Anaheim Ducks: Pre-Game Puck Drop vs Red Wings 10/8/18

The Anaheim Ducks return to Honda Center with a 2-0-0 record for a game 25 years in the making. The Detriot Red Wings are in town for a night fans won’t soon forget and we have you covered with the need to knows before the Ducks take on an old rival.

Game 3: Anaheim Ducks v Detriot Red Wings

The Ducks are 2-0-0 despite missing many key players and not playing their best. But John Gibson is playing out of this world and rookie forward Max Comtois is looking to make an even bigger case to stay with the big club all season long. The Ducks should come out flying for their home opener and ring in their 25th anniversary season at home the right way.

Location: Honda Center — Anaheim, California

Time: 7:00 p.m. PST

TV: FS Prime Ticket

Anaheim Ducks Projected Line-Up:

Rakell-Henrique-Terry

Comtois-Steel-Silfverberg

Cogliano-Lundestrom-Sherwood

Street-Rowney-Gibbons

Fowler-Manson

Lindholm-Montour

Pettersson-Sustr

Gibson

Miller

Ducks Injuries:

Ryan Getzlaf (Leg), Ryan Kesler (Hip), Patrick Eaves (Shoulder/Virus), Corey Perry (Knee), Ondrej Kase (Concussion), Kevin Roy (Wrist/Hand)

Last Game: (1-0 win v Coyotes)

This game like the Ducks first had the same bright spots. John Gibson continues to play out of this world and Max Comtois scored his second goal in as many NHL games. He certainly has found some chemistry with Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg and is booming with confidence. There are many out there who believed Comtois would only survive the nine-game limit before being sent back to juniors but play like this will make that an extremely tough move. And with every goal and every positive minute he plays, it makes the likes of Nick Ritchie more and more expendable. Unfortunately, outside of he and Gibson, that is where the bright spots end for the Ducks.

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• Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
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Gila River Arena is not known for being particularly hostile. Much of that is because the Coyotes have been “re-building” for some time. But even still the Desert Dogs came ready to play and the Ducks still looked out of sync for much if not all of the game. Yes, Ryan Getzlaf had a breakaway he missed on, as did Kiefer Sherwood. But the offensive chances outside of those and Comtois’ breakaway goal were few and far between. The Yotes are improved, young and probably sick of looking up in the standings all the time. The Ducks will face far stiffer competition than them and they are lucky to be where they currently sit.

Yes, they are 2-0-0 and there is something to be said for the resilience the team is showing. To be honest, writing that injury report for the last two games and now having to add Ryan Getzlaf to it is bordering on laughable. Every team deals with injuries but to be missing so many key pieces is unheard of and for that a reason I am giving mainly the forwards a pass. But the defense needs to be better. These guys are seasoned vets that should be leading the young forwards. As good as John Gibson is allowing 41 shots to Arizona and 74 through two games is far far too many. They are getting away with it now but playing like that will catch up with the team eventually.

Clip the Wings

The Red Wings are currently 0-1-1 on the season after having their home opener spoiled in overtime by Artemi Panarin and the Blue Jackets and dropping a 4-2 game to the LA Kings last night. These are not the Red Wings of 25 years ago or even five years ago for that matter. There is Pavel Datsyuk, no Henrick Zetterberg and hopefully, no octopus will find its way on to the ice at Honda Center. These Red Wings are re-building and while they have good young players like Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha that is pretty much where their high-end talent ends.

The Ducks can wear down a Detriot team who quite frankly has a less the stellar D-core and a goalie in Jimmy Howard that hasn’t been elite in some time. The Red Wings certainly have fallen on hard times and things don’t look to be turning around in the Motor City any time soon. The Wings are also coming into Anaheim where the players and fans should be fired up for the home opener and after playing last night in LA. It’s always tough to play on back to back nights and the Ducks could and should exploit that.

With that said the Ducks need to take advantage. This is the perfect opportunity for the kids to start to really mesh. And they will have plenty of time to do so as by all indications five of the Ducks top 9 forwards are rookies. The kids are getting some extremely useful experience and it will make the Ducks that much better when they get healthy. But for the game at hand, the Ducks can use their youth and speed to attack an aging Detriot d-core and get up early. As much fun as it is to watch Gibson do his thing it would be nice for a change to see less of him in the game as the Ducks spend more time in the Detroit zone.

This should be a fun night with the Ducks rocking the new throwback Mighty Ducks jerseys, the home opener, and a chance to get to 3-0-0. Stick with us during the game for live updates and check back tomorrow for the three things we learned segment.