Game 78: Ducks At Canucks

By Julius Choi

Anaheim(31-36-10) vs Vancouver(32-34-10)

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 7:00 PM PT/10:00 PM ET, Prime Ticket

Radio: KLAA AM 830

Post Game Show: Duck Calls with Josh Brewster AM 830

Anaheim Outlook

With the six consecutive playoff streak ending, the Anaheim Ducks are gearing towards a brighter future and are in the mix of teams are that lottery pick hopefuls. Anaheim, however, has been hurting their odds to land a high draft position by winning seven of their last 12 games. The current state of the Ducks has allowed the team to provide playing time to its young and developing players. One of those players is Sam Steel, who took captain Ryan Getzlaf‘s spot in the starting lineup in Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. In about 15 minutes of ice time, Steel registered two shots on goal and picked up an assist on Cam Fowler‘s first-period strike.

Ryan Getzlaf has a team-leading 34 assists and 47 points in 65 games played this season. Jakob Silfverberg leads the charge on offense with 23 goals. Silfverberg has reached the 20-goal benchmark for the third time in his career.

Injury Updates:

Nick Ritchie is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Ryan Getzlaf is still out with an undisclosed upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

Jacob Larsson is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Projected Lineup

Offense:
Rickard Rakell – Sam Steel – Jakob Silfverberg
Kiefer Sherwood – Devin Shore –  Corey Perry
Daniel Sprong – Adam Henrique – Troy Terry
Max Jones – Carter Rowney – Derek Grant

Defense:
Hampus Lindholm – Josh Manson
Cam Fowler – Andy Welinski
Jaycob Megna – Korbinian Holzer

In Net:
John Gibson 23-22-8, GAA 2.87, SV% .916 (Confirmed)

Vancouver Outlook

The Vancouver Canucks are fresh off a 5-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, making it the tenth such occurrence that Vancouver has been shutout by an opponent this season. Goaltender Thatcher Demko came up with 28 saves on 33 shots faced during the game. The 2014 second round draft pick from San Diego has suited in six games for the Canucks this season while spending 16 games for Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. The Canucks will miss the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

Center Elias Pettersson has been the heartbeat of the Canucks this season as he leads the team in goals (27), assists (37) and points (64), The 20-year-old rookie has garnered 20 of those points while on the powerplay in 18:22 time on ice per game this season. The way he has performed this season has him as a front runner to win the Calder Trophy.

Projected Lineup

Offense
Tanner Pearson – Bo Horvat – Loui Eriksson
Sven Baertschi – Elias Pettersson – Brock Boeser
Nikolay Goldobin – Adam Gaudette – Jake Virtanen
Markus Granlund – Jay Beagle – Tyler Motte

Defense
Alexander Edler – Alex Biega
Derrick Pouliot – Troy Stecher
Ashton Sautner – Luke Schenn

In Net
Jakob Markstrom 27-21-9, GAA 2.74, SV% .913 (Unconfirmed)

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March 26th, 2019