Game Day: Ducks look to Extend Recent Home Ice Dominance
By Ed Stein
The Anaheim Ducks have been white hot on home ice of late. They host Chicago in a rare Sunday Afternoon game.
Win One for the Getzer
The Ducks are smack in the middle of a playoff battle royal. Friday, they got goalie John Gibson back from injured reserve. Captain Ryan Getzlaf’s late scratch (flu-like symptoms) that evening, just ahead of a matchup with visiting Columbus, had to have taken the wind out everyone’s sails. Instead of wilting, the boys in black and orange picked up the slack. They played with heart and determination. Here are some of the post-game comments made to the media:
"When your leader is out, you have to rally the troops. That’s what we did tonight.” – Josh Manson"
"“It was a good resilient win by our team in terms of missing our best player. That says a lot about the guys here, says a lot about the guys that have come in and the new guys we brought in.” – Andrew Cogliano"
"“He was good in the faceoff circle; he was around the puck. And it’s always good when you’re missing your big guy that someone steps into that position for you.” – Coach Randy Carlyle on Derek Grant filling in for Getzlaf."
These are the types of things fans want to hear coming from their team’s locker room as the season winds down.
News and Notes
- Cogliano has never been at the top of the list when discussing Anaheim’s offensive weapons. His short-handed goal Friday night was his 15th as a Duck, one short of Paul Kariya‘s team record.
- Gibson has allowed two or fewer goals in his past eight starts.
- 2017 second-round draft choice Maxime Comtois signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks yesterday.
- Since February 9, the Ducks are 29 of 30 on the penalty kill.
Game Day: Chicago @ Ducks
It’s a rare Sunday afternoon game as the Ducks host Chicago at the Honda Center today. Anaheim continues their four-game homestand in the building where they have been dominant of late. In their last 16 games on home ice, they are 11-2-3. That total includes 5-0-2, in their last seven.
Getzlaf wasn’t at practice yesterday. At this time, the coaches expect him back for today’s game. If he’s a no-go again at the last minute Anaheim will roll the same forward lines they did on Friday. Should Carlyle stick to his recent pattern, Kevin Bieksa will tag back in for Francois Beauchemin on defense. Gibson once again defends the Ducks net. Here is the anticipated lineup:
Forwards
Rakell-Getzlaf/Grant-Perry
Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg
Ritchie-Henrique-Kase
Chimera-Grant/Vermette-Kelly
Defense
Fowler-Montour
Lindholm-Manson
Bieksa/Beauchemin-Pettersson
Goalies
Gibson
Miller