Anaheim Ducks Daily Links: Turbulent Storms and Winds

Good morning, Anaheim Ducks fans! The Ducks finish their five-game swing with a trip to Raleigh for another bout with the Carolina Hurricanes, whom the Ducks defeated 5-4 in overtime on February 3rd before embarking on this five-game road-trip. The Ducks got embarrassed 6-2 by the Florida Panthers for the second time this season on Tuesday, dropping their third consecutive game on the trip. The Ducks will be seeking to rebound after back-to-back lackluster performances, and with a win, the team could end up with five of a possible ten points on the trip.

The Ducks have had a day off since their embarrassment in Sunrise, but the Hurricanes have had four days off since a 5-4 win over the San Jose Sharks to close out a four-game road trip of their own (in which they went 2-1-1). The Hurricanes are 9-3-3 since the beginning of the 2015 calendar year and have been playing some of their best hockey recently. Meanwhile, the Ducks have had up-and-down performances in the team’s past seven games, where the team has gone just 2-4-1. In their four regulation losses in that stretch, the Ducks have allowed 21 goals. The team has allowed 30 goals total in the seven-game stretch (including the shootout winner by Nicklas Backstrom).

The Ducks will get back Hampus Lindholm and Jakob Silfverberg, who each missed the Florida game with various ailments. John Gibson will get the nod in net for the Ducks, making his first start since October 30th against the St. Louis Blues. Gibson appeared in relief for Ilya Bryzgalov on Tuesday after the Russian allowed three goals on eight shots. With Frederik Andersen out and Bryzgalov not bringing confidence, it could be Gibson’s opportunity to impress the coaching staff in a season ruined by a groin injury.

There was plenty of excitement across the NHL as well, as the Buffalo Sabres kicked off the trade season once again with a blockbuster, just as they did last year when they traded veteran goaltender Ryan Miller to the St. Louis Blues. Yesterday, they acquired Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, and goalie prospect Jason Kasdorf for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux, and a conditional 2015 1st round pick (of which, they own three). The Sabres then dealt goaltender Jhonas Enroth to the Dallas Stars for Anders Lindback and a conditional 2016 3rd round pick (which becomes a 2nd if Enroth wins four playoff games).

Trade season is here: the deadline is on March 2nd, and it’s one of the most anticipated times of the year. Teams make their moves for the stretch run and, hopefully, the transactions pay off in the form of a championship. Rumors will be everywhere, and the chaos will be representative of the wild finish of the 2014-2015 regular season.

Here are some Ducks and NHL news to get the morning started.

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