Last night, the Anaheim Ducks turned things around by defeating the Sharks 4-1, and now they’ll look to take revenge on the LA Kings after their 3-0 loss just two nights ago. Now that they have home ice advantage and a better looking team, things aren’t looking as bleak as they were after a 1-1-1 road stand.
Tonight, Anaheim and LA clash once more in their last meeting of the preseason, and the game is being broadcasted on Fox Sports Prime Ticket for the in-market viewers. This will be a big test for the Ducks, as they’re looking to show their fans that the 3-0 shut-out they took was simply a fluke. This Kings team will also be looking to lay the smack-down on their crosstown rivals once again. Needless to say, there isn’t a lack of excitement for this game.
Keys to Success
Keep the Defense Solid – The Anaheim Ducks played an amazing defensive game last night, and that really needs to keep up throughout this game, as well as the regular season. Over the first three games, the Ducks had a lot of problems with their defense contracting at the worst possible times, and that really burned in them in all but the first game. If they want to beat this incredibly hot Kings offense, they are going to have to clamp down hard.
Depending on the lines, the Ducks might just be able to shine with either their veterans or their younger skaters. Both have shown some brilliance during the preseason, but the mixture of both in last night’s game was the best so far. If they can mesh together once more, expect some serious plays to keep the Kings at bay.
Allow the Offense to Shine – Besides that spectacular defense, the Anaheim Ducks were also producing much better offensive chances. Key players like Jakob Silfverberg and Rickard Rakell were playing some very solid hockey, while some of the younger guys like Chase De Leo and Brendan Guhle were putting on a rookie showcase of their own.
At some point, this team really has to find even more offensive players that aren’t afraid to shoot, but for now, keeping a strong passing game and having puck control is what they need to outscore the Kings.
Let the Goalie Rest – While it wasn’t too much of a problem last night, the Anaheim Ducks have let their goalies make some saves that they don’t need. Whether it’s breakaways or defensive zone breakdowns, the goalies have all had to come up big more than once. One of the biggest problems of last season was making John Gibson carry the rest of the team, and that has to be fixed before Anaheim has a truly solid game on the ice.
They have shined on the penalty kill, but taking all these penalties and leaving it up to the goalie to try to clean up the mistakes of the defense is another game breaker. If this young team can find their control to clean up their game, they’ll have some even better offensive chances all while giving their goalies a much-needed break.
In general, the Anaheim Ducks just need to come out strong like last game and apply pressure for the night. If they can follow these keys to success as well, that Kings shut-out will be a distant memory.
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