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What’s Going On In The Pacific Division: The Golden Knights continue to hold down the top spot in the division
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Photo credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Dec 5, 2024, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 5, 2024, 16:33 EST
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The National Hockey League season is two months old.
With that being said, all eight Pacific Division teams are putting together competitive seasons – yes, even the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks. The Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Edmonton Oilers are all battling for a post-season spot, while the Vegas Golden Knights are the clear favourites to win the division.
Let’s take a look at what has happened in the Pacific Division in the last week since last Wednesday’s What’s Going On In The Pacific Division!

Anaheim Ducks

This past week, the Anaheim Ducks went 2-2- with wins over the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators, while losing to the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings.
Goaltending has been strong for the Ducks this season, as Lukáš Dostál has a .921 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average in 15 games, while John Gibson has a .919 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average in seven games. Troy Terry has six goals and leads the team in points with 19, while Frank Vatrano and Leo Carlsson each have six goals for the team lead.
The Ducks play two games this upcoming week, hosting the Minnesota Wild on Friday before starting their Eastern Conference road trip with a game against the Montréal Canadiens on Monday.

Calgary Flames

It was a rough week for the Calgary Flames, as they were 1-2-1 with losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings (in overtime), before snapping a four-game losing skid with a victory over the Blue Jackets.
Dustin Wolf has continued his strong play, as he has a .918 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average in 13 games played this season. Nazem Kadri leads the team with 16 points and is tied for the team lead with eight goals, alongside Jonathan Huberdeau. The Flames’ lone representative for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Rasmus Andersson, has six goals and 15 points.
Over the next week, they’ll host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, before heading on a two-game road trip to face the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators.

Edmonton Oilers

It seems like the Oilers are back in full force, as they were 2-1-0 this past week, with victories over the Utah Hockey Club and Colorado Avalanche, before falling 1-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights in a game they dominated.
The usual suspects lead the team: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard. Draisaitl leads the team with 17 goals and 32 points, while their captain has 12 goals and 31 points in 22 games. Evan Bouchard has six goals and 18 points. Goaltending has been an area of concern though, as Stuart Skinner has an .889 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average.
This week, the Oilers host the Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Los Angeles Kings

Despite a long-term injury to Drew Doughty, the Los Angeles Kings’ best defenceman, the team has been playing well this season. This past week, the Kings were 4-0, defeating the Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, and Dallas Stars.
Captain Anže Kopitar continues to be a league superstar at the age of 37, as he has eight goals and 30 points in 26 games. Adrian Kempe has 12 goals and 24 points the lead the team in the former, while Alex Laferriere has 11 goals and 20 points. Darcy Kuemper was activated off the Injured Reserve on Wednesday, while former Flame David Rittich has an .891 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average in 17 games played.
This week, the Kings host the Minnesota Wild before heading on a seven-game road trip, starting with a game against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. This is their second seven-game road trip this season.

San Jose Sharks

It’s evident that the San Jose Sharks have taken a step forward this season, as they have 25 points in 28 games, more than half the points they had all of last season. This past week, they were 3-1-0, with a loss to the Ottawa Senators, but wins over the Seattle Kraken (twice) and the Washington Capitals.
Mikael Granlund has 10 goals and 29 points, leading the team in the latter and tied for the former along with former Flame, Tyler Toffoli. Fabian Zetterlund has nine goals and 19 points, while Macklin Celebrini has eight goals and 15 points. William Eklund has five goals and 23 points, while defenceman Jake Walman has four goals and 19 points. Netminder Mackenzie Blackwood has a .909 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average.
The Sharks continue their Eastern Conference road trip this week, facing the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Carolina Hurricanes. It’s a tough schedule, but after a 0-7-2 start, the Sharks have been playing well.

Seattle Kraken

The San Jose Sharks are the biggest overachievers in the Pacific Division this season, but it’s the complete opposite for the Seattle Kraken. This past week, they were 1-3-0, with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes, but two losses to the Sharks and a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Jared McCann has been the Kraken’s best player this season, as he leads the team with 10 goals and 23 points in 26 games. Defenceman Brandon Montour has seven goals and 16 points, while fellow defenceman Ryker Evans has three goals and 16 points. Joey Daccord has been solid this season between the pipes, as he has a .912 save percentage and a 2.53 goals-against average in 18 games played.
Like the Sharks, the Kraken are on an Eastern Conference road trip this week, and face off against the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and the New York Rangers, before returning home to host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Vancouver Canucks

It was a busy week for the Vancouver Canucks, who went 2-1-1 with wins over the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, while losing 5-4 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in regulation and a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Defenceman Quinn Hughes looks like he’s on pace to potentially win another Norris Trophy, as he has six goals and 29 points in 24 games. Elias Pettersson has seven goals and 23 points, while Conor Garland has eight goals and 22 points. Jake DeBrusk had a hat trick against the Red Wings, giving him 11 goals and 20 points. Netminder Kevin Lankinen has a .906 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average.
This week, the Canucks host the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and St. Louis Blues. So far this season, they are 3-5-3 at home and 10-2-1 on the road, so it’s not particularly great for the Canucks.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights played an incredible five games this past week, going 3-1-1. They defeated the Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets, and Edmonton Oilers while being shut out 6-0 by the Utah Hockey Club and falling 2-1 in a shootout to the Colorado Avalanche.
Jack Eichel is a point behind the league lead, as he had eight goals and 38 points. Ivan Barbashev has 13 goals and 28 points and captain Mark Stone has six goals and 21 points in the first 13 games the team played this season. Shea Theodore and Tomáš Hertl each have 20 points, while Pavel Dorofeyev has 12 goals and Brett Howden has 10 goals. Adin Hill has a .900 save percentage and a 2.67 goals-against average this season.
The Knights only have one game this week, hosting the Dallas Stars on Friday. Next Thursday, they start a three-game road trip against the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, and Minnesota Wild.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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