Nov 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) is congratulated by teammates after a goal in the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 6-5 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Ducks have to make a quick trip home to Honda Center to face the Florida Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Friday. Rookie Aaron Ekblad, picked first overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, is tied for the team lead with nine points and has two goals. Jussi Jokinen also has nine points and eight assists, which leads the team. Scottie Upshall and Jimmy Hayes lead the Panthers with three goals on the season, while Hayes and captain Willie Mitchell are tied for a team leading +5 rating. Brian Campbell leads the Panthers in total ice time, playing a hair under 24 minutes per game (23:56).
The Panthers were expected to be an improved team after making numerous veteran offseason signings, including Jokinen, Mitchell, Dave Bolland, and Shawn Thornton, as well as acquiring goaltender Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks at the March trade deadline last season. However, the Panthers are 25th in the NHL and are tied for the 5th worst record in the NHL with 14 points (they are ahead of Colorado and behind Arizona because of regulation and overtime wins: Colorado has three, Arizona has six, Florida has five). The Panthers are again struggling to score: they don’t have a single player who has double digit points this season. Last season, Nick Bjugstad led their team in scoring with 38 points: the Ducks had five players who had more than that last season.
Point Streaks, General Notes:
Kesler and Vatanen extended their point streaks to five games, with Kesler getting his third goal and fourth point against Los Angeles after scoring two goals and an assist on Wednesday. Vatanen, after scoring his first ten points on the power-play, has netted his last three points at even-strength (all assists).
Vatanen also led all defensemen in ice time again, playing 22:52, including 2:57 shorthanded, which led all defensemen. Vatanen has received a nice bump in ice time, playing 21:34 per game this season, third on the team behind Francois Beauchemin and Lindholm.
Chris Wagner played Saturday in place of Devante Smith-Pelly, who was out with upper-body soreness. The Ducks currently only have 22 players on their active roster: even though Wagner was called up, both Dany Heatley and Beauchemin were moved to Injured Reserve. This means that if Perry or Palmieri plays against the Panthers Sunday, the Ducks will not have to make a corresponding roster move to put the player on the active 23-man roster.