The Anaheim Ducks return to the Honda Center for their March 28, 2025 matchup against the New York with a 31-32-8 record, embracing a role that has become familiar in recent seasons—that of a team out of the playoff picture but capable of playing spoiler and showcasing young talent in front of a loyal home crowd that continues to support the club’s long-term rebuild. Despite their sub-.500 record, the Ducks have been quietly competitive in several key areas, particularly at home, where they’ve covered the spread in 45% of their games, often giving stronger opponents a tougher challenge than expected. Led by the electric duo of Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry, Anaheim’s offense remains its strongest asset, with Zegras having posted 22 goals and 35 assists this season while Terry leads the team in goals with 25, complemented by 30 assists, both proving they can drive possession and create chances even against elite defensive units. These two have carried the load offensively, but support has also emerged from rookie defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, who brings speed, creativity, and composure at the blue line far beyond his years, offering the franchise hope that its future blue-line corps is in capable hands. While the Ducks’ defensive metrics leave room for improvement—they allow an average of 3.2 goals per game—goaltender John Gibson continues to be a cornerstone for the franchise, facing one of the highest shot volumes in the NHL and still managing a .902 save percentage, often stealing games or keeping them close with acrobatic saves and stellar rebound control. Gibson’s leadership in net is crucial for a team with multiple young players cycling in and out of the lineup as they find their footing at the NHL level.

A major storyline heading into this game is the return of Jacob Trouba, the former Rangers captain who was traded to Anaheim midseason and has since brought a physical edge and veteran voice to the Ducks’ locker room. Trouba has made an immediate impact, logging top-pair minutes and mentoring Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger, helping accelerate their development and giving Anaheim’s backend a much-needed identity. With the playoffs out of reach, the Ducks have turned their focus to finishing the season strong, playing with structure, and building chemistry, especially among the younger core that includes Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson, both of whom have shown flashes of offensive brilliance but are still working on consistency and adapting to the rigors of the NHL schedule. Against the Rangers, Anaheim will look to take advantage of New York’s struggling power play and road inconsistencies, aiming to frustrate their skilled forwards with tight checking and timely counterattacks, while relying on Gibson to hold the fort when breakdowns occur. The Ducks’ formula for success will involve quick transitions, disciplined play to avoid giving Panarin and Zibanejad power-play opportunities, and strong zone exits to neutralize the Rangers’ aggressive forecheck. For Anaheim, this is more than just another regular-season game—it’s an opportunity to measure themselves against a playoff-hungry team, galvanize their home crowd, and send a message that the next chapter of Ducks hockey is already taking shape, one shift at a time.