Ducks season preview: A glimmer of hope emerges

IRVINE –– Everything surrounding the Ducks feels novel, from their uniforms to the OC Vibe construction that has engulfed the area around Honda Center, but now it’s time to ditch the stale results of recent seasons and offer fresh promise on the ice.

The Ducks haven’t made the playoffs since 2018, a year earlier than their opening-night opponents Saturday, the San Jose Sharks, whom they faced three times in the preseason and beat twice.

For the second consecutive campaign, they’ll...