Anaheim Ducks: Bearing Down for a Win in Boston
The Anaheim Ducks had their streak snapped by a late goal in NYC Monday night. They will be looking back to their winning ways as they soar into Boston to take on a depleted Bruins team.
The Anaheim Ducks have been nothing short of a machine as of late. Winning 12 of their last 14 games has placed them at 19-12-5 allowing them to salvage a truly miserable stretch this fall and currently find themselves tied for 2nd in the Pacific Division, and just three points out of first.
Make no mistake this team still has some issues it needs to clean up if they want to go on a post-season run but they are winning in games in a variety of ways and missing key contributors like Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler as well as players that haven’t really been available all season in Patrick Eaves and definitely in Corey Perry. In all likelihood, they will get 3 of the 4 back (Eaves is a little questionable at this point) but for the time being the Ducks need to keep bearing down and staying afloat.
With just two games before the Christmas break, the Ducks will look to shake off the tough loss at MSG Monday night and come to TD Garden. A building where they have had quite a bit of success and are hitting a Bruins team dealing with injuries to their own star players as well.
Fun Fact: The Ducks are 19-9-2-4 lifetime against the Bruins. The 44 standing points against them are the 3rd most against Eastern Conference teams for the Ducks.
Game 37: Anaheim Ducks vs Boston Bruins
Location: TD Garden; Boston, Massachusetts
Time: 4:00 pm PST
TV: Prime Ticket
Radio: AM 830
Anaheim Ducks Injuries: Rickard Rakell (Ankle), Ryan Miller (Sprained MCL), Cam Fowler (Complex Facial Fracture), Patrick Eaves (Broken Rib/Back Spasms), Corey Perry (Knee)
Boston Bruins Injuries: Patrice Bergeron (RIb/Collar Bone), Zdeno Chara (MCL Sprain), Jake DeBrusk (Concussion)
Quack Back and Start a New Streak
The Ducks have landed in Boston after not playing their best game in NYC. Minus a lucky bounce for Pontus Aberg and the Ducks would have been shut-out. And the one goal wasn’t enough as a late goal and late empty net goal by the Rangers led them to a 3-1 win. The Ducks had been playing their best hockey of the season but in this game, they just didn’t have it. Chalk it up to the second night of back to backs or just an inevitable loss amongst the many many wins. Either way, they have had a night to move past it and focus on this next game.
The Ducks have been able to score with the best of them as late of getting contributions all through the line-up. That will need to continue as the Ducks are missing two big offensive pieces in Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler. Last year Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg paced the scoring for the Ducks and they will be two to watch this game as well.
The Bruins meanwhile are coming off a sound 4-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. The Bruins got goals from David Krejci and Brad Marchand as well as Joakim Nordstrom and the first NHL goal for Colby Cave. Meanwhile, Jaroslav Halak picked up the shutout with 22 saves. The Bruins have deployed a goalie by committee plan this season between Halak and longtime starter Tuukka Rask.
Rask and Halak have both played in 17 and 19 games respectively. Rask is a mediocre 8-7-2 with a GAA of 2.57 and an SV% of .915. Halak is having a better year with a 10-5-2 record, a 2.27 GAA and a .929 SV%. Both goalies present their own challenges but both can be beaten. The Ducks will need to generate lots of shots and get to either early and often in this one.
Anaheim Ducks Player to Watch: Ryan Getzlaf
The captain of the Ducks is leading by example with his skill and toughness this season. Getzlaf is a point of being a point per game player and has been using his leadership in ways that don’t appear on the scoresheet either. If you need no evidence of that look no further than his defense of brand new teammate Chad Johnson in NYC Monday night. Getzlaf is the heart and soul of the Ducks and as he goes they typically follow. He has been shooting more, making slick passes and is responsible in his own end as currently sits at +6 on the year.
Getzlaf is also getting it done without his usual linemates of Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry. Getzlaf is getting it done with rotating linemates but is building chemistry with the likes of Pontus Aberg and Ondrej Kase which could pay dividends down the line. With the likes of Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara out Getzlaf will have a fairly easy time asserting his will and if he does the Ducks will be in a much better place to take this game
Boston Bruins Player to Watch: David Pastrnak
In the absence of Bergeron David Pastrnak is the Bruins best player hands down. And even with Bergeron Pastrnak may be the Bruins best offensive weapon. He currently sits at 21-20-41 points. Of those 41 points, 17 of them have come on the power-play. Further reason to not put this team on the power play. He and linemate Brad Marchand make one of the better duos in the league and they will need to be kept in check by the Ducks defensive units. He is shifty, quick, and his release is something to behold.
Pastrnak is also a player whos confidence builds. If you give him time and space early he just gets better as the game goes along. The one thing working for the Ducks is he is a player that enjoys his time and space. He’ll go into the corners but he isn’t a below the goal line type of player. He hurts you on the rush and he hurts you coming off the half wall. Playing physical and limiting his time and space will go a long way to neutralize him and take away one of the two big guns for the Bruins.