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Anaheim Ducks ready to cap off home stand on high note against Capitals

By Hil Lopez

ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 17: Adam Henrique #14 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal with the bench to take a 3-1 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Honda Center on January 17, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 17: Adam Henrique #14 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal with the bench to take a 3-1 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Honda Center on January 17, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Anaheim Ducks look to finish their four game homestand on a high note against the Capitals. They started off the homestand with a disappointing 6-5 loss to the Oilers.

Since then, they have rebounded and won 4-2 against Columbus and 6-3 against the Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.

Their victory against the Blackhawks was one of their better offensive games of the year.

Ryan Getzlaf came back from missing one game from flu like symptoms and had 3 assists. Rickard Rakell increased his goal scoring streak to 3 games with the opening marker of the game.

Corey Perry had 2 goals, Jakob Silfverberg had 2 goals, and 4th line center Derek Grant had 2 assists. Marcus Petterson also had his first NHL goal as well.

The Ducks played good structure defensively as they out hustled and out muscled the Blackhawks in numerous areas on the ice. They killed off two penalties, and have now not allowed a power play goal in the last 23 man advantage opportunities against them.

Kesler’s line had the task of guarding the Toew’s line and they did not allow any points to him or his star linemate Patrick Kane. John Gibson was instrumental in protecting the lead as he stopped 37 of a possible 40 shots. He looks to be the probable starter against the Capitals.

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For the Ducks, that will be of utter importance as they take on the Metropolitan leading Washington Capitals. The Capitals are coming off a 5-2 win against the Maple Leafs in the Outdoor Winter Classic at the U.S Naval Academy.

Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, and Evgeny Kuznetsov all had one goal and two assists in the victory.

The Capitals have won three of their last four games, and are led in goal by outstanding netminder Braden Holtby.

Even though his peripherals are down this year: 3.00 goals against average, and .908 save percentage, the Ducks know that the key to winning will be to get traffic in front of him constantly.

Furthermore, the Ducks will need to find a way to slow down Captain Alexander Ovechkin. The six time Maurice “Rocket” Richard award winner scored his 40th goal of the regular season and has 72 points in 65 games. He is on pace to score 50 goals again this season.

He is not the only threat the Ducks will need to contain however.

With Marcus Johansson leaving the Captials for the Devils, Evgeny Kuznetsov has had a career year for the capitals. He has 64 points in 65 games, and is on pace to have a point per game this season.

Braden Holtby looks to be the probable starter against the Ducks.

The Ducks and Capitals have played once this year with the Capitals winning 3-2 in overtime at Capital One Arena on December 16th.

Derek Grant and Jakob Silfverberg scored the goals for the Ducks in that game, and Ovechkin led Capitals with a goal and an assist. He scored the OT winner 1:58 into over time.

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Side notes: Ryan Kesler did not play in the last meeting between these teams as he was recovering from hip surgery.  T.J. Oshie also was sidelined for the Capitals as well with an upper body injury. Both will be back for this game Tuesday night.

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