Ducks fail to reach playoffs following several long losing streaks

The Anaheim Ducks failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, a stretch that included five straight Pacific Division titles from 2012-13 through 2016-17.

The Ducks (32-36-10) were eliminated from playoff contention when the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0 on Tuesday.
Here is a look at what happened in the 2018-19 season for the Ducks and why things could be better next season:

The Skinny

Potential UFAs: Derek Grant, C; Ben Street, C; Korbinian Holzer, D; Jaycob Megna, D; Andy Welinski, D; Ryan Miller, G; Chad Johnson, G
Potential RFAs: Jake Dotchin, D
Potential 2019 Draft picks: 7

What went wrong

Inability to score: Anaheim is tied for the fewest goals this season (182) with the Los Angeles Kings and average the fewest goals-per game (2.33). The Ducks have scored two goals or fewer in 44 of 78 games and have been shut out nine times. Leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has 47 points, the second-fewest for a team leader among the 31 in the NHL. (Clayton Keller leads the Arizona Coyotes with 46). And not only do the Ducks struggle to score, they generate the fewest shots per game (27.5).
Long losing streaks: Anaheim had three losing streaks of at least seven games. They had two seven-game losing streaks (Oct. 20-Nov. 1; Jan. 20-Feb. 9) and a 12-game losing streak (Dec. 18-Jan. 15), the longest in their history. Anaheim won five of 30 games (5-21-4) from Dec. 18-March 1.
Not-so-special teams: Anaheim is ranked 21st on the power play (17.4 percent) and tied for 24th on the penalty kill (79.0 percent). A team that struggles offensively as much as the Ducks can't to have special teams near the bottom of the NHL.

Reasons for optimism

Gibson locked up: Prior to the season, goalie John Gibson signed an eight-year contract through the 2026-27 season. He owns the fifth-highest save percentage (.921) among goalies to appear in at least 150 NHL games. The 25-year-old has a goals-against average of 2.43 for his NHL career and has been the Ducks' best player this season (24-22-8, 2.89 GAA, .915 save percentage in 56 games).
Young forwards on rise: The future is bright in Anaheim with forwards Troy Terry (No. 148 pick, 2015 NHL Draft), Sam Steel (No. 30 pick, 2016 NHL Draft), Max Comtois (No. 50 pick, 2017 NHL Draft) and Max Jones (No. 24 pick, 2016 draft). Terry has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 31 games this season; Steel has eight points (four goals, four assists ) in 18 games, including a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday; and Comtois has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 10 games. Jones has two points (one goal, assist) in 26 games with the Ducks but could be a regular next season.
Silfverberg shines: For the third time in four seasons, Jakob Silfverberg has scored at least 20 goals. He has 23, tying his NHL career high, and has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 13 games since signing a five-year contract with the Ducks on March 2.