Game 12: Ducks Visit Colorado

By Michael Walters

Anaheim(6-5-0) at Colorado(8-1-1)

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 6:00 PM PT/9:00 PM ET, KCOP 13

Radio: KLAA AM 830

Post Game Show: Duck Calls with Josh Brewster AM 830

*Note: This game preview is updated throughout the day, so check back periodically for updates.

Anaheim Outlook

The Anaheim Ducks lost to the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Thursday and are currently on a three-game losing streak. The Ducks also lost Josh Manson and Ondrej Kase in the game against the Stars. Manson appeared to injury his left leg as he went hard into the boards. He was unable to put weight on his left leg and was seen on crutches after the game. Kase took a check high by his head and did not return from the game. Both will not play today or tomorrow.

The Ducks are having a rough road trip losing two games already and now down two players as well. It won’t get any easier tonight as they face the red hot Avalanche who are 8-1-1. Anaheim needs to find a way to generate more offense in order to break their three-game losing streak. They have only scored one goal in each of their last games.

Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg lead the team in scoring with five goals.

Injury/Team Updates:

Josh Manson has been placed on the IR and has returned to California.

Kase(upper-body) is out for at least two games.

Yesterday the Ducks acquired defenseman Erik Gudbranson from the Penguins in exchange for LW Andreas Martinsen and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick. Anaheim added depth to their blueline with this move, but Gudbranson shouldn’t be considered a replacement for Manson.

Projected Lineup (No Morning Skate)

Offense:
Nick Ritchie – Ryan Getzlaf – Max Comtois
Rickard Rakell – Adam Henrique – Jakob Silfverberg
Max Jones – Sam Steel – Troy Terry
Devin Shore – Derek Grant – Carter Rowney

Defense:
Hampus Lindholm – Erik Gudbranson
Brendan Guhle – Cam Fowler
Jacob Larsson – Korbinian Holzer

In Net:
Ryan Miller 2-0-0, GAA 2.14, SV% .919(Confirmed)

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Colorado Outlook

The Colorado Avalanche are off to a solid 8-1-1 start. They played last night in Vegas and beat the Golden Knights 6-1. Their only regulation loss was to the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues. They also lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Colorado’s success is largely in part to their offense which averages 4.20 goals per game and has scored 42 total goals this season, which is fourth-best in the league. They also have a decent power play that converts 21.1% of the time. Their penalty kill is in the top five of the league at 87.5%. If there is a weakness in their game, then it would be in the face-off circle. They only win 44.9% of their draws, which is worst in the league.

Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, and Mikko Rantanen each lead the team with five goals.

Injury/Team Updates:

Rantanen(lower-body) has been placed on the IR and is week-to-week.

Projected Lineup 

Offense
Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – JT Compher
Andre Burakovsky – Nazem Kadri – Joonas Donskoi
Matthew Nieto – Tyson Jost – Valeri Nichushkin
Matt Calvert – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Vladislav Kamenev

Defense:
Samuel Girard – Erik Johnson
Ian Cole – Cale Makar
Ryan Graves – Nikita Zadorov

In Net
Pavel Francouz 2-0-0, GAA 1.94, SV% .951(Confirmed)

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October 26th, 2019