VIDEO: Ducks Edge Coyotes 1-0

Photo: USA Today

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Arizona Coyotes for their season opener at Honda Center. Just prior to the game Anaheim sent Max Comtois and Isac Lundestrom down to San Diego. Ondrej Kase and Sam Steel, who were both injured in preseason, were deemed healthy enough to play.

The Ducks won the contest 2-1, but they got off to a slow start. They gave up a few solid scoring chances to the Coyotes, but John Gibson was there to hold down the fort. Anaheim had trouble entering the Arizona zone and establishing a forecheck. They had to regroup several times after failing to get the puck past center ice. This all sounded too familiar to the Ducks of the past. It all changed as late in the first period Devin Shore had a shot blocked by Darcy Kuemper, which Derek Grant followed up for the score.

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With a 1-0 advantage after the first 20 minutes, the Ducks took control of the game and sustained pressure in the second period. Unfortunately, it was the Coyotes that would counterpunch and Derek Stepan would get a goal to tie the game. The Ducks did respond when Cam Fowler skated through traffic and shot a rocket past Kuemper’s left shoulder for the 2-1 lead.

Anaheim held a one goal lead after the second period and that’s all they would need to win this contest. Both teams had power-play chances and weren’t able to convert. Arizona pulled their goalie in the final minutes, but Anaheim was able to hang on for the win.

Analysis:

The Ducks played a poor first period and it looked like maybe the start to a long season. Anaheim was able to counter-attack to get a late goal which gave them momentum for the remaining two periods. The Ducks fourth line of Grant, Rowney, and Shore led the way in this contest. Grant and Shore teamed up for the first goal and Rowney assisted on the second Anaheim goal. The Ducks only had one power play but it wasn’t very effective. Overall the Ducks had a decent showing in Dallas Eakins debut.

Stats/Team Notes:

Jakob Silfverberg and Josh Manson were named alternate captains.

Fowler scored his 14th game-winning goal, which passed Scott Neidermayer on the all-time list for a Ducks defensemen.

Fowler was stuck in the face with a puck(again) last night, but he was not injured and finished the game.

Brayden Tracey is dealing with an upper-body injury and is considered week-to-week.

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October 4th, 2019