Game 3: Minnesota vs Anaheim
By Michael Walters
Minnesota(2-0-0) vs Anaheim(0-1-1)
Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast
TV: 6:00 PM PT/9:00 PM ET, Fox Sports West
Radio & Post Game Show: KLAA AM 830
Anaheim Outlook
The Ducks squared off with the Golden Knights for their first two games of the season and ended up losing both. In the season opener, the Anaheim was down by two goal early and then rallied to tie the game. Eventually Vegas pulled away in the third period.
In the second contest, the Ducks held a 1-0 lead, but gave up the tying goal in the final minutes of the game. In overtime, the Golden Knights scored off the opening face-off to complete the comeback.
Outside of Comtois, no one else is scoring on the team. The Ducks haven’t played terribly, but they have had a few lapses in play. In the first game it was the opening minutes and in the second game it was the final minutes and overtime. Hopefully the forwards can start to gel better and create more scoring chances.
Sonny Milano will draw in for Isac Lundestrom per the Athletic’s Eric Stephens.
Max Comtois leads the team in scoring with three goals.
Team News:
Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras are currently assigned to the AHL. The San Diego Gulls are playing their games this season at the Great Park Ice in Irvine. Even though they will start with the Gulls, there is still a chance that both of them could appear in a Ducks uniform this season.
The Anaheim taxi squad consists of the following players David Backes, Max Comtois, Kodi Curran, Vinni Lettieri, Anthony Stolarz, and Andy Welinski. The league created the taxi squad in case a team needed to call up a replacement due to a player being out with COVID or injury. The taxi squad will travel with the team.
Ben Hutton was released from his PTO and then signed a one-year deal worth $950,000 per Elliotte Friedman.
Projected Lineup
Offense:
Rickard Rakell – Adam Henrique – Jakob Silfverberg
Sonny Milano – Ryan Getzlaf – Danton Heinen
Max Comtois – Sam Steel – Troy Terry
Nicolas Deslauriers – Derek Grant – Carter Rowney
Defense:
Hampus Lindholm – Kevin Shattenkirk
Cam Fowler – Josh Manson
Jacob Larsson – Jani Hakanpaa
In Net:
John Gibson 0-1-1 GAA 3.06, SV% .902 (Unconfirmed)
This preview is dedicated to OC Animal Care
Minnesota Outlook
The Wild are currently 2-0-0 after beating the Kings twice each time in overtime by a score of 4-3. In both contests the Wild were down 3-1 in the third period and were able to rally with two goals to get to overtime and then complete the comeback.
Minnesota has been getting balanced scoring with all eight of their goals coming from different players. Part of their game plan has been to get shots on net and they are currently 5th in the league averaging 35.5 per game. They do give up 33.5 shots per game against, which is 9th highest in the league.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Zach Parise – Victor Rask – Kirill Kaprizov
Marcus Johansson – Nick Bonino – Kevin Fiala
Jordan Greenway – Joel Eriksson Ek – Marcus Foligno
Nico Sturm – Nick Bjugstad – Ryan Hartman
Defense
Ryan Suter – Mathew Dumba
Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon
Carson Soucy – Greg Pateryn
Goalie
Cam Talbot 2-0-0, GAA 2.85, SV% .910 (Confirmed)
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January 18th, 2021