They’re not cold, but need to warm up

THE DUCKS won two of their last three games, but are still in seventh place in the NHL Pacific (Shutterstock).

Heading into the holiday break, the Anaheim Ducks have a lot of icy roads to travel to get back into serious contention for a Stanley Cup playoff spot.

As the week begins, the Orange County team is 14-15-4 with 32 points. That puts the Ducks in seventh place in the NHL Pacific Division, just one point above the last place Los Angeles Kings, who have 31 points. The Ducks’ local rival from Staples Center is well-positioned to leapfrog the Katella Avenue boys, having won four of their last five games.

For the Ducks, there are some signs of life. They’ve won two of three games this week, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout last Tuesday, falling to the Kings 2-1 on Thursday at Honda Center, and then edging the New York Rangers 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday.

Stat leaders for the team include:

• Scoring: Ryan Getzlaf, 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists).
• Goals: Jakob Siflverberg, 12 goals.
• Assists: Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell (15 each).
• Goalkeeping (Goals Against Average): John Gibson, 2.99.

The Ducks will visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, then the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday and the New York Islanders on Saturday.