from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,

Six of the last 10 Cup winners ranked in the top five in goals-against average during the regular season, including each of the last five. That's powerful motivation for the Ducks' early emergence as a committed defensive team.

"Yeah. Who'd have thunk?" Coach Bruce Boudreau said Sunday, after the Ducks ended a trip to Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas and Colorado with a 3-1 record and only five goals against.

"It's good. I firmly believe that if we can keep them to two goals or under that we've got enough offense to win the game."

They're scoring less, averaging 2.69 goals per game, compared to 3.15 through their first 13 games last season, but their team goals-against average of 1.85 ranks second in the NHL and is down from the 2.54 they posted through 13 games last season.

They've allowed two goals or fewer 10 times, compared with seven times in the first 13 games last season. Their penalty-killing is better, too, operating at a seventh-ranked 86.4%. Their efficiency rate was a 29th-ranked 75.6% at this stage last season.

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