The last time the Ducks had a game on Halloween, exactly one year ago, it was one of the wildest games I’ve ever seen. It was a back-and-forth game with multiple lead changes thateventually ended in a 13-round shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks, with a final score of 7-6. Will we see anything like that tonight?
We can only hope.
The Ducks will take on a very confident Phoenix Coyotes team that is over-achieving compared to what most analysts originally thought. But with a new coach and solid goaltending, the ‘Yotes are finding hockey much more enjoyable in the desert, regardless of the ownership situation. By the way, I hope Jim Balsille wins the right to buy this team, because any potential owner that wants a team that badly will do whatever it takes to make it successful. We need more of those types of owners in the league. But I digress…
The Ducks are coming off a game where they scored a season-high seven goals against a injured and tired Vancouver team. The game was not a perfect or clean game on the Ducks’ part, but was a step in the right direction for a team that was headed in the wrong direction before Friday’s game.
With a new-found confidence and some important points on the line, the Ducks will look to continue the offensive outburst in Phoenix against a team that is off to a quick start and is second in the Pacific Division. The Ducks are chasing every team in the division, making these games extremely significant as the Ducks can’t fall too far behind early in the season.
Look for goaltender Justin Pogge to be in net as Jonas Hiller played last night and J.S. Giguere is still expected to be out with a groin injury.
From Brian Hunter at NHL.com:
DUCKS (4-6-1) at COYOTES (8-4-0)
Last 10 — Anaheim 4-5-1; Phoenix 6-4-0
Season series —First of four meetings this season — Phoenix will visit Anaheim next Saturday night. The Ducks won three times against the Coyotes last season, including a 3-2 shootout victory at Jobing.com Arena in the last meeting on March 19. Bobby Ryan netted the winning goal in the fifth round.
Big Story —This is the only road game for Anaheim in a 10-game stretch that sees the Ducks go right back to Honda Center for three more after Saturday night. They routed the Canucks on Friday to snap a four-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Phoenix has put together a stretch of six wins in eight games, including consecutive road wins in Columbus and St. Louis.
Team Scope:
Ducks —There was a brief period of time Friday night when Anaheim fell into last place in the Western Conference following Minnesota’s win over the New York Rangers. Then the Ducks salvaged the finale of a disappointing six-game homestand by scoring seven unanswered goals to thump Vancouver and leapfrog back over the Wild. Now they need to put a win streak together, because the Pacific Division is shaping up to be extremely strong with both Los Angeles and Phoenix surprising, and the Ducks are currently seven points behind the fourth-place Coyotes.
Coyotes — Ilya Bryzgalovdid it again on Thursday, keeping all 32 St. Louis shots out of his net and leading Phoenix to a 2-0 win for his third shutout of the season. All three have come on the road — Pittsburgh and San Jose being the other victims. The Coyotes average only 2.58 goals per game, 21st in the League, but with Bryzgalov playing this way they’re a threat to win just about every night.
“He’s phenomenal. He comes up big all the time,” said forward Daniel Winnik, who had the game-winning goal against the Blues.
Who’s Hot —Ryan and linemate Corey Perry each scored twice against Vancouver. Perry has three goals and seven points in his last four games, while Ryan has three goals and five points in his last two games. Forward Joffrey Lupul has four goals in as many games.
Winnik and linemate Vernon Fiddler, who assisted on both goals against St. Louis, each has a goal and four points in his last three games.
Injury Report — Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere(groin) is practicing but won’t be rushed back after re-aggravating the injury last week against Columbus. Coyotes defenseman Kurt Sauer (head) hasn’t played in a game since the opener in Los Angeles.
Stat Pack —Bryzgalov has three shutouts in 10 games, which already matches his career high from each of the previous two seasons. He played in 65 games last season and 64 during 2007-08 — the first nine for Anaheim before Phoenix claimed him off waivers. Bryzgalov did record three consecutive shutouts for the Ducks during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Puck Drop —Dave Tippett has had the Coyotes prepared in his first season behind their bench, and is well aware what’s in store as the Ducks come to town.
“They are a team that is always very competitive and we’ll have our hands full,” Tippett said. “I don’t think the season has gone as well as they would have liked yet, so they’re going to be a very hungry team.”
— Brian Hunter, NHL.com