Win over Kings keeps Ducks improving

THE ANAHEIM DUCKS are in seventh place in the NHL Pacific Division (Shutterstock).

With the All-Star break now well behind them, the Anaheim Ducks are hoping to make the “second half” of the season better than the first. With a 3-1 victory Saturday over the rival Los Angeles Kings, the Orange County team put some distance between itself and last place in the NHL Pacific Division.

The Ducks are now 21-26-5, worth 47 points. That’s four points – two victories – ahead of the cellar-dwelling Kings. Saturday’s victory continued some of the momentum they had going into and coming out of the break. They now have four wins in their last six games.

Anaheim got goals from Max Jones, Derek Grant and Jacob Larsson. In goal, Ryan Miller made 46 saves in the win at Staples Center.

“I’m feeling it right now,” said Miller. “A little tired. It was good to get in there and see some pucks.” He hadn’t played since Jan. 17. “This was a game I was striving for, for a while.  It was rewarding to feel that way.”

Miller now has 384 career wins, and is 16th on the all-time NHL goaltender list for victories.

The Ducks are next in action Tuesday when they are in Ottawa to play the Senators. After that it’s off to Montreal on Thursday to play the Canadiens and to Toronto on Friday to take on the Maple Leafs.