As the team reached March, there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding their playoff hopes. Somehow, the Ducks reeled off victories when they needed them most, and a hot finish earned them home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Ducks were swept by the San Jose Sharks to complete their worst season since they failed to quality for the postseason in 2012. The series included an 8-1 laugher in Game 3, and it was evident the Ducks’ issues extended beyond one lousy playoff performance. NHL teams are favoring speedy skaters who can move the puck quickly up ice; the Ducks are lagging far behind.