Anaheim Ducks Have To Ratchet Up The Pace As They Hit The Road
By Julius Choi
The Anaheim Ducks pay a visit to the Sunshine State, starting a six-game east coast road trip.
The opposition, Florida Panthers, currently sit fifth in the Atlantic Division just four points out of a play-off spot.
When just a season ago, they won the division. Which is shocking to say the least.
On the other side of the pillow, Anaheim looks to build off a win over the lowly Avalanche on Tuesday.
0. 105. Final. 0. 97
Anaheim Ducks (28-15-9, 65 points)
Inter-Conference Play:
The Anaheim Ducks will play their 27th road game of the season.
Where they are 11-9-6, giving them the fourth best record in the Western Conference.
Which is surprising given that is where the root of the problem lies.
There is one comforting nugget we can hold on to though.
Anaheim has won six of their nine games versus the Atlantic, their best record against any division.
Everybody Wins:
On November 16, Anaheim traded Michael Sgarbossa to Florida in exchange for Logan Shaw.
The change of scenery allowed Sgarbossa to earn a call-up from Florida after scoring 12 points in 14 games in the AHL.
The 24-year-old center has been a face-off winning machine.
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Which has made interim coach Tim Rowe more comfortable to put him out there in many situations.
Explaining the increase in playing time.
Logan Shaw, meanwhile, has proved to be a key piece on Anaheim’s penalty kill.
Florida Panthers (22-19-10, 54 points)
What A Reim Crime:
James Reimer signed a five-year, $17 million contract as a free agent with Florida this off-season, causing Steve Dangle to cry uncontrollably.
He has fell short of expectations early on, posting an .890 save percentage in October.
The magic angel robot from Winnipeg makes more money than his former teammate Martin Jones, who’s a starter.
And he’s suppose to be the back-up to Luongo. Let that sink in.
Three or more goals were allowed in his last five starts, prompting Florida to lose in two of the games.
But credit where credit is due: Reimer stopped 31 of 32 shots in a win over Tampa on January 26.
What worries me is the fact that the Florida Panthers defense has allowed 40+ shots in two of the last three games.
So talk about standing on your head.
Just On Time:
To make this game a bigger test for the Anaheim Ducks than it already is, Jonathan Huberdeau and and Aleksander Barkov will draw in for the cats tonight.
Last season’s leading goal-scorer, Barkov, missed the last 15 games since being sidelined in late December.
Huberdeau will make his season debut after suffering an achilles injury that forced him to be inactive for four months.
His injury, however, opened the door for Jonathan Marchessault.
Which made Huberdeau’s absence bearable as he is the second leading scorer behind Vincent Trocheck.
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Puck drop is set for a 4:30 P.M. Pacific start at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Prime and AM 830 KLAA.