Anaheim Ducks: Pre-Game Puck Drop vs Coyotes 10/6/18
The Anaheim Ducks kicked off the 2018-19′ season with a 5-2 win in San Jose. The mini two-game road trip continues as the Ducks are in the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes. Pucks of a Feather has you covered with all you need to know as the Ducks looks to start the season 2-0-0
Game 2: Anaheim Ducks v Arizona Coyotes
The Ducks have a chance to start 2-0-0 and especially after last season it’s well documented how important getting off to a good start is.
Location: Gila River Arena — Glendale, Arizona
Time: 7:00 p.m. PST
TV: FS Prime Ticket
Anaheim Ducks Projected Line-Up:
Rakell-Getzlaf-Terry
Comtois-Henrique-Silfverberg
Cogliano-Steel-Sherwood
Street-Rowney-Gibbons
Fowler-Manson
Lindholm-Montour
Pettersson-Sustr
Gibson
Miller
Ducks Injuries:
Ryan Kesler (Hip), Patrick Eaves (Shoulder/Virus), Corey Perry (Knee), Ondrej Kase (Concussion), Kevin Roy (Wrist/Hand)
Last Game: (5-2 Win v Sharks)
The Ducks opened the season in San Jose on Wednesday. While the Sharks were looking for a big opening night for Erik Karlsson‘s debut, John Gibson and the Ducks had other ideas. Gibson stopped 31 of 33 shots. The Ducks used timely scoring to down the Sharks. Make no mistake, the score looked better than the game. Nevertheless, the Ducks did just enough to pull this one out.
The Ducks game was far from flawless, which was to be expected when key pieces are missing and 3 of your top 9 forwards have played a combined 2 NHL games. However, Gibson looked locked in and controlled all night and five different Ducks scorers allowed them to escape the tank.
More from Pucks of a Feather
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
Max Comtois and Kiefer Sherwood were most impressive of the kids while Sam Steel and Troy Terry looked more comfortable as the game went along. Ryan Getzlaf, Adam Henrique, and Rickard Rakell lead by example. The Ducks fourth line, which consisted of Ben Street, Carter Rowney, and Kiefer Sherwood were X-factors.
It’s amazing what happens when you allow young fast players with skill, and something to prove, play instead of over the hill veterans. The defense needs some work which is a bit worry-some with a young but veteran group. However, I’ll cut them some slack seeing as how it was their first game. They need to figure out what style they want to play and they all be on the same page.
Silence the Dogs
The Coyotes are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. The Coyotes outshot the Stars 30-25 and made a push in the 3rd. There was a 1:36 span in the second where they allowed three goals. This led to their undoing.
The Coyotes are still a team going through a re-build but they have some players that the Ducks need to keep an eye on. Clayton Keller and Brendan Perlini are their best forwards and need to be watched. They are fast and skilled and they are best when they can turn the puck over and move in transition.
The defense is improved with gritty veteran Niklas Hjalmarsson in the fold. The highly touted, but often under-appreciated, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, is a threat at both ends of the ice. Antti Raanta is an upgrade in goal compared to what they usually have, but he can be beaten.
The Coyotes are on the up and up, but they aren’t there quite yet. Yes, they have some good young players that can burn you and, like every team in the NHL, they are not to be overlooked. The Coyotes youth can be exploited in a similar manner in which the Stars did. Scoring early and often against a young team like this is the key. They aren’t built to come back but rather getting ahead and allowing their young core to get more and more confidence as they go. They’re pesky and won’t go away but playing a sound game in all three zones and not giving them chances to build off is the way to take them down.
The Yotes will be looking to get back in the win column and give their fans some hope during their home opener. This means that surviving the first ten minutes is critical for the Ducks. By no means is the atmosphere in Gila River the same as San Jose so it should allow the youth on the Ducks roster to settle in for their second NHL game.
The nerves should be gone and I expect the likes of Sam Steel and Troy Terry to look more confident. It may only be Game 2 of 82 but its the chance to start the season 2-0-0 against two divisional rivals and return for the home opener in the best way possible. All these games matter and the better the Ducks can be while they wait to get healthy will make this team that much more dangerous.
Next. What We’ve Learned- San Jose 10/3/18. dark
Stick with us on Twitter for live updates of the Ducks trip to take on the Desert Dogs and come back after to see the three things we learned segment. Let’s hope the Ducks can push it to 2-0-0!