Game 41: Ducks Start Road Trip In Vancouver

Graphic: http://www.gocountry105.com

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks(18-14-8) start their road trip against the Vancouver Canucks(16-18-5). The Ducks are 1-0-0 against the Canucks so far this season. The game starts at 7:00 PM PT and will be on Prime Ticket locally and AM 830.

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Anaheim Outlook:

The Ducks finished the 2017 year with a 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Rickard Rakell scored twice in the opening period and three goals in the final frame put the Coyotes away. Randy Carlyle put Ryan Kesler back with Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. Kesler had two assists and Silfverberg had one goal and one assist.

Keys To The Game

Randy Carlyle put the old Kesler line back together and it worked against the Coyotes. The line helped generate a couple of goals while shutting down Arizona. They will look to do the same thing tonight in Vancouver.

Anaheim’s Projected Lineup(Per Eric Stephens):

Offense
Antoine Vermette – Ryan Getzlaf –Rickard Rakell
Andrew Cogliano – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie – Adam Henrique – Kevin Roy
Chris Wagner – Derek Grant – Logan Shaw

Defense
Cam Fowler  – Kevin Bieksa
Hampus Lindholm – Josh Manson
Korbinian Holzer– Brandon Montour

In Net
Ryan Miller, 4-1-4, GAA 2.23, SV% .928 (Confirmed)

Vancouver Outlook:

The Canucks have 35 points and are currently tied for 5th place in the Pacific Division with Edmonton. They have gone 2-7-1 in their last 10 games. Brock Boeser leads the team with 21 goals. Thomas Vanek has 12 goals and Bo Horvat has 10.

Keys To The Game

An issue for Vancouver has been their defense as they give up 3.21 goals per game against which is tied for 27th in the league. They have given up 4 or more goals in their last five out of nine games. They have been effective on the power play at 21.2%, which 7th best in the league. If they can get the Ducks in penalty trouble and cash in on some power play chances, then have a good chance at earning two points.

Vancouver’s Projected Lineup:

Offense
Thomas Vanek – Sam Gagner –Brock Boeser
Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Loui Eriksson
Nikolay Goldbin – Markus Granlund – Jake Virtanen
Brendan Gaunce – Nic Dowd – Reid Boucher

Defense
Michael Del Zotto – Derrick Pouliot
Alexander Edler – Troy Stecher
Ben Hutton – Erik Gudbranson

In Net
Anders Nilsson,6-5-1, GAA 3.39, SV% .906 (Confirmed)

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January 2nd, 2018