Game 45: Ducks At Sabres

Anaheim (21-20-3) at Buffalo (23-15-4)

Pregame Show: DucksNPucks Podcast

TV: 4 PM, KCOP-13 / Victory+

Audio: Ducks Stream

Anaheim Outlook

The Ducks started their road trip in Washington with a 7-4 loss. Anaheim scored first, but then Washington scored five times to make it a 5-1 in the middle of the second period. The Ducks battled back to pull within one goal in the third period, but a pair of empty net goals sealed the victory for the Capitals.

Anaheim then traveled to Philadelphia and almost the same script followed from Washington. The Ducks scored first, but then the Flyers scored four times. The Ducks scored one more time and ended up losing 5-2. Anaheim took on Carolina on Thursday. The Ducks scored first again, but ended up losing 5-2. The Ducks are currently on a eight game (0-7-1) losing streak.

By The Numbers:

Goals For: 3.25 Per Game
Goals Against: 3.70 Per Game
Power Play: 17.3%
Penalty Kill: 76.9%

Corsi For %
Even Strength: 52.22%
Overall: 51.96%

Fenwick For %
Even Strength: 52.18%
Overall: 51.86%

Cutter Gauthier leads the team with 20 goals.

Team Injuries/News:

Troy Terry did not play on Thursday night. He was out with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Petr Mrazek exited the game against Washington after the second period with an injury. Ville Husso was brought up as an emergency recall as a result. Mrazek has been placed on the IR.

Nikita Nesterenko was placed on waivers earlier in the week and cleared them. He is still with the team and doesn’t have to go through waivers again unless he plays in 10 games or is on the Anaheim roster for 30 cumulative days.

Projected Lineup (Per Alexis Downie)

Offense:
Cutter Gauthier – Mason McTavish – Mikael Granlund
Alex Killorn – Leo Carlsson – Beckett Sennecke
Chris Kreider – Ryan Poehling – Ryan Strome
Ross Johnston – Tim Washe – Nikita Nesterenko

Defense:
Olen Zellweger  – Radko Gudas
Jackson LaCombe  – Ian Moore
Pavel Mintyukov – Drew Helleson

In Net:
Lukas Dostal 13-11-2 GAA 3.22 SV% .887 (Confirmed)

Buffalo Outlook 

The Sabres have been on fire lately. Buffalo went on a 10 game winning streak in December and has won 12 of their last 13 games. The winning streak has put them right in the middle of the wild card playoff race. They are currently 13-5-2 at home this season.

By The Numbers:

Goals For: 3.14 Per Game
Goals Against: 3.12 Per Game
Power Play: 18.4%
Penalty Kill: 85.2%

Corsi For %
Even Strength: 48.81%
Overall: 48.46%

Fenwick For %
Even Strength: 49.02%
Overall: 49.02%

Tage Thompson leads the team with 21 goals.

Projected Lineup (Last Game)

Offense
Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson –Josh Doan
Jason Zucker – Joshua Norris – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Noah Ostlund – Beck Malenstyn

Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Jacob Bryson – Zach Metsa

In Net:
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 8-6-1 GAA 2.61 SV% .903 (Confirmed)

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January 10th, 2026