Game 45: Ducks Face The Avalanche
The Anaheim Ducks(20-15-9) continue their road trip against the Colorado Avalanche(23-16-3). The game starts at 12:00 PM PT and will be on Prime Ticket locally and AM 830.
Anaheim Outlook:
The Ducks won a wild game against the Los Angeles Kings this past Saturday. Several fights broke out in the first period and the Ducks ended up winning 4-2. The success of victory was quickly lost when the NHL Player Safety Committee suspended Andrew Cogliano for his hit on Adrian Kempe. Cogliano will miss two games and his consecutive player streak will end at 830.
Yesterday Anaheim claimed J. T. Brown off waivers from Tampa Bay. Logan Shaw was placed on waivers to make room for Brown. He is expected to play tonight.
Keys To The Game
The Ducks need to get out to a good start like they did against the Kings. Anaheim has had trouble dealing with the speed of the Avalanche in the past. The Ducks will need to adjust on offense for the next two games with Cogliano out and Brown in.
Anaheim’s Projected Lineup:
Offense
Rickard Rakell – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Ondrej Kase – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie – Adam Henrique – J.T. Brown
Chris Wagner – Antoine Vermette – Jared Boll
Defense
Cam Fowler – Kevin Bieksa
Hampus Lindholm – Josh Manson
Francois Beauchemin – Brandon Montour
In Net
John Gibson, 14-13-5, GAA 2.63, SV% .923 (Unconfirmed)
Colorado Outlook:
Like Anaheim, Colorado has 49 points on the season, but they find themselves in last past in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. The Avalanche has gone 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have won six games in a row. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team with 19 goals. Gabriel Landeskog has 16 goals and Mikko Rantanen has 15.
Keys To The Game
Colorado has been pouring it on offensively. They have scored four or more goals in five of their last 10 games. The Avalanche will look to use their speed to sustain a solid forecheck and get the Ducks in penalty trouble.
Colorado Projected Lineup:
Offense
Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
A.J. Greer – Alexander Kerfoot – Nail Yakupov
Matthew Nieto – Carl Soderberg – Blake Comeau
Colin Wilson – Tyson Jost – Gabriel Bourque
Defense
Nikita Zadorov – Erik Johnson
Patrik Nemeth – Mark Barberio
Samuel Girard – Anton Lindholm
In Net
Jonathan Bernier, 10-7-1, GAA 2.77, SV% .911 (Confirmed)
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January 14th, 2018