Anaheim Ducks Win Streak Ends with 6-2 Loss to Toronto Maple Leafs
By Eric Stites
Dec 16, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) talks to right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (12) as they warm up before playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Ducks will continue their Canadian road trip on Thursday night when they take on the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, but they have won their last three contests, including a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Ducks will need to hope that they are on top of their game if they are to rebound.
The Canadiens will be on the fourth game of a five-game homestand. They have won the first three and scored at least three goals in each contest. Max Pacioretty leads the Canadiens with 13 goals and 25 points, and he is the only Montreal player with double digit goals. David Desharnais has a team-leading 15 assists. P.K. Subban has eight goals and 22 points on the season while logging a team-high 25:05 in ice time this season. Subban signed an eight-year, $72 million extension in the offseason. The game on Thursday is the first half of a back-to-back, as the Ducks will also face the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre on Friday.
Point Streaks, General Notes:
Getzlaf extended his point streak to three games with the assist he tallied on Vatanen’s shorthanded goal in the second period. The assist was Getzlaf’s 34th point of the regular season so far, tying him for 8th in the league overall in scoring with Kessel. Kesler also added to his scoring total with a goal and an assist, putting him at 26 points on the year. Kesler now has points in seven on eight games. Silfverberg, Ben Lovejoy, and Nate Thompson all saw their two-game point streaks snapped tonight as well.
The Ducks finished the night an underwhelming 32/69 (46.4%) in the faceoff circle. Getzlaf won only five of his 13 attempts (38.5%). The Ducks main centers in Kesler and Getzlaf will have to make sure they are consistently performing well in the faceoff circle if the Ducks are going to capitalize offensively, especially on special teams. There is a lot to build on and learn from for the Ducks here, and hopefully they use this as fuel to come out stronger and faster on Thursday night in Montreal.