JAKOB SILFVERBERG has scored two goals and has an assist so far in the young NHL season (Flickr/Bridget Samuels).

It’s still pretty early to tell, but this year’s edition of the Anaheim Ducks is looking a bit more promising than last year’s.

In 2018-19, the Orange County team struggled to a 35-37-10 season, finishing fifth in the NHL Pacific Division, way out of the race for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But so far this year, under new coach Dallas Eakins, the Ducks are 4-1, good for eight points and second place in the NHL/Pacific, trailing only the unbeaten (5-0) Edmonton Oilers.

For the week, the Ducks won two of three. They beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Tuesday, dropped a 2-1 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday and edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Friday.

Top scorers for the team are Ondrej Kase with four points (one goal, three assists), Hampus Lindholm with four (four assists), Jakob Silfverberg with four (two goals and two assists) and Cam Fowler with two (two goals).

Looking ahead, the Ducks will visit the Boston Bruins on Monday and then host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.