As the Ducks geared up for their biggest test of the young season Thursday, they drew newfound confidence from newcomer Chris Kreider, whose chi was palpable postgame after pouring in three points in Tuesday’s home opener against Pittsburgh .

Kreider, who’ll confront the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, not only opened and closed the scoring with a pair of power-play markers, but assisted on the Ducks’ first go-ahead goal Tuesday. Along with fellow acquisition Mikael Granlund and new assistant coach Jay Woodcroft, Kreider has invigorated the Ducks’ perpetually hapless power play, which has dangled at the bottom of the league during the span of seven postseason-less campaigns (during the same seven years, Carolina established an NHL-best string of Stanley Cup Playoffs in which they won a

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