Game 62: Ducks Host The Avalanche

By Michael Walters

Colorado(34-18-7) at Anaheim(24-29-7)

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 7:00 PM PT/10:00 PM ET, Fox Sports West

Radio & Post Game Show: KLAA AM 830

Anaheim Outlook

The Ducks returned home and lost their first game against the Florida Panthers 4-1. Anaheim didn’t play poorly, but some bounces didn’t go their way and resulted in two goals for the Panthers. Tonight the Ducks will focus their attention on the Avalanche. The Ducks have gone 4-4-2 in their last 10 games.

This will be the second meeting between these two teams. The Ducks beat the Avalanche 5-2 back in October. Anaheim jumped up to a 2-0 lead en route to the victory. Five different Anaheim players scored in that contest. The Ducks will play the Avalanche one more time in March.

Adam Henrique leads the team with 21 goals.

Team News:

The Ducks traded Ondrej Kase to the Boston Bruins for David Backes, prospect Axel Andersson and 2020 1st Round Pick. We broke down the trade here: Analyzing The Kase Trade

Erik Gudbranson is going to be re-evaluated and could return in about a week per Head Coach Dallas Eakins.

Projected Lineup

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

Defense:
Hampus Lindholm – Josh Manson
Brendan Guhle – Cam Fowler
Jacob Larsson – Korbinian Holzer

In Net:
John Gibson 17-23-4 GAA 2.99, SV% .904 (Unconfirmed)

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Colorado Outlook

The Avalanche are currently in third place in the Central Division, just three points behind the first-place St. Louis Blues. The Avalanche are coming offa 3-1 victory over the Ney York Islanders. Colorado has gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

Colorado averages 3.54 goals per game, which is tied for the best in the NHL. They also give up 2.78 goals against per game. Their power play is 19.0% efficient and their penalty kill is 79.3% efficient.

Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in scoring with 33 goals.

Projected Lineup 

Offense:
Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Andre Burakovsky
Valeri Nichushkin – J.T. Compher – Joonas Donskoi
Martin Kaut – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Matthew Nieto
Sheldon Dries – Tyson Jost – Vladislav Kamenev

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

In Net
Pavel Francouz 14-5-3, GAA 2.44, SV% .923 (Unconfirmed)

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February 21st, 2020