In a battle of the backups, the Ducks fight back

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Boston Bruins by a final score of 7-5. In a game that featured questionable goaltending, multiple lead changes, a five-point night, and a fight, the Ducks inched up a little bit higher in the Pacific Division standings.

Mikael Granlund gets five

Acquired during the offseason, Granlund was penciled in to play in the top six for the Ducks. However, with Ryan Strome being on injured reserve to start the season, Granlund has been starting as the third line center for the team since game one. Other than being good in the faceoff circle, around 52% prior to the game, Granlund has not stood out during the early portions of this season.

Granlund flipped the script on his lackluster start with a power play goal in the third period.

Obviously, Troy Terry should get most of the credit, as he undressed two Boston defenders before zipping the pass over to Granlund for the one-timer. But still, credit to Granlund for reading the play and stepping into the open ice at the faceoff dot to be available for the pass.

Granlund also had two assists and an empty net goal, while being hooked...

...that secured his five-point night.

Backup battle

Joonas Korpisalo was in net for Boston and Petr Mrazek was in net for Anaheim. The matchup between the two netminders went about as well as expected; Korpisalo with a .793 save percentage and Mrazek with a .878 save percentage.

One of the questions heading into the season, was who would be the backup for the Ducks. After sending Ville Husso out on waivers, it appeared the team had made their decision of which netminder to keep. With a subpar performance in his last appearance, a .739 save percentage at San Jose, Mrazek needed a better outing. This game was anything but.

Mrazek never gave up a rebound he didn't like and Boston's first goal proved that point. Mrazek looked unsteady and he was fighting the puck all night; every shot Boston took looked dangerous, no matter the location.

Mrazek did make one amazing glove save in the second period to keep the score close. But one save does not outweigh another poor performance. The team squeezed this start in for Mrazek before heading out for two games in Florida against seemingly tougher competition, but questions still remain on whether he is a competent backup.

Johnston fights back

The situation was bleak for the Ducks in the first half of the second period; the Bruins were peppering Mrazek with shots and dominating possession. The perpetual fourth liner and the unsung hero from the previous Ducks game, Ross Johnston decided the team needed a wakeup call and dropped the gloves with Tanner Jeannot.

This was Johnston's third fight of the season, in only his sixth game. Perhaps the fight did spark the Ducks, as Jacob Trouba would score the next goal of the game, but do not anticipate Johnston fighting every other game. There are no guarantees with this coaching staff, as they have been shaking up the lines the past couple games, and there are multiple players capable of playing on the fourth line in Johnston's place.

But with the Lightning and the Panthers up next, Johnston may hold down his spot in the lineup for a little bit more.