Game 46: Ducks Host The Penguins

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks(20-16-9) return home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins(24-19-3). Ducks are 1-0-0 against the Penguins beating them 4-0 in their first meeting. The game starts at 7:00 PM PT and will be on Prime Ticket locally and AM 830.

Anaheim Outlook:

The Ducks return home after losing to the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. Andrew Cogliano will sit out tonight as he serves the second game of his two game suspension. John Gibson will be back in net for tonight.

Eddy Jones and I discuss Cogliano’s suspension on our latest podcast: Free Iron Man

Keys To The Game

The Ducks need to get off to a better start than they had in the contest against Colorado. The Ducks took six penalties in that contest, which cost them as they gave up a critical goal at the end of the second period. Anaheim needs to play more discipline and avoid the penalty box.

Anaheim’s Projected Lineup:

Offense
Rickard Rakell – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
J.T. Brown – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie – Adam Henrique – Ondrej Kase
Chris Wagner – Antoine Vermette – Derek Grant

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 (Confirmed)

Pittsburgh Outlook:

The Penguins have 51 points and are currently in 4th place in the Metropolitan Division. Phil Kessel leads the team with 20 goals. Evgeni Malkin has 19 goals and Sidney Crosby has 17 goals. They will face Anaheim tonight and Los Angeles tomorrow.

Keys To The Game

Pittsburgh hasn’t played as well as expected this season, but they still have a strong offense. Their defense has been suspect at times giving up 3.04 goals per game which is 10th highest in the league. They gave up four goals in their previous meeting against the Ducks and will need to do better if they want two points tonight.

Pittsburgh Projected Lineup:

Offense
Dominik Simon – Sidney Crosby – Daniel Sprong
Carl Hagelin – Evgeni Malkin – Patric Hornqvist
Conor Sheary – Jake Guentzel – Phil Kessel
Tom Kuhnhackl – Riley Sheahan – Ryan Reaves

Defense
Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang
Olli Maatta – Justin Schultz
Matt Hunwick – Jamie Oleksiak

In Net
Tristan Jarry, 15-9-3, GAA 2.33, SV% .923 (Unconfirmed)

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January 17th, 2018