] (UFA), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trouba-jacob/OrM8chCS/"]Jacob Trouba[/a] (UFA), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/truchon-viel-jeffrey/65GF83Yn/"]Jeffrey Viel[/a] (UFA), and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kreider-chris/YgaS1P47/"]Chris Kreider[/a] (buyout).[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/anaheim-ducks/4CM4ojpD/"]Ducks[/a]’ most notable additions were [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/greer-a-j/hA4gkLES/"]AJ Greer[/a], whose signing rights were acquired in a trade, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jensen-nick/0KLHnzn5/"]Nick Jensen[/a], who joined as a free agent.[/p][p]Last season, Anaheim finished third in the Pacific Division and eliminated the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/edmonton-oilers/Mg0qoxeI/"]Edmonton Oilers[/a] in six games in the first round of the playoffs. Their run ended in the second round, when they fell to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vegas-golden-knights/fTT0TsUg/"]Vegas[/a] 4-2.[/p][p]It was no secret that Anaheim was one of the NHL’s high-event teams. At five-on-five, the Ducks ranked 4th in expected goals for, but they were also third-worst in expected goals against.[/p][p]Through their first two games this season, however, the Ducks have looked different.[/p][h2]Fewer chances at both ends[/h2][image alt="Anaheim's 5-on-5 stats" id="c5bbf60a-1f6c-4c1e-b3b9-de4cb646bd56" credit-line="Flahscore" guid="04964bf2-6858-416e-976a-d3e6ea737ee4" original-width="1080" original-height="1350" /][p]During the 2025-26 regular season, Anaheim generated 2.94 expected goals for per 60 minutes at five-on-five (Score & Venue Adjusted), while allowing 2.93 expected goals per 60. After games against the Golden Knights and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/florida-panthers/fc1eq8Pp/"]Panthers[/a], both figures are significantly lower.[/p][p]Obviously, it is still an extremely small sample size, but the early numbers suggest that the Ducks may no longer want to play such an open style of hockey as they did last season.[/p][p]After two games, Anaheim sits at 2.61 expected goals for and 2.61 expected goals against per 60 minutes, which is a good sign. If that trend continues, there would not be a dramatic change in the overall balance compared with last season. The Ducks are still capable of keeping pace with their opponents, despite losing several experienced players over the offseason.[/p][h2]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dostal-lukas/vRjSW5ZF/"]Dostal[/a] Factor[/h2][image alt="Lukas Dostal has improved so far this season" id="45ec0833-6c49-40d9-a0a1-ee1a8b00880d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="d2196d62-0951-4ee8-b11f-5a06001bf254" original-width="1080" original-height="1350" /][p]This is where there is significant room for improvement.[/p][p]Last season, Czech goalie Lukas Dostal finished with -2.9 goals saved above expected, ranking 43rd among the 72 goaltenders who appeared in at least 10 games.[/p][p]If he can improve his performance, there is no reason to believe Anaheim cannot reach at least the 92 points it earned last season, provided the team continues to play at its current level at 5-on-5.[/p][p]The 26-year-old goalie has started both games so far and has already stopped 1.9 goals above expected, which is an excellent start.[/p][h2]Special Teams[/h2][p]This is where a regression should be expected.[/p][p]After converting 18.6% of their power play opportunities last season, the Ducks have converted 50% so far this season, which is obviously unsustainable. While Carlsson, Gauthier, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lacombe-jackson/WGymA2rC/"]Jackson LaCombe[/a] are all elite players in their respective positions, converting every other PP over an 84-game schedule is simply impossible.[/p][p]The bigger question is how the Ducks will perform on the penalty kill.[/p][p]Despite having players such as Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba on the roster last season, Anaheim killed off just 76.4% of its penalty kills - the 27th-best mark in the league.[/p][p]Through two games this season, the California club has killed 85% of its PKs. The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colorado-avalanche/hACAnvBa/"]Colorado Avalanche[/a] led the NHL last season at 84.6%.[/p][p]A regression should therefore be expected here as well over the coming weeks.[/p][h2]The Playoffs Are Within Reach[/h2][p]Although the Ducks appear to have weakened considerably on paper over the offseason, and regression on special teams is inevitable, there is no reason to believe they cannot return to the playoffs.[/p][p]The Pacific Division could also work in their favor, with them competing against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/calgary-flames/EZekktRt/"]the Calgary Flames[/a], Edmonton, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-kings/CIDo8i2o/"]the Los Angeles Kings[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-jose-sharks/E588Co9j/"]the San Jose Sharks[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-kraken/MibYQ5nU/"]the Seattle Kraken[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vancouver-canucks/YiOrnTV9/"]the Vancouver Canucks,[/a] and Vegas.[/p][p]Ultimately, much will depend on the production of the team’s two biggest stars: Carlsson, who has five points in two games, and Gauthier, who has four points in two games.[/p][p]And, of course, on how Dostal performs in net.[/p][p][i]Data sources: moneypuck.com, naturalstattrick.com[/i][/p][infobox id="4a10d479-52d8-41e0-aa1d-fb0ac5772099" /]