Dusk til dawn: Everything just ducky in Anaheim

Check out our morning recap while you recover from a hangover and try to remember that weird dream from last night where you put on Adam Pardy's helmet before getting pulled down a long hallway by security.

Essential Water Cooler

The Anaheim Ducks rule the NHL right now. With their 5-2 win over Phoenix, the defenders of the O.C. pushed their record to 13-3-1 and they've done it while battling injuries to key players such as Teemu Selanne (who returned last night) and Luca Sbisa. Last season, the Ducks were seen as paper tigers heading into the playoffs and a first-round loss to Detroit backed that up. But their team CORSI is up significantly, so it doesn't look like the Ducks are just beating the percentages in the short term. Is the Stanley Cup coming back to California?

Primetime Play

How do you stop the Hawks when Patrick Kane does things like this? Well, I suppose you don't; Chicago went on to beat Winnipeg 4-1.

Men of the Night

Colin Wilson, Nashville: The Preds put the boots to Colorado 6-4 and Wilson, the former Boston U. Terrier, did most of the damage by scoring twice and adding two assists.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers: Sidney Crosby has recorded a point in nearly every contest this year, but not last night. Lundqvist was stellar in New York's 5-1 drubbing of the Penguins and personally stymied 'The Kid' on numerous occasions.

Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim: Were it not for a concussion, Lindholm's NHL career may have started straight from the draft, but the sixth overall pick from 2012 is here now and got his first NHL goal, plus a helper, in the Ducks' win over Phoenix.

Patrick Sharp, Chicago: A lot of goals in Chicago are pretty and Sharp had another one last night while adding a helper, too.

Better Luck Next Time

We all enjoy watching Jonathan Toews play hockey, but if you're Dustin Byfuglien, you should wait for an off-night when you're in front of a TV. On Toews' goal against Winnipeg last night, 'Big Buff' literally saw Toews, continued standing still in front of the net while covering no one, and watched the Hawks captain deposit one behind goalie Al Montoya.