Game 34: Anaheim At Vegas

Anaheim(17-9-7) at Vegas (21-12-0)

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 12:00 PM PT/3:00 PM ET, Bally Sports West

Radio & Post Game Show: KLAA AM 830

Anaheim Outlook

The Ducks are coming off a rusty 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Anaheim was able to score first in the contest, but didn’t generate a constant forecheck. They also couldn’t score on the power play despite numerous chances, even though they have had success for most of this season. They will look to get back on track today against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Ducks went with a 11-7 lineup against the Canucks. With Sam Steel likely returning today, they should be going with the traditional 11-8 lineup.

Anaheim continues to thrive on special teams. The Ducks are 25.6% efficient on the power play, which ranks 5th in the league. Their penalty kill is 85.9% efficient, which is 3rd in the NHL.

Troy Terry leads the team in scoring with 18 goals.

Roster Moves:

Bryce Kindopp was reassigned to San Diego.
Brendan Guhle was recalled to the taxi squad.

Taxi Squad
Lukas Dostal
Brendan Guhle
Greg Pateryn
Danny O’Regan

Injury/COVID News:

Cam Fowler left the last game with an upper-body injury. He did practice on his own yesterday and is on the road trip with the team per Coach Dallas Eakins. It appears he avoided a long term injury. He won’t play tonight, so Jacob Larsson will draw in.

Trevor Zegras, Max Comtois, and Sam Steel are all currently in the COVID protocol. None of them are experiencing any symptoms according to Head Coach Dallas Eakins. Per a team source, the new 5 day isolation rule does apply to Comtois, Steel, and Zegras. Steel should be out of the protocol today and available for the game today in Las Vegas. Comtois could return on Sunday and Zegras on Tuesday.

Josh Mahura remains on the IR with an upper-body injury. He is listed as week-to-week.

Adam Henrique has an lower-body injury and remains on the IR.

Max Jones had surgery to repair a pectoralis major tendon tear and will be out for 4-6 months. He is also in the COVID protocol per Head Coach Dallas Eakins.

Projected Lineup 

Offense:
Rickard Rakell – Ryan Getzlaf– Troy Terry
Derek Grant – Isac Lundestrom – Jakob Silfverberg
Sonny Milano – Sam Steel – Vinni Lettieri
Nicolas Deslauriers – Sam Carrick – Buddy Robinson

Defense:
Hampus Lindholm – Jamie Drysdale
Jacob Larsson – Josh Manson
Simon Benoit – Kevin Shattenkirk

In Net:
John Gibson 11-7-5 GAA 2.71 SV% .913(Confirmed)

Vegas Outlook

The Golden Knights are currently in first place in the Pacific Division with 42 points. They are coming off a 6-3 win over the LA Kings and have gone 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. They are one point ahead of the Anaheim Ducks.

Vegas averages 3.55 goals per game, which ranks 4th in the league. They give up 3.06 goals against on average. On the power play they are 20.7% efficient, which ranks 12th in the league. They are 23rd in the league on the penalty kill at 77.9% efficiency.

Jonathan Marchessault leads the team in scoring with 16 goals.

Projected Lineup

Offense
Jonathan Marchessault – William Karlsson – Reilly Smith
Evgenii Dadonov – Chandler Stephenson – Mattias Janmark
William Carrier – Nicolas Roy – Keegan Kolesar
Adam Brooks – Jake Leschyshyn – Michael Amadio

Defense
Nicolas Hague – Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Ben Hutton – Zach Whitecloud

In Net
Robin Lehner 14-9-0, GAA 3.03, SV% .905 (Unconfirmed)

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December 31st, 2021