Anaheim Ducks Will Find New Ways To Victory

In Anaheim, these days, it’s not just raining, it’s pouring.

While most of the teams in the NHL have had their fair share of injuries during this first half of the current season, no one could really argue the fact that the Anaheim Ducks have been hit the worst, to an almost comedic point. Except, when dealing with wins, losses and key members out of lineups for long periods of time, there is really nothing comical about the situation.

In addition to a case of the mumps roaring through the Ducks’ locker room this past month and more broken bones along the blue line than a Hollywood stunt man faces all year, Anaheim was served their most brutal injury last night when the team’s leading goal scorer, Corey Perry, was injured on a hip check by Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard early in the 1st period. This morning, the club announced that Perry’s timeline for a return to the ice will not be determined until Anaheim returns from the current road trip — not exactly what the Ducks need this time of year.

Yes, Perry’s absence is certainly a deep hit to the team, but don’t count Anaheim out of the win column quite yet. This team hasn’t earned their status as the “Comeback Kids” of the league over nothing.

During the 2013-14 season, 26 of the teams 54 wins were on a comeback, the most for a team in the NHL since the 2005-06 season. Anaheim also held a 23-15-2 record when the opponent scored the first game goal. With the same group who earned those numbers last season still roughly intact, fans of the orange and black know that the current situation of injuries is no reason to give up altogether.

Friday night’s gutsy win over the Wild only further proved this point. After Perry left, the Ducks took a two goal lead over Minnesota, only for the Wild to make a complete comeback, and, at one point, lead the game 4-3. But Anaheim did what perhaps Anaheim does best, rolling the team’s depth and “no quit” mentality through the Wild’s defense until the Ducks eventually tied the game, and this season’s bright spot Matt Belesky scored the GWG in the 3rd.

While points in the standings truly only mean so much, despite the obstacles, Anaheim remains tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place. This only gives further proof that while the Ducks may be down, quite literally, this team continues to prove they are never out.

Jessica Bradley is an Anaheim Ducks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessiebear23 or add her to your network on Google.