“We feel like we’re an elite team. And now we’re starting to show it.”
That was Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf after his Ducks beat the Blues, 5-2, on Saturday in St. Louis -- a victory that came one day after a 3-2 shootout win in Chicago over the defending champs.
For the Ducks, the two wins were impressive results in back-to-back road games against tough opponents, particularly after managing just three wins in their previous 11 (and getting called out in back-to-back TGIFs on PHT, which let’s face it must’ve been a real wake-up call.)
Tonight, Anaheim hosts an Islanders side that’s winless in nine. The goal for the Ducks will be to avoid a back-home letdown versus what head coach Bruce Boudreau calls a “snakebit” team that’s unlucky to have not won lately.
“You’ve got to be aware there’s a struggling team coming in and we’re off of a road trip,” echoed d-man Mark Fistric, who added it was important for the Ducks to come out strong tonight and keep their foot on the gas.