Game 49: Ducks Visit San Jose

By Michael Walters

Anaheim(19-24-5) at San Jose(21-25-4)

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET, Fox Sports West

Radio & Post Game Show: KLAA AM 830

Anaheim Outlook

The Anaheim Ducks return to action after their combined league and All-Star break. Anaheim won their last two games against Nashville and Carolina putting together back-to-back wins for the first time since November 1st, 2019. The Ducks will try to earn a third victory in a row for the second time this season. Anaheim started the season with a three-game winning streak.

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The Ducks will face the San Jose Sharks tonight. Anaheim is 1-1-0 against San Jose this season. The Ducks beat the Sharks back in October by a score of 3-1. Michael Del Zotto, Ryan Getzlaf, and Adam Henrique scored in the contest. John Gibson stopped 35 of 36 shots to earn the victory. In November, the Ducks lost 5-3 to the Sharks. Rickard Rakell would score first, but the Sharks would go on to score four of the next five goals to take control and win the game.

Jakob Silfverberg leads the team with 15 goals.

Team News:

Chase De Leo, Max Jones, and Troy Terry were all recalled from San Diego.

Blake Pietila was reassigned to the Gulls.

Per the Athletic’s Eric Stephens, Silfverberg will not play tonight as his wife is expecting to give birth soon.

Nick Ritchie has been removed from the IR.

Projected Lineup

Offense:
Rickard Rakell – Ryan Getzlaf – Troy Terry
Nick Ritchie – Adam Henrique – Devin Shore
Max Jones – Sam Steel – Ondrej Kase
Nicolas Deslauriers – Derek Grant – Carter Rowney

Defense:
Hampus Lindholm – Erik Gudbranson
Cam Fowler – Josh Manson
Jacob Larsson – Korbinian Holzer

In Net:
John Gibson 13-16-3, GAA 2.95, SV% .906 (Confirmed)

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San Jose Outlook

The Sharks are currently on a three-game losing skid. Like Anaheim, San Jose is trying to keep their heads above water as they both are barely ahead of the Kings, who sit in last place in the Pacific Division.

The Sharks score 2.56 goals per game and give up 3.32 on average. Their power play is 16.7% efficient and their penalty kill is 87.7% efficient, which is the best in the NHL.

Evander Kane leads the team in scoring with 19 goals.

Team News:

Dalton Prout(upper-body) is currently on the IR but has returned to practice.

Projected Lineup 

Offense:
Evander Kane – Tomas Hertl – Timo Meier
Barclay Goodrow – Joe Thornton – Kevin Labanc
Marcus Sorensen – Dylan Gambrell – Patrick Marleau
Stefan Noesen – Joel Kellman – Melker Karlsson

Defense:
Brenden Dillon – Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Erik Karlsson
Radim Simek – Mario Ferraro

In Net
Aaron Dell 6-7-2, GAA 2.99, SV% .903 (Confirmed)

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January 27th, 2020