VIDEO: Ducks Can’t Overcome Penalties, Injuries In Colorado
By Michael WaltersThe Anaheim Ducks(2-1-1) traveled to Colorado for their first road game against the Avalanche(3-1-0). Ryan Getzlaf would miss another game due to the lower body injury he sustained in training camp. With Ondrej Kase placed on the IR, Nic Kerdiles was called up and inserted in the lineup. Nick Ritchie as also returned to play after being injured in the home opener. Jared Boll and Kevin Bieksa were healthy scratches. John Gibson would start in net and Jonathan Bernier went for Colorado.
First Period
The Colorado Avalanche came out flying in the first period putting all kinds of pressure on the Ducks. Anaheim was called for five penalties and four of them were for slashing. Gabriel Landeskog scored on the second power play attempt to give Colorado the early one-goal lead. Avalanche controlled the first period outshooting the Ducks 18-4. The Ducks only trailed by one at the end of the period, but matters got worse as Gibson had to exit the game. According to Randy Carlyle, he sustained an upper-body injury from a shot in warm-ups.
Second Period
Reto Berra started the middle frame and played the rest of the way for Anaheim. In this period both teams had a power play chance and neither scored. It appeared like Colorado scored to extend their lead to 2-0, but the referee waved off the goal due to goalie interference. Avalanche challenged the play, but it was upheld. Colorado outshot Anaheim 12-4, but only had a one-goal lead heading into the third period.
Third Period
The Ducks would be shorthanded early in the period, but Brandon Montour would rip a shot past Bernier to tie the game at one. Anaheim battled this period outshooting Colorado 10-9. Colorado had another goal overturned and it appeared the Ducks might have a chance to claw out a point, but a late power play goal by Tyson Barrie sank those dreams. Avalanche added an empty net goal just prior to the clock expiring to make it a 3-1 final.
Analysis
Nothing went right for Anaheim in this game. They couldn’t handle the speed of the Avalanche players early on in this contest. The Ducks also didn’t play discipline taking five penalties in the beginning of the game. Despite not having Getzlaf and Gibson after the first period, the Ducks still made a game of it until late in the third period. The Ducks have gotten off to slow starts in four of their five games so far this season. That needs to change.
Injury Tracker
Ryan Getzlaf – Lower-body injury, sustained in pre-season. He is listed as day-to-day.
John Gibson – Upper-body injury, sustained in warm-ups from a shot last night. He is listed as day-to-day.
Ondrej Kase – Placed on IR this week, upper-body injury(head) sustained in the game against Calgary.
Ryan Miller – Currently on IR with an upper-body injury.
Ryan Kesler – Still on the IR as he recovers from his hip surgery. Still not due back until December at the earliest.
Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm both have been skating. Ducks are hopeful to have either one or both back before their target November 1st date.
What’s Next?
The Ducks return home to play the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, October 14th, at 6:00 PM PT.
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October 14th, 2017
Filed under: Ducks News Tagged: Anaheim Ducks, colorado avalanche, ducksnpucks