Six games into the NHL season, the Ducks’ Matt Beleskey is nearly halfway to his career-best goal total.
Jakob Silfverberg understands a torrid start — he scored four goals through three games last season.
But now, as the Ducks (5-1) seek to extend their five-game winning streak Wednesday night at home against Buffalo, Silfverberg is goal-less.
Goal scoring can be a streaky business.
Beleskey, 26, has never scored more than nine goals in a season, but he already has four, his latest coming 97 seconds into the Ducks’ 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
Silfverberg, 24, has taken 11 shots, has three assists, and also has participated on the Ducks’ power-play and penalty killing units. But he hasn’t turned on that red light.
“If the team keeps winning, it’s not something you look too much into … still you want to get going,” Silfverberg said.
Beleskey figured he needed to do something to get his scoring going, but his off-season work was delayed by a groin injury he suffered against the Kings in the Western Conference semifinals.
“Tore all three parts of my groin and my lower abdomen when I got hit by [Kings center Dustin] Brown, slid into the boards and my legs popped open,” Beleskey said.
By late July — home in Barrie, Canada — Beleskey still wasn’t skating at full strength, but he took skills training from a shooting coach, Brad Trottier.
“Lot of drills — shooting, stick handling, an hour of work each morning,” Beleskey said.
His work doesn’t always include a stick and puck. Beleskey is often seen doing extensive stretching, part of an off-season regimen that includes yoga.
But hockey is not just a physical battle. Beleskey said his mentality was boosted by his two goals and four points in the playoffs. Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau is giving Beleskey about 90 seconds more ice time per game this season.
“It’s huge to have confidence in your game,” Beleskey said. “I’m trying to shoot the puck, use those skills … my mind-set is trying to evolve every year, and this is a part of it.”
Meanwhile, Silfverberg is looking to join the fun that had the Ducks ranked as the NHL’s highest-scoring team before Tuesday night’s action.
“Last game, I had the puck behind the net, had lots of time, but didn’t get it high enough and put it on [St. Louis goalie Brian Elliott‘s] shoulder,” Silfverberg said. “Those are the ones you’ve got to put in.”
Back in action?
It was a surprise when Boudreau didn’t start rookie goalie John Gibson in Buffalo, and the coach wouldn’t hint who he’ll start Wednesday night after Gibson spent the weekend playing two games for the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate in Norfolk, Va.
“We watched portions of both games … he played pretty good,” Boudreau said.
Gibson, 21, said, “I just wanted to play. That was it. It was different — harder, broken plays, early in the season with guys trying to get the structure — I was just trying to have fun.”
TONIGHT
VS. BUFFALO
When: 7:30.
On the air: Prime Ticket. Radio: 830.
Etc. Off to a 1-5 start, the Sabres have been outscored, 22-8, and would seem to be facing quite a task against a team Boudreau said the Ducks played a “perfect” game in last week’s 5-1 rout. The Ducks outshot Buffalo, 44-12, in that road game.
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