Finally, a Power Structure Is Set Up

The Mighty Duck power play actually had some power to it in a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators Sunday.

The Ducks scored a season-high three power-play goals, two by Mike Leclerc and one by Matt Cullen. They ranked 28th out of 30 NHL teams on the power play prior to the game.

But one small adjustment, putting Marty McInnis at the point and moving Paul Kariya to the half-board, paid big dividends. Kariya had two assists and McInnis one on power-play goals Sunday.

The Ducks have three power-play goals in nine chances in the last two games.

“Maybe guys are worrying less about mistakes because it can’t get any worse,� defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky said. “We are taking what they are giving us instead of making stupid plays. If they are giving us the shot, we take the shot. If they give us the pass, we make the pass.�

Shifting McInnis to the point has helped.

He fired a shot toward the net that was stopped short in the second period. But Leclerc then chipped the puck in for the Ducks’ first goal, cutting the Nashville lead to 2-1. Kariya also assisted on the goal.

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Andy McDonald, in his first game after being recalled from Cincinnati, assisted on the Ducks’ second goal, his first NHL assists....Kariya’s first assist in Sunday’s game was the 300th of his NHL career. He is the youngest active player with 300 assists.