Ducks Take on Maple Leafs Tonight at Honda Center
By Omar Zaman
The only big news to report from today is that goalie Justin Pogge has been recalled again from the ECHL to backup Jonas Hiller tonight. J.S. Giguere re-injured his groin in Saturday’s win as he gave up the game-winning goal and will most likely be out for the next few games.
Brian Burke will make his first return to the Honda Center since leaving the Ducks, and he joked that he’d have to remember which box to walk into tonight. Burke has made big changes in Toronto that have so far resulted in disaster with the team off to the worst start in franchise history at 0-7-1. To make matters worse, Burke traded two first-round picks and a second-round pick for injured forward Phil Kessel, and it looks like the Leaf’s first-rounder this year will be a lottery selection. Ouch.
It has not yet been announced where Luca Sbisa will be sent after it was decided he will not play in the NHL the rest of the year.
There will be a short video tribute to former Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin during the first television timeout, similar to the one Samuel Pahlsson got Saturday.
Line combinations will not change much for this game. You can find the expected lines below, with Hiller getting the start in goal.
FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan – Saku Koivu – Teemu Selanne
Matt Beleskey – Todd Marchant – Petteri Nokelainen
Mike Brown – Erik Christensen – George Parros
DEFENSE
Scott Niedermayer – Brendan Mikkelson
Ryan Whitney – James Wisniewski
Nick Boynton – Sheldon Brookbank