Game 5: Ducks vs Avalanche
By Michael Walters
The Anaheim Ducks(2-1-1) travel to Colorado to face the Avalanche(3-1-0). Game time is 6:00 PT and will be broadcast on Prime Ticket and AM 830.
Anaheim Outlook:
The Anaheim Ducks got Patrick Eaves back in their recent win over the New York Islanders. Eaves skated with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry scoring the game-winning goal. Yesterday Ondrej Kase was placed on the injured reserve list, Giovanni Fiore was sent back down to San Diego and Angus Redmond was reassigned to the Utah Grizzlies. The Ducks did recall Nic Kerdiles this morning.
Keys To The Game
The Ducks finally scored first in their last contest against the Islanders. They are still looking for their first power-play goal. It appeared they ended the drought against New York on a nice play by Derek Grant, but the goal was overturned on a challenge for offsides. The Ducks have looked better on the forecheck in the last four periods of play and will look to carry that over tonight against Colorado.
Anaheim’s Projected Lineup:
Offense
Patrick Eaves – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano – Rickard Rakell – Jakob Silfverberg
Chris Wagner – Antoine Vermette – Logan Shaw
Dennis Rasmussen – Derek Grant – Jared Boll
Defense
Cam Fowler – Josh Manson
Francois Beauchemin – Brandon Montour
Korbinian Holzer – Kevin Bieksa
In Net
John Gibson 2-1-1, GAA 2.78, SV% .920 (Confirmed)
Colorado Outlook:
The Avalanche have been off to a good start winning three of their first four games. They have outscored their opponents 15-9 and have scored four or more goals in three of their four games. Sven Andrighetto and Nail Yakupov lead the team in scoring with three goals each. Colorado will go with Jonathan Bernier in net tonight and Semyon Varlamov will go Saturday against Dallas.
Keys To The Game
Look for the Avalanche to use their speed and try to get off to a quick start. In each of their three wins, they scored first and built leads putting their opponents on their heels early. They do need to work on their special teams. They are only 2-for-17(12%) on the power play and they have given up six power play goals while being shorthanded 18 times(66%).
Colorado’s Projected Lineup:
Offense
Sven Andrighetto – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Nail Yakupov – Matt Duchene – Alexander Kerfoot
Gabriel Landeskog – J. T. Compher – Tyson Jost
Blake Comeau – Carl Soderberg – Colin Wilson
Defense
Patrik Nemeth – Tyson Barrie
Nikita Zadorov – Erik Johnson
Chris Bigras – Mark Barberio
In Net
Jonathan Bernier, 0-1-0, GAA 4.07, SV% .897 (Confirmed)
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October 13th, 2017
Filed under: Ducks News Tagged: Anaheim Ducks, colorado avalanche, ducksnpucks