VIDEO: Ducks Edge Coyotes 1-0

Photo: Associated Press, Darryl Webb

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks(1-0-0) took on the Arizona Coyotes(0-1-0). John Gibson went in net against Antti Raanta.

First Period

To open the game the teams traded power plays. The Ducks got their first crack at it, but couldn’t convert. When the Coyotes had theirs, Ryan Getzlaf got a breakaway chance, which he went to the backhand but lifted it too high over the net. Anaheim got a second power play chance, but couldn’t do much with it. Towards the end of the period, John Gibson made a great save with his left leg pad to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.

Second Period

The teams battled back and forth, but neither team could get on the scoreboard. Gibson and Raanta both made some quality saves throughout the period. Kiefer Sherwood got a breakaway chance with a few minutes to go in the period, but he couldn’t muscle it past Raanta. It looked like the game would remain tied, but Maxime Comtois would get a partial breakaway with less than a minute to go. He scored going five-hole, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead after two periods.

Third Period

Early in the period, there was a scramble in front of the Ducks net as the puck bounced of Cam Fowler’s skate, but Gibson kept the puck out of the net. Coyotes got an early power play but did not score. Getzlaf had to leave the game early in the period as he appeared to injure his leg. Towards the end of the period, the Ducks got into penalty trouble as they took two penalties and the Coyotes had a 5-on-3 power play with one minute to go. The Coyotes pulled their goalie and had a 6-on-3 advantage, but they couldn’t get the tying goal and the Ducks held on for 1-0 win.

Analysis

It wasn’t the most exciting game to watch, but the Ducks were able to pull out another victory. Anaheim was able to manage just 20 shots on goal and couldn’t convert on the power. The Ducks did have a few opportunities in the first two periods to break the scoreless tie, but they couldn’t convert. Finally, Comtois did cash in on one chance and that’s all the Ducks needed to win. Gibson came up huge again stopping all 41 shots he faced. The Ducks defense played solid as well preventing the Coyotes from scoring on any of their four power-play chances.

Team Notes/Stats:

There was no update on Getzlaf after the game other than he had a lower-body injury per the team.

Maxime Comtois is the first Ducks rookie to score in his first two NHL games since Alex Grant(2013-14).

The Ducks placed Pontus Aberg on waivers per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

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October 7th, 2018