Granlund, Pacific Division-leading Ducks riding high as regular season nears its end

By Canadian Press on March 27, 2026.

CALGARY — Chalk up another late game comeback for the Anaheim Ducks as they maintain their five-point lead atop the Pacific Division.

Mikael Granlund is the latest hero capping off a hat trick with a power-play goal with one second remaining in overtime as the Ducks rallied for a 3-2 victory on Thursday over the Calgary Flames.

“There’s easier ways to find a way to win a game, but that’s how it’s been,” said Granlund, who has a four-game goal streak in which he’s lit the red light seven times.

“It feels good, I guess I’ll just keep shooting as long as this lasts,” said the 34-year-old Finn. “The pucks are just going in right now so obviously it’s a good feeling.”

Anaheim’s 25th comeback win is one off the franchise record set in 2013-14.

Their 11th third-period comeback win leads the NHL.

Anaheim also tops the league with 17 wins in games decided in overtime, versus just four losses.

“Again we magically tied it late and we scored late, late in overtime. We’ll take it, but I still think it would be nice to clean some things up,” said Quenneville, in his first year behind the Ducks bench.

Granlund signed a three-year, US$21 million deal with Anaheim last summer as a free agent.

He is heating up now after returning from the Olympics injured and missing the first six games after the break.

“It took a while to get his health back,” said Quenneville. “Then he got going a little bit and he’s back to where he was when he carried our team for some stretches of games.”

Granlund’s 19 goals in 48 games ranks him fifth on the team, despite missing 23 games over the course of the season to injury.

Trailing 2-1 with less than four minutes left in the third period, Anaheim tied it on the power play. John Carlson’s slap shot was stopped, but Devin Cooley’s rebound went right to Granlund at the side of the net and he buried it from a sharp angle.

“He’s so good, obviously, so talented,” said Ducks defenceman, Jackson LaCombe, praising Granlund. “His compete and work ethic, it shows every night, and he’s got so much experience, and obviously making plays like that is huge for us.”

Under the guidance of Quenneville, second on the NHL’s all-time coaching wins list behind Scotty Bowman, the Ducks are looking to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.

Down to 10 games to go and riding a four-game winning streak, the Ducks are up five points on Edmonton and seven on Vegas. They also have one game in hand on both.

“First place, we’re excited about being there,” said Quenneville. “Our focus at the beginning of the year was we wanted to be a playoff team, and if we get to be a playoff team, let’s finish as high as you can.”

Anaheim hasn’t finished higher than sixth in the Pacific the past seven seasons. Last year, they ended up 21 points back of Edmonton and 30 behind Vegas.

The Ducks face Edmonton on Saturday as they’ll wrap up their Western Canada road trip with a big showdown at Rogers Place.

“Just gotta be ready to play from the start,” said Lacombe. “Talented team, and we’re both in the in the race for the top of the Pacific, so it’s going to be a huge battle to get those points.”

Granlund looks forward to the test against the Stanley Cup finalists of the past two years.

“It’s gonna be a fun, fun game. Big game,” said Granlund. “We’re all excited about it.”

Granlund is the second player in Ducks history to score multiple hat tricks in his first season with the team, following Teemu Selanne (two in 1995-96).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press