Game Day: Ducks look to put brakes on Jets before break
By Ed Stein
The Ducks host Central Division-leading Winnipeg tonight. They look to continue their momentum from Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Rangers. Review, Preview, plus News and Notes ahead.
New Look, Classic Results Part One
Tuesday night Ducks coach Randy Carlyle decided to shake things up ahead of his teams clash with the New York Rangers. He drastically altered his forward lines which included demoting star player Cory Perry to the bottom grouping.
His team responded much the same way David Letterman encouraged people to vote, early and often. Anaheim scored four goals in the opening period en route to a 6-3 beat down. Carlyle’s message was clearly heard by his players.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf had three points, Perry and Cam Fowler had two points each to lead a total of ten different players on the score sheet. Additionally, the Ducks scored at even strength, on the power play and short-handed. After dismal showings against Colorado and San Jose, it was the offensive output this team needed.
News and Notes
* Rickard Rakell is the Ducks lone representative at All-Star festivities. He’s having a great season, but it would have been nice to see Getzlaf there as well.
* Getzlaf now leads the NHL in assist per game after adding two helpers Tuesday night.
* J.T. Brown has been a breath of fresh air for a team that was beginning to look a bit stale. Whether you agree with his politics or not, his heart and hustle are undeniable.
Winnipeg @ Ducks
Tonight is the last slate of games in the NHL before this weekend’s All-Star game. Additionally, this will be the Ducks last home game until Feb. 9. After the break, Anaheim goes on an eight-day, five-game swing through the Atlantic Division.
Its Patrick Eaves beard night at the Honda Center The Winnipeg Jets, the top team in the Central Division, are the opponent. This will be the 50th game of the season for both clubs. “Must win” seems like a drastic phrase to use in January, but the Ducks need these two points very badly. Anaheim is in 11th place in the tightly contested Western Conference in which nine other clubs have at least a game in hand over them.
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No big changes are likely in the Duck’s lineup after scoring six goals in their last outing. Carlyle may, however, opt to give goalie John Gibson an extra day off. Here is the squad expected to take the ice tonight for Anaheim:
Forwards
Rakell-Getzlaf-Kase
Cogliano-Kesler-Brown
Ritchie-Henrique-Silfverberg
Wagner-Vermette-Perry
Defensemen
Fowler-Bieksa
Lindholm-Manson
Beauchemin/Holzer-Montour
Goalie
Gibson/Miller
New Look, Classic Results Part Two
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