The 2019-20 Rookie Tournament comes to a close today with the Anaheim Ducks looking for a win against the Vegas Golden Knights.
It has been an exciting weekend at Great Park Ice; the future of the NHL has shone brightly in Irvine. The Anaheim Ducks are closing up the Tournament this afternoon against the Vegas Golden Knights, and the rookies are hopeful for a win. So far in the tournament, the Ducks are 1-0-1, losing in Overtime to the Sharks on Sunday. Although the Vegas Golden Knights have yet to win a game, going 0-2-0 with a scoring record of 4-8, that doesn’t mean the Ducks can let their guard down, even in the slightest.
With the official roster for the game out, it looks as though Kiefer Sherwood is sitting this one out, but his offensive presence during the tournament has been a bright spot, with two goals to his name. Max Comtois, Troy Terry, and Sam Steel are getting the nod once again; the trio’s three-point night led them to a win against the Kings on Saturday, and they will hopefully continue to be spark plugs for their team and lead them to victory.
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Max Jones, one of only a handful of players to appear in all three games, has strengthened his argument for starting in Anaheim this season with two goals and an assist. If he continues to play with as much determination, there is no doubt that his name will show up on the score sheet once again this afternoon.
The Anaheim Ducks 29th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Brayden Tracey, is starting on the second line alongside Sam Steel. Could this be a clue as to what the future holds for the team? If it is, we’re excited to see what the duo can do together on the ice. Tracey certainly impressed during his first showing in a Ducks uniform, netting his first goal during Sunday’s OT loss against the Sharks.
After an outstanding performance from Lukas Dostal and Roman Durny, Olle Eriksson-Ek is finally being given an opportunity between the pipes. He managed a .901% save percentage last season in Sweden, and although the numbers may seem a little underwhelming, Eriksson-Ek has proven that he can be impressive in Anaheim’s net before.
Unfortunately for Vegas, they can’t seem to get the ball rolling when it comes to scoring goals. In the past two games, the team has netted 4 goals. It could have worked out in their favor if the defense would have been up and rolling. However, with 8 goals against them in the past two games, the odds are stacked against them.
Nevertheless, as mentioned, that doesn’t mean the Ducks can rest in their final game. They will be pitted against players like Cody Glass, who has two points in two games. Lucas Elvenes is slotting in on the first line for his second game of the tournament, and he too has been a point per game player so far this week. Dylan Coghlan, although a defenseman, has showed up more on the score sheet than anyone, with two goals and an assist, potentially making him one of the biggest scoring threats for Anaheim.
It’s going to be an exciting game to watch. If the Anaheim Ducks can pull off one more win, they could, for the second year in a row, walk away from the week as the best team in the tournament. Of course, that also depends on how San Jose performs against the Los Angeles Kings this afternoon. However, our prospects should be proud of their performance and keep their heads held high.
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