Anaheim Ducks Become 5th Team in West, NHL To Be Eliminated From Playoff Contention

The Anaheim Ducks are the latest team to be eliminated from playoff contention with a regulation loss to the Calgary Flames and a St. Louis Blues win.

The Ducks are the fifth team to be eliminated this season, all from the Western Conference. The teams that were out of the race sooner include the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and the Seattle Kraken just recently.

Anaheim has a record of 33-34-8 and did take a step forward this season. Their goaltending has been great, Jackson LaCombe has stepped up as the team's number one defenseman, and some of the younger forwards took positive steps too. I don't think they will make the playoffs next season, but the team is well on their way.

The Ducks have now missed the playoffs in seven straight seasons which is the fourth longest active streak in the NHL. The only three that are longer are the Buffalo Sabres (last made in 2011), the Detroit Red Wings (last made in 2016), and the Ottawa Senators (last made in 2017). The Senators are likely going to make it this season as they have a seven point lead on the team that can kick them out with seven games remaining. The Red Wings are six points out with a game in hand in the playoff race and the Sabres are likely done for this season.

The Ducks have the pieces in place to become a good team for a long time when they finally break through and it's coming.