Game 51: Los Angeles vs Anaheim

Los Angeles(18-23-6) at Anaheim(15-28-7) 

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 7 PM PT/10 PM ET, Bally Sports West/KDOC

Radio: AM 1110

Anaheim Outlook

The Ducks have played the Kings twice this week in LA. Anaheim lost the first game 4-1. It looked like the Ducks were going to lose the second game after being down 2-0, but they were able to rally and win 3-2. The two teams will square of today and tomorrow.

The question for the Ducks is do they play for pride or pick in these final two weeks. We discussed it here: Play for Pride or Pick?

Team News

Yesterday Ryan Miller announced that he would be retiring at the end of this season. He held a press conference with a limited number of media and we were able to be present for it. He will start his final game at Honda Center on Saturday according to Dallas Eakins.

To hear what he said click here: Miller’s Time: Retirement Press Conference

Adam Henrique was added to the league COVID protocol list and did not play in the last two games. He had a family member test positive for COVID.

Olle Eriksson Ek and Jacob Perreault were recalled to the taxi squad.

Andrew Agozzino and Lukas Dostal were reassigned to the Gulls.

By The Numbers:

Max Comtois leads the team in scoring with 13 goals.

Goals For Per Game: 2.16, 31st in NHL
Goals Against Per Game: 3.02, 23rd
Power Play Efficiency: 9.8%, 31st
Penalty Kill Efficiency: 80.0%, 15th
Corsi For: 48.45%, 20th
Fenwick For: 47.75%, 25th

Season Record vs Los Angeles: 3-3-0

Injury Updates

Andy Welinski was injured(lower body) early in the game on Monday and did not return. He is questionable for tonight.

Josh Manson(upper-body injury) did not play in the last few games and will not play tonight.

Jakob Silfverberg had hip surgery(torn labrum) and will be out for 4-6 months. According to GM Bob Murray, it had been an injury that was nagging him on and off for the last two years.

Sonny Milano(IR upper-body) has been practicing, but it’s unclear when he will return.

Hampus Lindholm(wrist) is on the LTIR with a fractured wrist and it appears he will be shut down for the season.

Carter Rowney had knee surgery and will be out for 4-6 months. He had a medial meniscus tear in his left knee. He was placed on the LTIR.

Taxi Squad:

David Backes
Trevor Carrick
Olle Eriksson Ek
Jacob Perreault

Projected Lineup

Offense:
Max Comtois – Trevor Zegras – Troy Terry
Alexander Volkov – Isac Lundestrom – Rickard Rakell
Max Jones – Sam Steel – Sam Carrick
Nicolas Deslauriers – Derek Grant – Ryan Getzlaf

Defense:
Cam Fowler – Jacob Larsson
Simon Benoit – Kevin Shattenkirk
Haydn Fleury – Jamie Drysdale

In Net:
John Gibson 9-17-6, 3.01 GAA , SV% .902 (Confirmed)

This game preview is brought to you by Mercury Insurance!

Los Angeles Outlook

The Kings, like the Ducks, have had a rough season. LA beat Anaheim on Monday night soundly 4-1. The Kings got up on the Ducks 2-0 on Wednesday, but the Ducks came back and won 3-2.  These teams will meet again this weekend in Anaheim for the final two contests of the Freeway Face-Off.

By The Numbers:

Dustin Brown leads the team in scoring with 16 goals.

Goals For Per Game: 2.66, 20th in NHL
Goals Against Per Game: 2.96, 19th
Power Play Efficiency: 20.0%, 16th
Penalty Kill Efficiency: 84.2%, 4th
Corsi For: 49.02%, 17th 
Fenwick For: 49.22%, 19th

Season Record vs Anaheim: 3-2-1

Projected Lineup 

Offense
Alex Iafallo – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Adrian Kempe – Blake Lizotte – Trevor Moore
Austin Wagner – Gabriel Vilardi – Andreas Athanasiou
Brendan Lemieux – Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Defense
Tobias Bjornfot – Drew Doughty
Michael Anderson –  Matt Roy
Olli Maatta – Sean Walker
Kurtis MacDermid

In Net:
Calvin Petersen 8-14-4, GAA 2.75, SV% .916 (Unconfirmed)

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April 30th, 2021